A.—3b

10

Pα Ariki: The boundaries are known. The land that is in the hands of the Ariki is known, and the boundaries fixed by stones and trees, and so on. Also is that the case in regard to the land in the hands of the Eangatiras, and that which is in the hands of the Kiato. Bey. Mr. Lawrence : The Kiato, I may say, are the younger members of the Mataiapo family, as the Eangatiras are the younger members of the kingly family. Hon. Mr. Bigg: Do they receive rent for the use of the land—l mean payment? What return do the people give to the chiefs for the use of the land ? Pα Ariki : Yes, there is an acknowledgment, and this is the nature of the acknowledgment: when the Ariki or chief has any work in hand he sends his messengers to those who hold land under him, and if necessary they will supply pigs and the fruits of the earth to feed the people in connection with this work. Sir W. J. Steicard : I should like to know whether the people under the Eangatiras hold their land at the pleasure of the Eangatiras ? Pα Ariki: The small people that you now refer to, their name is unga. The land they hold comes out of the Ariki's own personal land. And the unga stays on that land, and he pays attention to whatever instructions or wishes the Ariki may make known to him. It is as if the land were rented to them. But the rent as you call it is really what they bring at this time or the other time to the Ariki, for it is no fixed sum of money or anything of that kind. Sir W. J. Steioard : May not the Ariki dispossess them at any time ? Pα Ariki: If at any time the Ariki should send word to one of his people that he requires a pig, which is practically our money, and that man disregards that message, the Ariki shall send to him again, and he shall wait one, two, and three years. If at the end of three years he does not bring a pig, well that means that he has given up the land, and therefore the Ariki says to him "Go." Mr. Fowlds : How many are there of these families ? Pα Ariki: I have not formed an estimate of the number. Mr. Fowlds : Would it be about a fourth of the people ? Pα Ariki : No ; they are not very numerous. Hon. Mr. Pinkerton: Has the Ariki the right to demand any number of pigs he thinks fit ? And if that number is not forthcoming, can he then tell the tenant to go, after waiting three years? Pα Ariki : This is how it is : If the man does not come voluntarily and bring me a pig the first year, I simply take notice of that fact and wait for a second year, and then, if he still brings me no acknowledgment, I may then wait for a third year, and then I send my messenger to him to see whether he will not send me a pig. If my messenger then returns and sa\s that the man has no pigs, and I know that he has got pigs, but, being unruly, he refuses to bring any acknowledgment in the shape of a pig to me —thus occupying my land without acknowledgment of any kind—then I behave just as if he had a lease with a yearly rental, according to your ways. For your custom is to apply for the rent, and, if it is not paid, to ask again, and if he refuses to pay, then you tell him he must go. But according to our custom we bear with him for three years, instead of according to your custom. Hon. Mr. Bolt: I should like to know what quantity of land is given to a man in return for which the Ariki gets a pig in rental. Pα Ariki : One man may have 2 acres, one may have 3 acres, and another man may have 5 acres, according to the situation and the boundaries of the land. Let it not be understood that we insist on early acknowledgment. If he should forget one year, and remembers next year, we are content; but he must not entirely forget. Mr. Major-: I should be glad if you will kindly tell them that we are very anxious to obtain as much information concerning themselves and the islands as possible, now that they are annexed to New Zealand, as many questions will come up for discussion in Parliament. Mr. Flatman : With regard to the question of leasing unoccupied lands, would a Native be allowed a lease of land if he applied for any of these unoccupied lands ? Pα Ariki : In reply to that question, Why should it not be right, if any Maori asks me or Makea to place land in his hands at a yearly rental, to let him have it? If lam convinced that the man can pay his rent we will treat him the same as Europeans. Hon. members : Hear, hear. The Minister then said that he and his party were very pleased to have heard the views expressed, and they would now say good-bye, wishing the people of Rarotonga every prosperity in the future, and a closer relationship with New Zealand. Before leaving, the Minister presented the Arikis with New Zealand ensigns, books, and pictures of the King and Queen, on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Flags were left with the Arikis or other leading Natives in each of the New Zealand islands visited during the tour, and were much appreciated. Colonel Gudgeon and Pa Ariki joined the steamer at Earotonga, having arranged to accompany the Minister to the neighbouring islands of the Cook Group, and at 8 o'clock in the evening of the 28th April the " Mapourika " got under way for Mangaia, 112 miles distant, arriving there about 7 o'clock the following morning. MANGAIA. This is one of the largest of the annexed islands, being about thirty miles in circumference, and having an area of some thirty square miles. Given proper landing facilities, it would be in no way behind Earotonga, except in the lack of that impressive mountain scenery that lends such a peculiar charm to the latter island. Mangaia is somewhat peculiar in structure. At a short distance inland from the shore there rises an almost perpendicular wall of dead coral, about 100 ft. high, as if the reef of earlier days had been lifted bodily by some convulsion of nature. This makatea, as it is called, runs right round the island, and