G.—2.

1112. What answer did you get to that recommendation ? —I received no reply. 1113. Now let us take the block between the Patea and Whenuakura Eivers, which we will call the Whenuakura Block : it would amount to about 20,000 acres, would it not ? —I have no idea of the extent of it. It is very broken, and Taurua applied to Mr. Sheehan to have it returned to him. 1114. That is the upper part of the Whenuakura Block, above where the survey extends ?—Tes : above Taurua's and Komene's reserves. 1115. Have you had any negotiations with Taurua and the Ngaraurus about this Whenuakura Block ? —No. I asserted a right to deal with it as confiscated land, by having a line explored along the Kaharoa Eidge ; but, after the line had gone about ten miles, it was found so rough and impracticable that it was abandoned. 1116. Were you ever aware of a statement being made that Mr. J. C. Eichmond, when Native Minister, had promised in writing to give back to Taurua all the land between the Whenuakura and Patea Eivers ?—No. 1117. Were you aware of any statement being made as to the intentions of Sir Donald McLean on the same subject ?—Tes ; and I will put in a paper containing a statement made by Taurua on the 14th March, 1875, of a conversation stated to have taken place between him and Wi Tako and Wi Parata on the subject. The following is a translation : —■ "Statement of Taubtja at Patea, 14th March, 1875, before Major Brown and Hone Pihama. " On my arrival at Wanganui Town on our return from Wellington, I saw Wi Parata and Wi Tako, who said, 'This is the word of Sir Donald McLean, w 7ho has sent us to recommend you to take the takoha from Waitotara to Tangahoe.' I replied to them, ' Wait, that I may consider Sir Donald McLean's proposal.' They said, ' Eeply quickly.' I then said, 'I was not clear about the proposal of Sir Donald McLean, because the Government say the land has been confiscated; and now Sir Donald McLean proposes that I should take the takoha payment.' I said, 'Listen: Sir D. McLean's word is wrong, and. I now understand that the land is mine. If I take the takoha, the confiscation is cancelled, and the land remains to bo purchased. I therefore say to you both, Tell Sir D. McLean that I refuse to accept the takoha payment.' Wi Barata, in reply to all I said, agreed that what I said was right, but advised me to carefully consider the matter, as it was uncertain how long he and Sir Donald McLean would continue in the Government, and the proposal might be lost by a new Government taking office. I replied, ' Never mind that.' If any person says this statement is not true, let there be an investigation. " Taiietta. " Before us, Hone Bihama, W. Carrington, J.P." 1118. Further than that, are you aware of any existing engagement on the part of the Government to Taurua ? —No. 1119. What was the nature, so far as you know, of the promise which is alleged to have been made to him by Mr. Sheehan when Native Minister? —Mr. Sheehan stated he would consider Taurua's application to have the balance of the confiscated land between Patea and Whenuakura Eivers returned to him, and said he was inclined to consider the application favourably, for many reasons; one being that Taurua and his tribe had been prisoners for some years, and had therefore borne the heaviest portion of the punishment for the rebellion on this coast, while, at the same time, he did not appear to deserve it so much as some others, and had behaved very well since. 1120. Have you formed any opinion as to the advisability of entering into negotiations with Taurua and his people for the block between the two rivers, and of making any reserves there ?—Tes, I have considered the question. I may say that Komene says he has an equal claim, and claims that if any consideration is extended to Taurua, it should be equally extended to him. 1121. Komene has a settlement of his owm there, just above the Otauto Eeserve ? —Tes. 1122. And if any reserve were made for Taurua, it would be necessary to reserve Komene's settlement for him, would it not ? —Tes. 1123. Tou are aware that Komene already has a reserve there, and that he had it surveyed some time ago, and has let it ? —I am aware that he was awarded 1,000 acres, and that the back boundary of the reserve was surveyed by Captain Blake. 1124. At what time were the blocks within the confiscation south of the Waingongoro negotiated for by yourself ? —The negotiations for the Okahutiria Block were begun by Mr. Barris, and concluded by myself. The purchase of the Opaku Block was conducted by myself. Both were concluded about the same time, in March and April, 1877. 1125. At what time was the Opaku-Waingongoro Block negotiated for by you ?—The negotiation began in May, 1877. 1126. According to the return, the total takoha paid upon that block up to the present time is £7,513. Does this sum complete the whole of the amounts payable ou the block? —No. There remains £200 to be distributed by Taurua, Hone Pihama, and myself, inland of Normanby ; and also a sum of £500 which I was asked to retain by the Natives concerned, at the instance of Hone Pihama, to purchase back some fishing-stations belonging to the Ahitahi, the Ngatitupaea, and the Ngatitanewai. There is nothing else outstanding. 1127. Are these the fishing-stations that were referred to by Hone Pihama in his evidence at Hawera ? —Tes. 1128. When these two sums of £200 and £500 are paid, there will have been a payment of £8,213, which will finish the takoha for that block. Then how much per acre will the takoha on the block come to ? —About 2s. 2d. per acre. 1129. About the same, in fact, as has been the. average in the case of the Moumahaki and the other blocks ? —Tes. 1130. We observe that on this block Hone Pihama has received £1,250 ; Taurua, £525 ; Ngahina, £525 ; and Tito Hanataua, £100; and there are also payments to ten other chiefs of sums varying between £100 and £300, with payments to twenty others of £100 each. Do these large payments go into the hands of the principal chiefs as mana, or are they divided with the tribe ?—The payments

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