G—2

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

NGATITOA ROYAL COMMISSION (REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency,

To His Excellency the Honorable Aethue Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of New Zealand. Mat it please toue Excellency,— We, the Commissioners appointed by His Excellency James Prendergast, Esq., on the 12th day of October, 1880, to ascertain the names of the persons entitled to participate, as the representatives of certain Natives deceased, in the distribution of a sum of £5,200, and the interest accrued thereon) humbly submit to your Excellency the following report; — The scope of the inquiry was defined by our commission as follows, viz. : —■ " To ascertain what survivors remain of the twenty-six chiefs named in the margin,* and who are the representatives now living of such of the said chiefs as may have died, and the proportionate share which each of such representatives is entitled to of the portion of the chief deceased from whom he claims." Notice of the intention to hold a sitting of the Commission at Porirua on the 12th day of January, 1881, was inserted in the New Zealand Gazette and the KaMti. "We met on the day appointed, and continued our inquiry during the two following days. In framing this report we beg to furnish a brief history of the causes that led to the setting apart of the aforesaid sum of money In August, 1853, the then Governor, Sir George Grey, assisted by Mr. Commissioner McLean, entered into arrangements with the Ngatitoa tribe, subject to certain reservations, to dispose of the remainder of their claims by right of conquest, and to settle those of other tribes living on the spot, to the whole of the districts on the northern and western portions of the Middle Island, in consideration of the sum of £5,000. In addition to the cash consideration payable to the Natives, it was further agreed that twenty-six of the claimants should have 200 acres each out of the land thus ceded by them, in such places as the Governor might set apart for this purpose. Owing, however, to the length of time that elapsed before steps were taken to fulfil the intention, no suitable land remained, and Government finally decided to make a grant of money instead. After numerous delays, owing to obstructions raised in Parliament by members of another tribe in the said island, who were opposed to the claim being satisfied, in case it might militate against their interests in a matter they were urging Government to deal with, the sum of £5,200 was ultimately voted for the purpose on the 17th December, 1879. The amount was placed in the Public Trust Office on the 18th June, 1880, and bears interest at 4 per cent, until a better investment offers.

* Te Waha Piro. Horomona. Hoani te Okoro. Nopera te Ngiha. Rawiri Hikihiki. Horopapera. Ropata Wainui. Mohi te Hua. Riwai te Aim. Te Whawharua. Tungia. Hohaia (Pokaitara). Hohepa te Maihengia. Pitiroi Paea. Te Karira. Mokau (Rangihaeata). Tamati Hauhau. Rene te Ouenuku. Te Hiko. Waka te Kotua. Eraia te Hunga. Rawiri Puaha. Tamiliana te Ruaparaha. Peti te Rau-o-te-Rangi. Wi te Kanae. Mateno te Whiwhi.