a—2.

342. Did you bring before the Compensation Court, when it sat, the same claims which you have brought before the Commission to-day ?—I did not write out my claims exactly as I have done in the petition which I have now presented ; I only claimed through the larger tribes. I left my claims in the smaller hapus without taking notice of them. If the Government had satisfied our claims, then there would have been nothing more about the matter ; but for fourteen years we have been waiting and nothing has been done, nor have we any land to live upon. 343. Why did you not make these specific claims on the previous occasion : you then came forward to claim in respect of the lands in which you were interested ; why did you leave some out at that time ?—I was then quite young, and not able to look into the matter as I can do now that I have grown up. I had no old people alive then to support me. 344. Who was your father ? —Dr. McAlpine. My mother's name was Eawinia. My father died when I was quite a child, and I was left to the care of the Eev. John Morgan. 345. Then how did you find out about all these claims which you did not bring before the Compensation Court ? —I was brought down from Waikato by the Taranaki tribe, and I was shown all the boundaries of my land. They also taught me my descent and the names of my ancestors, so that I might know how to claim my lands. I cultivated land in many places. When I had cultivated one place, my relatives took me away to live in another. 346. Was that before you were married ?—Yes. The war then began, and I was still living with the tribe. Some of my relatives were living in town, and they sent to me to say that I was not to stop with the people, but to come into town under the Government. I was living for some time with Bopata Ngarongomate and his people, and also with Mr. Carrington. I then came to live with Teira and his people. When I left them, I got married. After the birth of my first child, I came back to live at Opunake. When I saw what troubles there were between the people and the Government, I went away again ; but I have constantly returned to see my relations. I have had ten children, of whom eight are living. They are all at school. I now ask that you will give me some land out of all that has been confiscated, for myself and my children, to extinguish my claims within the confiscated land. 347. You do not say anything about the quantity of land you claim, or where it is situated ?—I leave that to the Commission to decide. 348. Major Brown: Mrs. Simeon mentioned her claims and rights in the 50,000-acre block at Opunake, and when Mr. Sheehan was there she wished the Government to give her a piece in that block. Tho Natives admitted her claims ; and Mr. Sheehan wished them to acknowledge some separate interest for her, but they declined. They said that Mrs. Simeon was quite welcome to come there with her children, and share in common the tribal right to the 50,000 acres. Mr. Sheehan said that if the tribe would recognize her claim and allow 7 her to have a separate piece, he would be very glad to give every assistance in his power ; but the Natives would not admit her separate right. 349. The Commissioners.] Supposing the Government were to admit your claim to these particular pieces in that block of 50,000 acres, they might not be able at the present time to give you tbat land. Would you be willing to take land in another block elsewhere ? —Yes, as long as it was not in an out-of-the-way place. I want to protect my children ; I brought them into the world, and I must provide for them. I wish to be certain that, if anything happens to me, they will be supported until they are old enough to take care of themselves. There are four girls and five boys; tbe eldest, who is a boy, is fourteen years of age. I have sent my eldest daughter to Melbourne to be educated. She is staying with my husband's mother, who has a governess for her. She will come back again in about two years' time, when she has finished her education. 350. The Commissioners : You must leave the matter now for us to think over. We cannot at present say anything final. 351. Mrs. Simeon : I wish to know whether you will agree to let me have the land at Omuturangi ? 352. The Commissioners.] Have you any tribal claim at that place?—Yes; that land belongs to us, to Ngatihaumea. 353. Teira said: I hand in a petition praying for land to be given to us, as in the case of the last claimant. The land in respect of which I claim is situated between Moutoti and Taungatara, the block that was returned to Wiremu Kingi te Matakatea and Arama Karaka. I did not attend the Compensation Court in 1866 ; I was too late. That is why I bring my claim here. 354. The Commissioners .- We shall consider this case also at the proper time. 355. Maraea Pekamu said: I come to see if I can get some land which I claim by virtue of rights on my mother's side. My mother's name was Mata Pekamu, and my father was George Ashdowu. 356. The Commissioners.] What are the lands you claim for? —-Between Oakura and Hungatahua, and on to Oaonui. 357. Have you any children ?—None living. I have adopted children. 358. Did you not go before the Compensation Court ?—-No; because I was not here. I was living at Port Underwood, in the other Island, and knew nothing about the matter. 359. Were you Mr. Ashdown's only child ?—No; there are three girls and two boys living. 360. Did the others put in their claims ? —No. 361. Are they going to do so ?—I do not think so; they are not here. My eldest sister is in Melbourne, and the youngest is in Dunedin. They are all married. 362. If you got a piece of land, would you go and live upon it ? —I wish to go and remain upon it. If I did not, I would stock it. My age is thirty-two. I was quite young when the last sitting of the Compensation Court took place, and was living in the other Island. I knew nothing about the sitting of the Court, because there were no people in my neighbourhood. 363. Mr. Parris : At the time when Mr. Eichmond investigated the claims of absentees for lands which had been excluded by the Court, we did our best to ascertain the number of claimants who would probably come forward as absentees. We obtained this information from the elders of the tribes, and were thus enabled to decide the number, and the Government made an award accordingly. But that award has never been given effect to, nor the allocations made. 364. The Commissioners (to Maraea).] Who was your mother? —My mother belonged to, the Ngamahunga.

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