GK—2.

46

some one to decide who should appear as the rightful claimant in each reserve, and my meddling might prejudice the action of whoever might be sent to decide. I therefore told Mr. Williams that whatever European went there he would do so at his own risk. 6433. Whiu said : In the time of Mr. Richmond, Mr. Atkinson spoke for me. In 1866, Mr. Atkinson came to Waitotara, and some of us who were with the Government were with him. We were told then, that the land on this side of the Waitotara, on both sides of the road, should be given back to us. This was in 1870 and 1871, when we were at Wanganui. This land was divided amongst those who remained with the Government; 400 acres apiece was given, and the land was all used up by them. There was none left for me and my people, of whom there were 500, including the women and children, at Potikiarehua. These 500 people lived there without any land at all. In 1872 Sir Donald McLean gave us 500 acres ; and I said to Captain Blake, " These 500 acres should be allocated on my own land." Blake said, " Where will you have it ? " I said, "On this side of the river, where the Town of Waitotara is." He said, " This land is all occupied by the Europeans : it has been all sold to those of your people who were with the Government." I said, " Well, the Natives might move off from that which was sold, to another part." He said, " Tou had better have it in another place." So I looked, and, seeing it was on land of my own, I said, " That will do." If it belonged to other people I should not have taken it. I. said to Blake, " Come with me, and point out the pegs of the land, that I may be quite clear." We went through it, and Captain Blake pointed out the pegs. When he was pointing out the pegs he said, "This land is for you all as far as Moumahaki; " and we agreed to this. There were 100 acres intersecting the piece ; those 100 acres belonged to the Europeans; and we said to Captain Blake, " We do not wish to have a European living in the midst of our land, for he has stock and we have none, and his stock will break down our fences: move this European to some other land, and let us have the whole of this, from Moumahaki along to the road." But he did not give any answer. We again asked that the European should be removed from the land. Give us the land occupied by John Duncan and Mr. Hodge; they have 48 acres. I did not know, when Captain Blake pointed it out to me, that there wrere to be any Europeans on this part. 644. Mr. Williams, Land Burchase Commissioner, said : The complaint as to this 500 acres is, that a piece has been taken out of it after Captain Blake sold it to John Duncan and Mr. Hodge, and he wishes to have this piece given back to them again. But it appears that this piece was not in the piece pointed out by Captain Blake, but within the boundary of the whole block. 615. The Commissioners : We cannot agree to take back land that has been sold; but we must see what the promise really was that was made by Sir Donald McLean. It is possible that the applicant may have a good claim against the Government. We shall have to look into the matter ; but at present we are not clear about what the promise actually was. There were many things which Mr. Eichmond promised, that were carried out; but, all that we can say now is, that we are not going back to the words of Mr. Eichmond before the second insurrection if they have not been given effect to. We cannot investigate anything at all on the other side of the Waitotara. All that must be left to the Civil Commissioner. 646. Wirihana said: I wish to explain what Whiu said. When the land was divided, some of it for my hapu, the land fixed on was some that belonged to me there, together with Whiu's. Since that time there is a European, McDonald, who claims 100 acres out of the 500 acres. 647. Wharenikau said : What I have to say is something new. Ido not belong to the Ngarauru Tribe. I come from the Thames, near Auckland. I was taken there as a prisoner, and was to have been eaten. But Christianity was brought there, and I was released and sent back ; and when I came back I asked that some land might be given to me, because all my land had been confiscated for the sins of these people. This is why I now ask that 1,000 acres should be given to me. 648. Ngahina said : I wish to speak of the lands of my people: from Whenuakura to Waitotara on the coast, thence up the Waitotara River to Moumahaki, and along the Aloumahaki Stream to Kohi, thence round by the Eohi Stream to Whenuakura, and down the Whenuakura Eiver to the sea. This land all belongs to us, and it has been thrown into confusion by the doings of Mr. Worgan. I have not had any of this land returned to me, although I have remained loyal all through the wars in Titokowaru's time. 649. The Commissioners : This is new matter, and must remain till we come back. 650. Ngahina : I wish the Commission aud Major Brown to know that I am going to claim the remaining part of Okahutiria. 651. The Commissioners : We have already said more than once that the conclusion of the investigation here must wait till we can return to the district. We cannot settle anything without examining the records of Mr. Worgan's work. When we return we will take up the Waitotara claims. For the present we wish you farewell.

lI.—OFFICIAL EVIDENCE.

At Hawera, 26th February, 1880. Major Brown, Civil Commissioner, examined. 652. The Commissioners.] We wish to ask you some questions with reference to the proceedings of the Government as to making reserves on that portion of land which was surveyed on the Waimate Blains. When those surveys began, had you any instructions to make reserves for the Natives ? ■ —Tes; I had a general authority from Sir Donald McLean. Instructions were given to Mr. Parris, and I was subsequently authorized to do what I thought necessary in the matter. 653. That, we understand, was a long time before the surveys were commenced ? —Tes.