53

G.—2.

suited about it. Still, I considered there was sufficient authority to put them there, unless there were other reasons against it. Mr. Paekts's examination resumed. 736. Now, with respect to tho remaining quantity of the compensation awards in the districts south of New Plymouth, namely, 17,280 acres, which were to be selected between Kaupukunui and Waitotara: is that liability settled? —I cannot say; it was taken out of my hands, and put into those of Mr. Worgan. When I had charge of the whole question, I was forbidden to operate upon a block of land seaward of the main trunk road between the Waitotara and Patea Rivers, as the Government intended to sell that. When Mr. Worgan took charge, I was instructed by Sir W. Pox and Sir Donald McLean to give Mr. Worgan all the necessary information in reference to the question ; which I did by supplying him with maps, and explaining to him that the unallotted awards of the Courts of that particular district must be allocated inland <rf what was called the Main Trunk Boad. Instead of carrying out what were my instructions from the Government, he commenced to allocate all the unallotted awards on the choice tract of land between the main road and the coast. As he commenced to allocate these awards, he also began to purchase them for private individuals. He had previously been instructed that, if he could not get the Natives to take locations, he should buy them out by money payments. Instead of that, he took upon himself, without any authority, to allocate them upon the land between the road and the sea-coast. As soon as it was ascertained what lie was doing, Major Edwards, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Bobert Pharazyn held a meeting, and agreed to report Mr. Worgan to the Government, which they afterwards did; and he was suspended by the then Premier, Mr. Waterhouse. I heard no more about the matter until I was ordered to meet Sir W. Fox and Sir Donald McLean at Wanganui. I recommended that what Mr. Worgan had done, without authority, should be cancelled. That was never done: and it became necessary afterwards, on account of the complications which had arisen, to hold a sitting- of the Compensation Court, to confirm a great deal that had been done by Mr. Worgan in the matter. I allocated a certain quantity, the particulars regarding which are as follow: 20 Natives who were awarded 400 acres each, and 22 who were awarded 16 acres each, agreed to take their land in one block on the north-west bank of the Waitotara Biver ; 2 Natives who were awarded 400 acres each, and 7 Natives who were awarded 16 acres each, took their land in one block to the north-west of the Waingongoro ; 5 Natives, who were awarded 120 acres each, had a block of 600 acres awarded on the Kakaramea. That was prior to my report of the 29th August, 1.570. At that time there were 7,400 acres unallotted : namely, 13 claimants for 400 acres each; 50 claimants for 16 acres each; and 5 claimants for 280 acres each. 737. And between 1870 and the time of your leaving office, did you take any step to allocate these awards ? —I had nothing more to do with it after that. It was then placed in Mr. Worgan's hands. 738. The Commissioners.] Now, Mr. Barris, we have completed the list of the awards on the south, and will take those made for land north of New Plymouth. Where did the confiscated land begin there ; was it not at the boundary of tho block next to the Tarurutangi ?—Tes. 739. Then will you describe to us the reserves between Bell Block and Waitara Biver first? —■ There was the Kairoa reserve, 492 acres ; another at Manutahi, 204 acres ; Kaipakopako, 578 acres ; Mahoetahi, 162 acres ; and Ngahuinga, 33 acres: all these are in Puketapu Block. The next division is the Waitara-Pukekohatu, iu the Waitara Township, 20 acres; Manukorihi, 25 acres; Otaraoa, 35 acres ; Pukepapa, 310 acres ; Pukerangiora, 52 acres ; and Pekafu, 235 acres : also the burialground sections 24 and 29, Waitara East. In the Tikorangi Military Settlers' Block, 51 acres. That is all on the south of the Ngatirahiri Block. 740. Have any of these lands been individualized? —No. 741. Was there any promise made by the Government that they should bo? —No. 742. And they are held as tribal reserves stiil ? —Tes. 743. Then there is no necessity for any Crown grants to be issued for them? —None whatever. 744. Now, will you give us the description of the lands within these boundaries which have been individualized?.—The Puketapu Block, containing about 8,040 acres, was individualized, aud the Crown grants prepared. I lay before the Commission the register of the individualization, together with the map of the district. Copies of the registered individualization were furnished to the Crown Lands Commissioner's Office, for the issue of Crown grants. So far as I know, the Crown grants have been prepared ; but I cannot say whether they have been all issued. 745. What is the next reserve? —The next will be the block of land from the Waitara Township, bounded by the Puketapu Block, the Waitara Biver, and the Huirangi Military Settlers' Block. This block was subdivided for Pukerangiora, Ngatirahiri, Otaraoa, and Teira's hapu. Pukerangiora got 273 acres ; Ngatirahiri, 595; Otaraoa, 241; and Teira's hapu, 500. The oniy portion of this block which has been individualized is 500 acres for Teira and his hapu, and 241 acres for the Otaraoa. A copy of the register of this individualization has also been furnished to the Crown Lar.ds Commissioner for the purpose of issuing Crown grants. I produce the registered individualization, together with the plan. 746. Were there not some transactions with respect to the town belts? —At Manutahi nearly the whole of the town belt was allotted for Natives returning to their allegiance. The acreage amounted to 54J acres of the town belt: there are 33 sections. 747. Was there any individualization of these ? —No. 748. The Natives, then, still hold the reserve tribally ?—They still hold it tribally. At Mataitawa I applied for some of the belt round there, and 90 acres 3 roods 18 perches were allowed, with 7 town sections. 749. Is that also held tribally? —Tes. There was an application from a settler, Mr. Mcßean, to the Government, to be allowed to exchange part of the Mataitawa town belt: Air. Mcßean was to give section 120, containing 50 acres, in the Huirangi District, for about 27 acres of the Alataitawa town belt, which had been formerly kept for the Natives; and that section accordingly belongs to the Puketapu Natives, to be held tribally. 750. That completes the transactions up to Waitara river ? —ln addition to what I have said, I