Gr.—7

44

doctor then resigned the post, and the Natives had had no doctor for about six years. If any of their people took ill it cost their relatives from £3 to £6 to procure medical attendance from Dunedin, without they happened to be a subscriber; then the cost was £1 Is. Teone Batara had a large family, and only 10 acres of land to support them on. He had very bad health, and was unable to work. The 10 acres of half-caste land was all he had, and that was situated in an out-of-the-way place where he could not cultivate it. No Government relief has been received in aid of the old and indigent people. These people have been supported by their relatives, who could ill afford to do so, especially in cases where they had large families of their own. Phil B,yan had a large family, and had no land of his own to maintain them on. Was living on his wife's land. He owned a little land about Kaiapoi, but not enough to support him. Epiha Maaka was living on his wife's land. Timoti Karetai's family were insufficiently provided for. He had let some of his land, but the rent received was very small. The rest he was working with the assistance of his family. For some of his land he received £10 a year. Hakumanu had no land at Waikouaiti. He had some at Otago Heads, which he had let for £13 a year —too little to live on. Henare Karetai had let some of his land for £8 a year. No person had sufficient land to maintain himself and his family. Several persons were unprovided for, and had to obtain work to get a living. In fact, everyone had to seek employment during the shearing and harvest seasons to procure money to purchase food and clothing with, as the land did not support them; and sometimes work was not obtainable. Topi Patuki stated that the Murihiku people had no doctor. Others confirmed the forogoing statement, and stated they had nothing to add. All their cases were alike. H. K. Taiaroa presented a petition setting out that he claimed to succeed to several of the deceased vendors—namely : Taiaroa, Hoani Wetere Koroko, Pohau, Wi te Baki; and demanding that 5,000 acres of land, not less than £2 per acre in value, be set apart for Taiaroa's claim, and also compensation for the delay for forty years ; 4,000 acres for Hoani Wetere Koroko, not less than £2 per acre in value ; 3,000 acres for Pohau, of the same value ; and 2,000 acres for Te Baki. Teone Topi Patuki presented a petition asking that 2,000 acres, at £1 10s. an acre, be allotted to him for his claim. Tini Kerei Taiaroa presented a petition demanding that 1,380 acres be set apart to satisfy her claim for her relatives in Kemp's Block. Apetition from Tare Wetere te Kahu, notifying that he had a bond fide claim to laud within the Otakou Block. Riki te Mairaki Taiaroa presented a petition asking- that their claim to land within the Otago Block be considered; also, that their claim in the Ngaitahu Block be considered; also, that their claims in the Murihiku Block be considered. H. K. Taiaroa presented a petition praying that his claims to land in the Otakou Block, and also those of Riria Mokai, Puna Koroko, and Heni Haeora, be considered. Pirihira Wetere te Kahu presented a petition praying that her mother's claim in the Otakou Block be considered. Riria Potiki presented a petition relative to the claim of Piri Kiriti (Wm. Christie), a half-caste to land in the Otago Block. Timoti Karetai and others presented a petition praying that the claims of their family in the Otakou Block be considered. Hana Wira Ellison presented a petition praying that her claim to land in the Otakou Block be considered. H. K. Taiaroa presented a petition relative to the expenditure of £3,500, the cost incurred by the Natives in endeavouring to establish their claim to the Otago Block, praying that the Government reimburse the amount. Hopa Ru presented a petition that the claims of himself and others to succeed to Te Raki be considered. Commission adjourned to Moeraki.

Moeraki, Thuesday, 12th Maech, 1891. Commission opened at Buranga House, Moeraki. Commission read out, and explained to the Natives present. Henare Mauhara asked the Commissioner if any action was proposed to be taken about the 500,000 acres the Natives had spoken about at Waitaki in 1887 to be set apart in satisfaction of their claims in Kemp's purchase. The Commissioner stated that he had no authority to deal with that demand. All he was authorised to do was to ascertain the names of the persons who are unprovided with land, and report accordingly. Wi Poukuku also spoke about the 500,000 acres. Henare te Maire asked the Commissioner to state whether he was empowered to settle all their claims without reference to the Government or Parliament. The Commissioner stated that he was not empowered to settle any claims, but merely to inquire and report as to who were unprovided with land. As regards their claim for a large area of land, the Parliamentary Committee had reported that the principal claim for consideration of this kind might be considered to be settled, although not so amply as it might have been done. , All that the Committee considered remained. to be done was to ascertain who were unprovided for. Teone Bene Mamaru stated that he had no questions to ask the Commissioner; but he desired to make a statement about the 500,000 acres thai; had been demanded by the Natives in satisfaction of their claims. They had preferred this claim to several Ministers of the Government who had visited hem—namely, Sir Bobert Stout and others,