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There seems, further, to be no doubt that the Natives had held out to them, as an inducement to sell, a promise that further reserves would be made for their benefit, and an assurance that, by selling their lands, and thus facilitating the settlement of Europeans in their midst, they and their children would share in the general care, solicitude, and protection afforded by Government to Her Majesty's subjects; but there exists no satisfactory proof that authority was ever given by the Government for any definite promise in this respect, or that any Government officer ever reported to the Government that any such promise had been made until upwards of seven years after the Commissioner for extinguishing Native claims had reported that his " mission was ended," and the duty intrusted to him futilled. It is certain that any responsibility undertaken by the Imperial Government in regard to Ngaitahu is morally binding on the Colonial Government. The questions that have been investigated by the Committee may be stated thus : —■ Have the promises and assurances made been substantially fulfilled in regard to— • 1. Eeservation of Native reserves and cultivations ; 2. Further land reserves ; 3. Schools; 4. Hospitals; 5. Constant solicitude for their welfare? The evidence establishes, in the opinion of the Committee, that the promises made in regard to the Native residences and cultivations were falfilled. The Committee are also of opinion that the further laud reserves made (although not undertaken in so liberal a spirit as might have been suitable to the case) may be considered as having substantially discharged the public obligations under this head. The proceedings and awards of the Native Land Courts in 1868 may be studied with advantage as establishing this view. In saying this, the Committee quite recognise that, although the awards of further reserves may have reasonably met the demands arising out of the promises made, it may yet be found highly expedient that more land should be provided where the provision proves to be insufficient to afford Natives a livelihood. The Committee are satisfied that the educational provision is now, and has been for a number of years, sufficient for the children of Ngaitahu, and that, however much it may be regretted that the provision for the education of the tribe was not begun earlier, it is impossible to assess pecuniary loss arising from failure to fulfil assurances under this head. As regards hospitals, the Committee find that separate hospitals have never been provided for Ngaitahu, but that the public hospitals are open to Natives equally with Europeans. Medical attendance for Ngaitahu appears to have begun prior to 1864, and has continued to a greater or less extent to the present time. For a number of years Ngaitahu was looked after on behalf of the Government by speciallyqualified persons. The condition of the Natives during that period was at any time easy of ascertainment. This arrangement was practically ended in 1880 as regards resident officers, and entirely so in 1884 ; and, although it appears that cases of distress would be more or less relieved if brought under the notice of the Native Office, there cannot be said to bo any inspection or any regular means of knowing whether distress exists or not. As a matter of fact, the Native Department is ignorant of the condition of the Ngaitahu, and under existing circumstances can only know of it in the most accidental manner. The Committee think that this report should include reference to the important question of " tenths," as sought to be applied to the Ngaitahu purchase. The fullest information on the subject of " tenths," its origin and application, will be found in the Appendix. A brief statement of its nature, however, may be given here. The system was devised by the New Zealand Company, and took the form of a provision that the Native vendors should ballot with European land-order holders for sections to the extent of one-tenth of town lots and one-tenth of rural sections, the effect being that the Natives selling land to the company were, to the extent of one-tenth of the land sold by them, provided with reserves, and this not in remote localities, but in a way calculated to place them on exactly equal terms with the European immigrants entering the ballot. This system was applied by the company to several of their earlier purchases. Whilst it is the fact that the Ngaitahu purchase was made for, and with the money of, the New Zealand Company, the Committee are of opinion that the evidence against the contention that tenths ought to have been applied to Ngaitahu is irresistible. The Committee are aware that the officer who made the purchase put in the deed the name of the principal officer of the New. Zealand Company, but it is clear that he did so contrary to express instructions ; and, whilst there is no trace of any promise of tenths as an inducement to the Natives to sell, there is positive evidence that the officer who succeeded Mr. Kemp (the purchasing agent), and who adjusted the transaction with the Ngaitahu Natives, distinctly informed them that tenths would not be applied to the case, notwithstanding which statement the matter was completed by him with the Natives. It now remains for the Committee to offer the best suggestions in their power for a final settlement of this difficult case. After very careful consideration and discussion they have come to the conclusion that the only practical and effective way to arrive at a satisfactory settlement is to cause careful inquiry to be made into the condition of the Ngaitahu Natives; and, if it be found that any have not sufficient land to enable them to support themselves by labour on it, to take power from time to time to make furtheFprovision by way of inalienable reserve to meet such cases. Since it is not unlikely that suitable lands may not be available out of Crown lands in the neighbourhood of the Ngaitahu settlements, and the removal of landless Natives to remote localities may prove to be undesirable, if not impracticable, it is suggested that power should be taken to apply the principle of the 168th section of "The Land Act, 1885," in the acquisition of such moderate acreages of and near the Ngaitahu settlements as may be found necessary.