G.—7

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

THE NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION BILL, 1898 (LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE PREMIER FROM NATIVE CHIEFS AND OTHERS RELATIVE TO).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave of the House.

Matata, Bay of Plenty, Bth August, 1898. The Hon. Mr. Seddon, Minister of Native Affairs. Salutations.-—-We, the undersigned, support the Bill called " Native Lands Settlement and Administration," and the amendments thereto, made public at the meeting of Maori chiefs on the 20th June, 1898, at Greytown, and we ask you to consider the amendments and interlineations made to and in your Bill. We, the undersigned, who here support this are members of the Ngatirangitihi, a hapu of the Arawa, who are living at Matata, on the East Coast. Sufficient. Eaubeti P. Mokonuiaeangi and 11 Others, [Teanslation.] Matata, Bay of Plenty, 8 Akuhata, 1898. Kia te Hetana, Minita o te Taha Maori. Tena koe.—Ko matau c mau ake nei nga ingoa i raro nei c tautoko ana i te Pire " Tiaki Whakahaere i nga Whenua Maori," me nga kupu whakatikatika i whakaputaina i te 20 Hune, 1898, c te huinga o nga rangatira Maori ki Papawai, Greytown, a c inoi ana ki a koe kia whakaarohia nga kupu whakatikatika me nga kupu whakauru ki to Pire. Ko matau ko nga kaitautoko c mau ake nei no te hapu o Ngatirangitihi, hapu o Te Arawa, c noho ana ki Macata, i te takiwha o te tai Eawhiti. Heoi. Eaueeti P. Mokonuiaeangi me etahi atu tekau ma tahi. The Hon. Mr. Seddon, Minister of Native Affairs. 14th June, 1898. Salutations.—We whose names are hereto signed and whose marks are hereto attached support the Bill and the amendments thereto made public on the 20th day of June, 1898, at the great meeting of the Maori chiefs of New Zealand, and we pray that you will consider the amendments and the interlineations made in your Bill. Sufficient. God save the Queen. Tapbta Keebkeee and 93 Others, Poverty Bay District.

[TRANSLATION.] Matata, Bay of Plenty, 8 Akuhata, 1898. Kia te Hetana, Minita o te Taha Maori. Tena koe. —Ko matau c mau ake nei nga ingoa i raro nei c tautoko ana i te Pire " Tiaki Whakahaere i nga Whenua Maori," me nga kupu whakatikatika i whakaputaina i te 20 Hune, 1898, c te huinga o nga rangatira Maori ki Papawai, Greytown, a c inoi ana ki a koe kia whakaarohia nga kupu whakatikatika me nga kupu whakauru ki to Pire. Ko matau ko nga kaitautoko c mau ake nei no te hapu o Ngatirangitihi, hapu o Te Arawa, c noho ana ki Macata, i te takiwha o te tai Eawhiti. Heoi. Baubeti P. Mokonuiaeangi me etahi atu tekau ma tahi.

The Hon. Mr. Seddon, Minister of Native Affairs. 14th June, 1898. Salutations. —We whose names are hereto signed and whose marks are hereto attached support the Bill and the amendments thereto made public on the 20th day of June, 1898, at the great meeting of the Maori chiefs of New Zealand, and we pray that you will consider the amendments and the interlineations made in your Bill. Sufficient. God save the Queen. Tapbta Kebbkbee and 93 Others, Poverty Bay District.

[Teanslation.] Kia te Hetana, Minita o te taha Maori. 14 Hune, 1898. Tena koe.- —Ko matau c mau ake nei nga ingoa i raro nei me a matau tohu, c awina ana, c tautoko ano hoki i te Pire me nga kupu whakatikatika i whakaputaina i te 20 Hune, 1898, c te huinga nui o nga rangatira Maori o Niu Tireni, a c inoi ana kia koe, kia whakaarohia nga kupu whakatikatika me nga kupu whakauru kite Pire. Heoi. Bte Atua tohungia te Kuini. Tapeta Keeekeee me etahi atu.

Papawai, 20th June, 1898. The Hon. Mr. Seddon, Premier and Minister of Native Affairs. Geeetings.—By direction of the meeting of Maori chiefs assembled here, we who have been selected to be a committee to furnish you with the decisions arrived at at the meeting here submit the same to you as follows : — 1. This meeting of Maori chiefs entirely indorse the principles of the Maori Land Bill introduced by you to that meeting, and have made certain amendments and interlineations in the copy of the said Bill hereto attached. 2. And we pray that due consideration be given to these suggestions, in order that the wishes of your Maori people may be given effect to when finally preparing the Bill for its introduction into the Parliament of New Zealand.