57

G.—7

got cheated by the Europeans trying to deceive him as to the measurement of the field. Have very little to depend upon for a livelihood. Proceedings adjourned till the Bth instant.

Wednesday, Bth Apeil, 1891. Commission resumed. Wi Naihira supported the statement made by H. K. Taiaroa that it was both desirable and just that the Government should refund the expenses incurred by the Natives in trying to establish their claims. He alluded to the length of time that had elapsed since the completion of the purchase, and the non-fulfilment of the terms of the deeds. The people were insufficiently provided for with only 14 acres to live on. The rental derived from a section of this size, at £l ss. an acre, was £17 10s. per acre. This amount was soon spent, and was altogether inadequate to provide for a family. His family numbered twelve persons. The land given in 1868 was very inferior in character, and ought not to be taken into consideration when dealing with the question. The rent from this land was very small. When the Court was adjudicating the matter in 1868, I applied for 50,000 acres to satisfy our claims, inclusive of compensation for the delay. H. K. Taiaroa spoke on behalf of the Taumutu people. Went to Taumutu before 1880, and saw the reservations made for Pohau and others. They pointed out the reserves made for them by Mr. Mantell, and stated that this was all they had to live on, except Pohau, who had 14 acres at Kaiapoi. Rewi had also a section at Kaiapoi, derived from Hoani Timaru. Pohau and others wanted Mr. Mantell to reserve all the land from Waikakai to Te Tapuae and Poheahea for them and the other people belonging to Taumutu, who were then at Ruapuke, but Mr. Mantell would not agree. All their mahinga kai had gone to the pakehas; the hapua (lagoon) had been drained, and they were not allowed to go to other places to procure eels or fish. Waihora Lake was reserved by the Natives, and distinctly specified for with Mr. Kemp. All the Natives had a right of fishing in Waihora, not the Taumutu people only. The Government closed the lake, and stocked it with imported fish, and now the Natives are barred 'from fishing there. All the coast-line has been disposed of to the Europeans, and the Natives have no place to go to fish. When the lake is closed they get a chance to catch eels by digging a channel for the eels to enter. In olden times the people were able to procure kauru, a food that was greatly prized and used at feasts (kaihaokai). It was bartered for other kinds of food. Their weka-preserves in olden days were very valuable to them, both for food and to send, when preserved, to other hapus as a present, in return for which other food was received. All these privileges are now lost to the Natives, and if they attempt to go on the European land to catch birds and fish they are ordered off. Another kind of food they are now deprived of is edible berries, and also fern-root. All these descriptions of food were very much prized in olden times. Cannot see how the Natives can be assisted now. Better for them all to die out of the way. Teone Topi Patuke spoke to the same effect. Irai Tihau wished to be informed if the Commissioner could deal with the claims of the Kaikoura Natives. Paratene Tamanuiarangi: Mr. Mantell promised the Natives, when they wanted to reserve the land as far as the W'aimakariri, that they should have all the land between the Kaiapoi Reserve and the coast. But the Natives afterwards found that all they were to have was the Kaiapoi Reserve. The 14-acre sections are insufficient. The most of them are let to Europeans; but are too small to make a living off, and many of the Natives are too old to work now. There is no room to run stock on these small sections (" Ko te noho mate matou"). If we go on the Europeans'land we are turned off. Notwithstanding this we do not consider that the Maoris have lost their rights. It was a one-sided arrangement, and the Natives were taken advantage of. All the people are equally afflicted. If the Natives lose their case in the Supreme Court all will be lost. G. P. Mutu : One important fishing-place for the Natives was Lake Ellesmere. Believed that all the deeds are faulty, and could be upset. Here Whitau: The people of Kaiapoi have been afflicted for many years past. Hoani Hape : We have lost all our old food-producing places. Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) was of great value to the Natives as an eel-preserve ; but now it is destroyed by drainage. In otherplaces the lagoons are spoiled. Tanahira Waruwarutu alluded to the ora of the people in olden times. Their storehouses in those days were full of food. The pakehas in those days were aware of the abundance of food the Natives possessed. After the sale of Kemp's Block in 1848 the Natives lost all their formerprivileges. In 1855 was able to gain a living by work. Used to run the cargo-boat at Timaru ; got Bs. a bale for shipping wool, and made as much as £300 or £400 during a season. This work was afterwards taken up by the pakehas, and I lost the employment. The 14-acre farms are insufficient to live on. I came to Kaiapoi in 1863, and was allotted 54 acres by the Bunanga, and if I had kept it for myself would have been well off; but I divided it with my relatives, and consequently have only a diminished quantity. The men have to support the women and children. I, who am alone, feel the effect of having only a small area of land to support myself on ; but those who have families must do so to a greater extent. Europeans who have large areas can make money, and travel about; but the Maoris, who have only small areas, are debarred from these privileges because their means are limited. When I was a young man I had plenty of people to work for me; but now I am grown old I have to work for my own living. All the people amongst the Natives in olden days were not equal in rank, and a difference should be made in that respect. Government should attend to this when settling the question. Epiha Maaka: One matter that has operated injuriously in our interests is the sale of our land to the Government by persons who did not own it. I was born at Moeraki and reared at Kaiapoi. Only possess 6 acres at Kaiapoi, and a few acres at Moeraki; but there are others interested in the land besides myself. Another injury the Natives have suffered from is owing to B— G. 7.