Gr.—2.

through Captain Blake (see letter of Captain AVilson), that my dealing with the Waimate Plains had not the sanction of Sir George Grey or the Hon. J. Sheehan, which made my being stopped still worse. The next telegram was the one from the Hon. J. Ballance, inquiring if I could commence the survey of the Plains, and that I would be supported by an efficient force. This led me to expect that if I required material support at any time I would receive it. About the close of 1878 aud commencement of 1879, I had increasing obstruction on the part of the Natives to the surveys for reserves or any other object (see telegram to the Hon. J. Sheehan of Ist February, 1879), and the instructions on 15th January from.Sir George Grey not to make reserves or inform any Native, &c, had the effect of placing me in a negative instead of a positive position in the matter of reserves with the Natives with these difficulties. I applied for men for roadmaking on the Plains (see telegram to the Hon. J. Sheehan of Ist February, 1879), which was agreed to by the Cabinet (see reply of the Hon. J. Sheehan, dated 7th February, 1879), but never carried out. If I had had the support of a couple of hundred men roadmaking, I am of opinion that the survey parties would not have been removed from the Plains, or the surveyors further interfered with ; as it is, and was all through, a question of whether we had the will to use the necessary force to carry out the confiscation. I wish, further, to supply a date that appears to have been omitted ; the instruction of Sir George Grey not to make any reserves is dated the 15th January, 1879. Two months' afterwards (about the middle of March) I informed the Hon. J. Sheehan, on his way to Parihaka, that the instructions not to make reserves worked, I thought, prejudicially, and that I had not been able to get the Natives to join me in suggesting reserves to the Government (see telegram to the Hon. J. Sheehan of Ist February, 1879). He then told me to do what I thought right. We were on our way to Parihaka, and shortly after his return the surveyors were removed from the Plains. —Charles Brown, Civil Commissioner. Telegram from the Hon. J. Ballance to Major Brown. Wellington, 22nd May, 1878. Would you recommend the immediate commencement of the survey of the Waimate Plains, with an adequate staff of surveyors. If the work once undertaken, Government would sustain you by sufficient force.—J. Ballance. Telegram from Major Brown to the Hon. J. Ballance. Wellington, May, 1878. No present difficulty in immediate commencement of survey of the Waimate Plains, without a force to support it. —C. Brown, CC. Telegram from Major Brown to the Hon. J. Sheehan. Hawera, Ist February, 1879. Could not find Katene, but found leading Native of party who warned Finnerty. He was very pouri at surveys' extension inland, which I told him were necessary to enable Government to avoid placing settlers on cultivations, and told him not to interfere with surveyors, who were only obeying my orders ; to reserve his anger for me. Ho at first refused to tell me direction of survey camp ; but eventually was mollified, and pointed out direction. Found Finnerty surveying, who told me threat to shoot them came from young men of party ; that the one I met only told him to go, and not return. Has left that work, survey of river, for the present. I recommend that arrangements be made with County Council, if possible, to employ labour, as soon as it gets more plentiful, in making road, the men to be sworn in as constables or otherwise organized to keep the peace, if required.—C. Brown, CC. Telegram from the Hon. J. Sheehan to Major Browts". Wellington, 7th February, 1879. Thanks for telegram. Cabinet approve of your recommendation re road, and matter will be undertaken at once. —John Sheehan. 704. Was it not at the beginning of December, 1877, about six weeks after Sir George Grey's Government came into office, that the survey, which had at that time been begun by the previous Government, was suspended ?—Tes. 705. Did you receive any instructions to that effect ?—I received the following telegram from the Under-Secretary: "3rd December, 1877.—Major Brown, CO., Patea, Hon. Native Minister requests that you will suspend survey Waimate Plains till you are further instructed. —11. T. Clarke, Under-Secretaiw." 706. Those instructions came to you a few days before a meeting of the Ngatiruanui people which took place at Omuturangi, did they not? —Tes; it w ras a few days before the meeting at Omuturangi. 707. Did anything take place at that meeting about the survey ? —Tes ; I reported it on the 19th December, 1877, in the following words: " I have the honor to state, for the information of the Native Minister, that Captain Wilson has sent me the following information about the Ngatiruanui meeting which took place at Omuturangi on the 12th instant. It was decided that the lighthouse was necessary, and ought not to be opposed by the Parihaka Natives. The survey of the Waimate Plains was objected to by many. Titokowaru was moderate, but wished to know what lands were reserved for them before the surveyors crossed the Waingongoro." 708. How long a time was it between tbe suspension of the survey and its recommencement? — Survey operations were recommenced about the end of July or beginning of August, 1878 : about six or seven months. 709. And was it during that interval that the Native Minister saw Titokowaru and made the promise about the reserves ? —Tes. I think it would be as well if I put in a letter which I received from Mr. P. G. Wilson, at Hawera, dated 24th November, 1877, on the subject of certain communications which took place with the Natives about the stopping of the survey at that time: — " Hawera, 24th November, 1877. " I wrote you to say that Blake bad written to tho Natives, through Takiora (Mrs. Dalton), advising them not to let you survey the Waimate Plains. Tuwhakaruru could not get tbe letter, but told me that the letter stated that the survey of the Plains was your doing only, without the consent of the Government. Blake is here now himself, and is talking to the Natives in the same strain. He tells them that he is going back to Wellington, and will return with Mr. Sheehan, the Native Minister, who

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