Or.— 7

46

Hona te Maiki Whatarauihi was at Kakaunui in 1848. Only got 4 acres. Suffered through this, as he had a number of grandsons —about twenty in number (Apes and others). He also lost all his mahinga kai. Epiha Maaka was at Moeraki, and afterwards went to Waikouaiti. Only owned 9 acres at Moeraki. Quite insufficient for the requirements of my family. Doctors are very expensive. When my child was ill I sent for Dr. Cunningham, and paid him £7 7s. for his attendance. Afterwards when my wife was taken ill I was unable to employ a doctor owing to the expense. Doctored her myself with Maori remedies. I derive a living by fishing, as the land I possess is insufficient for the purpose. Teone Bena Mamaru: My mate commenced from the time the land was sold. • Our rights were sold by others. A number of my relatives, full}' thirty, were omitted, which has proved a serious loss of land to me. Schools were promised in 1848, but none were established, to the detriment of those who could have taken advantage of them had they been available. Hospitals and medical attendance were also promised in 1848, and many died through the want of assistance of this kind. My father, Rawiri Mamaru, died through the want of medical attendance a few years ago, as we were unable to incur the expense. The land set apart for us is insufficient for our wants, and we have to supplement our livelihood by other means, such as fishing, &c. All our old mahinga, kai have been destroyed by the occupation of the country by the Europeans; and if we attempt to go in search of food we are turned off by the owners of the land. Ask that relief may be afforded to us. Mohi te Koaki, per Henare Karetai: Mohi's father did not take part in the sale of the land comprised in Kemp's block, and did not derive any benefit from it. Taiaroa requested the people to aid him to collect money for the purpose of taking action to establish their claims: £3,500 was collected for the purpose, in sums ranging from £5 to £40. Many persons sold their stock to obtain money to contribute for this purpose, and also obtained money in advance on the rent of their land. Tare te Kahu requested the people to .collect money for Te Maikaroa's meeting, and £300 was collected for this purpose. Have received no benefit from schools, and now we have to pay for the books under the present system. Owing to there being no medical attendance, have been put to heavy expense for doctors. Had to incur a large expense for attendance on his daughter, who died. The land owned by the Natives is insufficient to meet their requirements. Henare te Maire : Have known of the mate of Ngaitahu for many years. Gained my first experience through being with Matiaha Tiramorehu, and acting as his clerk to take down statements made by the old people. The mate dates from 1848, the year that Kemp's Block was sold to the Government. It was then they lost their mahinga kai, and have suffered ever since from the loss of these privileges. A great deal of expense has been entailed on the Natives through the Government failing to perform its duty, thereby compelling the people to take the matter up and expend money in trying to get their claims recognised. A large amount of money that the Natives could ill afford to lose was expended for this purpose. The amount is not exactly known at present, but it will be possible to prepare a statement of it. The sale of Kemp's Block by those who were not the sole owners was the means of depriving many persons of their rights, and no benefit was derived by them afterwards. When the reserves were made in 1848 some got ten acres acres each, and others about five or six. The small quantity of land that was set apart has been a serious loss to the Natives. Cannot get a living on the land, and have to obtain work from the Europeans to eke out a livelihood. Some are able to secure work, but those who are not so fortunate have to lead a life of semi-starvation. One cause that has created a heavy loss to the Natives is through the contributions they have had to make to meet the expense incurred in endeavouring to establish their claim for consideration in connection with the non-fulfilment of the promises made at the time the land was sold to the Government. The first expense of that kind the people were put to was Matiaha Tiramorehu's hui, and the expenditure incurred in printing and writing documents connected with the sale of Kemp's Block. The second was Taiaroa's kohe moni for the purpose decided on at the meeting held at Otago Heads, at the meeting called Te Main Tamariki. The third collection was ♦made at Te Maiharoa's suggestion. Other expenses were also incurred through the meetings held at Moeraki, Waitaki, Temuka, in connection with the general object to establish their rights. Another serious loss in the past has been the absence of medical attendance, and another is the want of schools and the failure to train the people to European trades. There was no atawhai either conferred on the old people. Tanetiki was the tipuna of the Kaiapoi people. Some of his mokopuna got money, others did not. Turakautahi was another tangata ivhai ritenga nui. His permanent abode was at Kaiapoi Pa. All his descendants have lost their mahinga kai. lam embarrassed by debt through being unable to support my family off the land. Henare Mauhara: I have suffered seriously through the condition of the sale of Kemp's Block not being carried out; in the first place, owing to the insufficiency of the land set apart for the Natives. No medical attendance was supplied, nor yet were hospitals or schools. Waited patiently for the fulfilment of these promises, and in the meantime my people died without being benefited by these promises. The long period of waiting that the people have been subjected to has proved very prejudicial to them. Wearied of waiting, and despairing that justice would not be done to them, they held meetings to create measures on their own behalf with a view to establish their claims. Meetings were held at Kaiapoi and other places for this purpose, and large amounts of money were expended, and also in attending Mr. Smith's Commission. The expenditure of this money has pressed very heavily on the Natives. I consider that the Government, if they are in earnest, should give full consideration to the .claims of the Natives, as a long time has elapsed since the promises were made to them. Hospitals are not available to all the Natives, notwithstanding the statement of the Parliamentary Committee. Children and invalids from here have to be taken to Oamaru for medical advice. Some can be taken, but others cannot be moved. A school has been erected recently —about September, 1890. Tuhuru was the only person at Moeraki who has received Government relief, but he did not live long. The people are badly in want of additional land,