3

I.—lo

The Committee are further of opinion that it should be the duty of some competent and reliable officers to from time to time report to the Government the condition of the Natives in their respective districts, and make such recommendations for their relief as may appear desirable, and that such reports and recommendations should be laid before Parliament each session. Akaeoa Case. The Akaroa case forms part of that of Ngaitahu, and the recommendations of the Committee therefore embrace all questions arising from it. Mueihiku Case. The Murihiku case, although quite distinct from the others, the purchase having been made separately, at a different period, and from other Natives, is so similar to Ngaitahu that the Committee think it should be treated in the same way. Whilst it does not appear that further land reserves were promised, it is clear that assurances of schools, hospitals, and other advantages were given; and in these circumstances the Committee are of opinion that their recommendations in regard to Ngaitahu can be suitably applied to Murihiku also. Otakou Case. The Committee, having investigated this case, and considered it by the light of all available information, are of opinion that the whole question is, whether or not the principle of "tenths" applies to this purchase. This point cannot be satisfactorily determined until inquiry has been made as to the nature of the instructions from the Governor asked for by the late Major Eichmond, C.8., in his letter of the 12th June, 1844, and, as no record of this can be found in the colony, the Committee have resolved that steps be taken to obtain from the Colonial Office copies of all records on the subject. 10th September, 1889. E. C. J. Stevens, Chairman. (For Maori translation of report .. 1.-10a.)

EPITOME OE THE MURIHIKU CASE. 14th August, 1889. The Murihiku Block consists of the portion of territory lying to the south of Kemp's Purchase and the Otakou Block, and contains some 6,900,000 acres. It was purchased by Mr. Mantell on behalf of the Crown on the 17th August, 1853. The consideration-money named in the deed* is £2,000, but a sum of £600| was afterwards paid —in November, 1854. Eeserves, as stated in the deed, were made within the block for the Natives at the undermentioned places, viz.: at Tuturau, Omaui, Oue, Aparima, Oraka, Kawakaputaputa, and Onetoto. The area of these reserves consists of 4,588 acres. No reference to " tenths " or other reserves is contained in the deed of cession. The Commissioner who acquired the block made promises to the Natives, as regards schools and other advantages, similar to those given in connection with the Ngaitahu Purchase. These promises have already been referred to in the epitome of the Ngaitahu case, but it may be convenient to quote again from Mr. Mantell's letter, of sth July, 1856, to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, in which he said: "By promise of more valuable recompense in schools, in hospitals for their sick, and in constant solicitude for their welfare and general protection on the part of the Imperial Government, I procured the cession of these lands for small cash payments."

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX No. 1. Copy of Tbanslation of Mueihiku Deed. Let all the nations know : We, the chiefs and all the people of all the lands lying within the boundaries hereinunder written, derived through our ancestors, from whom it descended to us, the plan whereof is hereunto annexed, have written our names and marks as the act of consent of us, for ourselves, for our relations, for our families, for our heirs now living, and our descendants who shall be born after us, entirely to give up all those our lands which have been negotiated for, the boundaries of which have been described, and the plan whereof is annexed to this deed of conveyance, to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, her heirs and successors, for ever, as a lasting possession for her or for the Europeans to whom Her Majesty, or rather His Excellency the Governor, shall consent that it shall be given: And whereas we have agreed entirely to give up our land lying within the boundaries hereunder written, Walter Mantell, the Commissioner for extinguishing Native Claims (by virtue of the authority given to him by His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief to arrange and determine the price to be paid for these lands), agrees that he will pay us the sum of two thousand pounds sterling, the manner of payment to be as fdJows : The money shall be divided into two portions. In the first instalment there shall be one thousand pounds, which shall have been paid to us at Otakou, when all the people shall have assembled. The second instalment of one thousand pounds shall be paid

* Appendix No. 1, translation of deod, 17th August, 1853. f Appendix No. 2, translation of two receipts of £300 each.