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•own Europeans. After Waerengaahika fell, we returned to our place across the river; the pa fell in 1865. These people continued to live with the Europeans. In 1866 I went to the Chathams to take the Hauhaus there. These people remained and acted as soldiers ; they had arms and paraded twice a week until Te Kooti returned in 1868. When he came these people were still living together, and had not scattered to their different kaingas. After Te Kooti had come down and committed the massacre, these people arose with the Europeans and fought him at Makaretu. I omitted to state that these people went with Bapata, after Waerengaahika, to Te Wairoa. A chief of Ngatiporou, Eawiri Hikarukutai, was killed. Te Tuatini, a chief of Ngatikahungunu, was also killed on the enemy's side. After which, these people, led by myself, pursued Te Kooti to Euakituri, after which the fight I have referred to took place at Makarotu. After the irreturn from Makaretu they went back to Ngatapa. The principal fighting ceased after Ngatapa, but these people were engaged on expeditions in the bush after Te Kooti, when Eapata was in command. From the time I have mentioned these people have always remained with the Europeans, and have never separated from them. After this, Patutahi was divided among the tribes. Ngatiporou had a share, Ngatikahungunu had a share. The Europeans also had a share. The petitioners ought to have shared with the Ngatiporou. The Native claims to Patutahi were bought up for money. Henare Patae managed the sale. The people residing between East Cape and Tolago Bay were the only people who received money, and from the Murewai to Napier; for which reason these people have petitioned for a share. By Mr. Locke : We had only received fifty stands of arms from Napier in 1864. These eightysix persons were all armed, but some had arms of their'own. After Waerengaahika they were all armed with Government arms. We had no arrangement with the Government relative to our services. We have had communications with Captain Porter on the subject since, and also with Sir Donald McLean. We were informed by Sir Donald McLean that he was too busy to attend to it. I have no letter or communication from the Government on the subject. All these people (eighty-six) did not go to every fight; some remained at home to take care of the women and children and the Europeans. [List of names of persons who signed the petition handed in by Paora Parau.] By the Commissioner : All Natives engaged in the fights mentioned received 2s. 6d. per day and rations. Ngaitahupo and all other tribes were on the same footing. No promise was ever made by the Government that we should receive portion of Patutahi. I have not known any reason why Government did not give us any share. The portion of Teitangahauiti across the Uawa River joined the rebels. None of the hapus mentioned in the petition joined the rebels. Ngaitahupo are living in the District of Turanga. I know that some of the Ngaitahupo joined the Hauhaus, and some of them were sent to the Chatham Islands. Those crossed with red ink* in the list of names of persons who signed the petition are dead. Some of the Ngaitahupo, Teitangahauiti, and Ngatiporou joined the Hauhaus. Bapata Wahawaha, called by Paora Parau, sworn: I am a major in the New Zealand Militia, and belong to the Ngatiporou Tribe. I know the hapus named in the petition. I know they did not receive any of the payment for Patutahi. They were engaged under me in different fights in this district. I have never heard that the hapus mentioned in the petition joined the Hauhaus. By Mr. Locke : I did not know there were eighty-six signatures to the petition, but it is correct that these eighty-six persons remained in Turanga and protected the Europeans. These people's services commenced under me, at Te Kapane Waikaremoana. All the eighty-six were not there, some remained to protect the kainga. Paora Paraa was there in the year 1866. The arrangement with the Government, I know of, was that these people were to receive ordinary pay, but I know nothing about their right to Patutahi. I saw these hapus engaged at the fight at Waerengaahika, but they were not under me until we went to Te Wairoa. I do not know that the Turanga Natives were to receive any portion of Patutahi. I consider that Paora Parau and the hapus mentioned in the petition were as loyal as myself. I know Ngaitahupo ; they are a hapu living in the district of Turanga. I do not know if they received any money for Patutahi. I consider that Ngaitahupo were precisely in the same position as Paora Parau's people with regard to all these military expeditions. Captain Porter, sworn, called by Mr. Locke : I am captain commanding East Coast Militia District, and have been for many years past. I came here in 1865. I was present at the fi^ht at Waerengaahika, and was also engaged with the friendly Natives in the various fights that took place afterwards here and in the Wairoa District. I know the hapus named in the petition. In almost every expedition and engagement a certain number of the hapus were engaged. They participated to a certain extent in the money paid for Patutahi, but not perhaps as much as they were entitled to; the reason of which I can explain. When the Ngatiporou agreed to sell out the interest they were entitled to in Patutahi, they agreed to accept £5,000 in a lump sum. The chiefs arranged to apportion this out to the several persons that took part in the various expeditions for which Patutahi was given. The total sum to be given to any person who went on every expedition was £11 each. A different arrangement was made with regard to Ngatikonohi. I think a sum of £200 or £400 was set aside for them, amounting to about £2 each. This was given by Eopata and Henare out of their £5,000, and they would not give them any more on account of their taking up and adopting the actions of Henare Matua, which was considered to be calculated to oppose the Government. I consider that these people were paid their proportion of the Patutahi money, but whether it was a fair proportion or not I cannot say. 'I think all these people have been paid according to the lists furnished.. [Captain Porter handed in deed extinguishing Native title (Ngatiporou) over the Patutahi Block, dated the 30th September, 1873.] By Mr. Locke : I witnessed the payment of £2 to Ngatikonohi, that is, to those whose names were included in the lists given to me. Ido not know of an arrangement by which these people

* Indicated by an asterisk.

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