G.—2

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325. Mr. Parris .- I can make that clear. Te Eakatau and Pamariki were awarded apiece of land by the Compensation Court. Pamariki had 500 acres awarded to him, and Te Eakatau 200 acres. Both of these Natives bad been to the Chatham Islands, but a few years ago they returned, and were in occupation of land in this district. That was the reason why the Court gave them the award. All Natives who had not been in possession or in occupation since 1840 were excluded by the Court. 326. Te Waka : I have something to say with regard to what has been said by Mrs. Brown and Ngaere about the land between Onaero and Te Eau-o-te-Huia. I want to know whether Natives will be allowed to come in at the present time and receive land in a similar manner to those who were awarded land by the Compensation Court. I mean Natives such as those who have joined Te Whiti? 327. The Commissioners: We cannot take any notice of those who have joined Te Whiti unless they appear before us. 328. Te Waka : I speak of a few of us who are excluded. At the time of the sale of Onaero Block by Te Eakatau and others, I was living at Eangitoto, D'Urville's Island. I heard something of a decision come to by Mr. Eichmond for setting apart certain land for the absentees who were living on the Middle Island. I was at Nelson when Mr. Parris was over there, and I saw him then. I knew there was a sum of £300 sent over for the absentees, and I took some of that money. 329. The Commissioners: Although you have received part of the money, you are entitled to a share of the reserve set aside by Mr. Eichmond, and when that is divided, all those who were absentees at the time will come in for their share. 330. Wiremu Naera Pomare, of Waitara, said: I have something to say with regard to the Onaero land, and also land at Waitara. We received notice to send in our claims, and we gave our names to Captain Thomas, then Eesident Magistrate at the Chatham Islands, before we came back to live here. I came to New Plymouth to attend the Compensation Court, and the Court excluded us altogether. When I found we were excluded, I wondered why the Government should have asked us to send in our claims, when they must have known that they would not be entertained by the Court. After the Court sat, Air. Parris divided the lands which were awarded by the Compensation Court amongst those Natives who were admitted, and Mokena and others asked Mr. Parris to include him. Mr. Parris, in reply, said that, I was a child of his, and he would show me consideration. The reason why he called me a child was because I had been taught by him when I was at the College; and here I am still living as an orphan, pushed about by the Natives from place to place. Notwithstanding this, I have never swerved in my loyalty. My request now is, that the Commission may grant me a piece of land within the confiscated boundary. 331. The Commissioners.] There is one thing that all the Natives here ought to consider : Who is it tbat is raising the greatest obstacles to the settlement of these things ? —ln Mr. Parris's time I consider that he was to blame, and Major Brown in his time. 332. Wi te Arei said : I have a few words to say with regard to our lands between Te Bau-o-te-Huia and Onaero, wbich were awarded by the Compensation Court. I want to know where they are, and the position in which they stand. I wish them to be allocated. We are in the dark as to where they are. 333. The Commissioners: That is exactly what this Commission is for: to find out the land awarded, and the names of the people entitled to it. We are sent here by the Governor because complaints have been made on all sides, and in order to make a settlement of the awards. 334. Horomona, of Waitara, said: I also am here to complain of the non-settlement of the awards made by the Compensation Court. When are they to be settled ? 335. The Commissioners: It will be our duty to see that these awards are properly allocated as soon as it can be done.

At Waitaea, Satueday, 6th Maech, 1880. 336. Akanihi Kurakitoro, wife of Frederick Simeon, of Wellington, said: I present a petition to the Commission which relates to the matters I desire to speak about. [See Appendix.] All our land has been taken by the Government. Nothing has been given by the Government to the Natives who have remained loyal throughout. That is why I now come to lay our troubles before you. We have been waiting for many years, and we now come to try and get something done. In the year 1866 the Compensation Court sat at New Plymouth, and I attended it there. The Court then recognized our titles, and gave out a number of acres for us. We received the awards, but have never received the land. We thought that these lands were awarded to us on account of our loyalty. We did not sign the claims we sent in, with any idea that we were to give up altogether our rights and titles to the land. 337. The Commissioners.] What was the area of the land awarded to you ? —One hundred acres, in two blocks of 50 acres each. It was for myself. 338. But you understood then that you were still to have your tribal interest in the land that was given back to Wiremu Kingi Matakatea and Arama Karaka ?—ln the land between Whitiora and Otahi I have no claims; but I have large claims in the land at Opunake. 339. Outside the boundary of the 1,400 acres, woufd you not come in for your tribal right with Wiremu Kingi's people? —I had claims in respect of land from Otahi down to Waitaha, Pungaerere, Okahu (Harriet's Beach) ; I had claims which were all included in the confiscated boundary. I lived at all these places I have mentioned, and cultivated; and at the time of the war we lost all our horses and cattle, and had to leave the place. 340. Where did you go ? —I went into the town to see Mr. Parris. I said nothing to Mr. Parris about my horses ; but what I wanted was some land for my children. I continued to hold tbe whole of my claims between Taungatara, which is the southern boundary of Wiremu Kingi's block, and Omuturangi, the northern boundary of the Waimate Plains. My claims there are through my hapu and my ancestors. I did not cultivate land there. 341. When you went before the Compensation Court, did you make the same statements to the Judge there which you have now brought before the Commission?—The Court gave me a printed paper iu which to fill up my claims to the land. I was told to claim as through the tribe, and not as an individual.