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from him in answer, stating that the surveyors would go on to the Plains on the 29th July. On the 31st July I sent the following to the Surveyor-General: "Be Waimate Plains. Four strong parties crossed the Waingongoro on Monday, and are camped together near its mouth. No actual survey commenced ; simply cutting traverse lines. Neither instruments nor chain on the ground. Commissioner Brown wishes, in this manner, to feel his way. Unfortunately cannot give surveyors distinct work at present." 995. Did you not, at the same time, begin the survey of the meridian line crossing the Waingongoro, near Stratford ? —Tes ; on the same day. 998. Is it the case that during the whole progress of the survey you consulted Major Brown on every occasion ?—Tes, on every occasion ; and I gave positive instructions to the surveyors to the same effect. They all understood that Major Brown's views were to be studied. 997. That the work was to be executed under his directions, in fact ?—Tes. 998. When did you reach that point of the survey whore you wero to make the large reserve for Manaia and bis people? —It was about August or September. 999. What was the extent of the reserve which you understood waa to be kept for Manaia ? —■ 2,000 acres. 1000. Where was it situated ?—Between the main road and the sea, and Kaupukunui and Motumate. 1001. Was that reserve intended to be left without being sectionized ?—Tes. 1002. How did it come to be sectionized? —I was anxious to have the whole of the district cut up into sections ; and I spoke to Major Brown about it, and suggested that it would be an advantage for Manaia and his people, for individualizing or for leasing at some future time. 1003. Tou did not know from anybody except Major Brown that these 2,000 acres were intended to be reserved for Manaia ? —No. 1004. Had you any communication whatever with the Natives about it yourself ? —No. On the 2nd December, 1878, 1 sent word to Mr. Skeet, one of my surveyors, that Major Brown wished the 2,03)0 acres at Kaupukunui to be cut up into sections. On the 25th September, 1878, I informed the Surveyor-General that the Civil Commissioner bad requested me only to cut, at present, main-road lines and river traverses on the inland side of the main road, preparatory to laying out some reserves, which was to be done before sectional work was commenced. 1005. Did nothing take place afterwards between the Civil Commissioner and yourself about laying out reserves inland of the surveyed block ? —No. 100b'. Did you receive no instructions at all from tbe Civil Commissioner about leaving out Native villages and clearings from the survey? —No; but it was an understood thing with him that when we came to them, that was to be done. 1007. What do you mean by its being "understood:" did you understand that that was to be the . duty of the surveyors ? —No ; that the Civil Commissioner was to point out where the reserves would be, because he went over to try and arrange with the Natives. 1008. What was the first proceeding which took place interrupting the survey ?—Mr. Anderson, another of my surveyors, was turned back when surveying a road line at Taikatu and Omuturangi. 1009. What happened? —In December both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Skeet were stopped by the Natives. It was ou account of the road going near to the Native settlements. 1010. What was tho position of the road-line when they were stopped? —It was 40 chains from Titokowaru's pa at Taikatu. 1011. Did you receive any reports from Mr. Skeet and Mr. Anderson about the interruption?— Tes, verbally ; and they were directed to undet'lake other work. 1012. Do you know what the grounds of objection were on the part of the Natives?—The Natives objected to the surveyors going there. Mr. Thompson, the-interpreter, wont up and had a long talk with the Natives, and the understanding was, both at Taikatu aud Omuturangi, that there was to be a reserve. Mr. Thompson was instructed to tell the Natives that what we wanted to do was to cut roads, so as to get at the back country. In this locality the settlements are in the only places suitable for a road. It was always understood that tho 800 acres which the Civil Commissioner spoke of in his evidence relating to the allocation of the compensation awards, were to be laid off here. 1013. But the objection was waived at that time, was it not, and the surveyors went on?—The road-line at Taikatu was not continued, but stopped where cultivations commenced, about half a mile from the village. At Ahuroa, the chief Bam a gave his consent for the road to pass, and it was carried on without interruption, three miles inland of tho main road. But the road-line towards Omuturangi village was carried forward by Mr. Anderson during the absence of the Natives at Parihaka, until it reached close to the cultivations, where it was stopped: and that, as well as the Taikatu line, was never continued. 1014. Were the roads you speak of taken without any consultation with the Natives, and without their consent? —They had been talking about the matter before with Mr. Thompson, who was placed with Mr. Skeet's and Mr. Anderson's party, and who was therefore in constant communication with the Natives. ' 1015. Had there been any consent from the Natives to the road going there ? —I could not say. Major Brown deputed Mr. Thompson to accompany the advance parties for fear of any complication. 10L(i. Was there any other interruption of the survey before the surveyors were finally removed? —Tes. On the 16th February Mr. Bird, who was cutting the meridian line at the back of Mawhitiwhiti, reported that tho Natives were hindering his party in their work ; or rather that the women were, who got in the men's way aud threw the stuff back into the line which the men had cut; but that, when he got away from their clearings, he thought they would get tired of following the survey party. Then, ou the 21st, he reported again, as follows : ''As I have already telegraphed to you, the Natives have stopped us. After a great deal of trouble, we had got through a small clump of bush, the Natives all the time following in the line and hindering us all ways. We came at length to their village at Mawhitiwhiti, and there two old Maoris chased the mon with long-handled fern-hooks—and these old men meant mischief —while the rest, consisting mostly of women, closed round the men and endeavoured to

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