G.—7.

42

APPENDIX B.

No. 1. Sir, — Kohimarama, Auckland, 24th May, 1905. 1 am writing you on the subject of the 3,000 acres I claimed for my hapu before the Commission last week, and, reviewing the evidence and rules laid down by the Commission, I felt that I ought to have made some remarks oh the most important points, and I trust that my doing so will not meet with your disapproval and am within my right. When it was clearly understood that only those who could give their whakapapa to Mutunga and none of those in reserves would be allowed to participate, many of those who supplied the Commission with their whakapapa asked me to admit them on my list, all combine, and get the whole 3,000 instead of allowing any of it to revert back to the Crown; this I refused to do. And on my refusing to take up that course I at once made enemies, and, owing to the rules laid down by the Commission, I had no opportunity of examining them so that the Commission could see both lines to Mutunga, and all I could do was to challenge the genuineness of their whakapapas, as you know I did on every occasion in Court. Te Aho Piripi's list was the only genuine one, as it contained many of those I represented, and I knew they were correct. I was told that owing to my whakapapa being put in first it afforded them the opportunity of linking theirs to my Mutunga, and accused me of keeping them out and helping the Government in every way. This 1 was quite aware. Although my action was favouring the Government, I felt in my own mind better do this than act dishonestly if my people never got anything rather than they should. I preferred the Government having it, and on principle I could not fight on any other lines; this I told Mrs. Hopere. I also told them I preferred taking that course to being told hereafter I got it by such means proposed by them, and the Commissioner was the best judge of my action and motives in doing as I did. I am much grieved that none of my people in the reserves were allowed to participate, as the areas they hold are so small, and very large families in Maraea Tamate's case. She may have about 70 acres in her own right, and this is scattered in different parts of the district, and there are twenty-two to succeed and a prospect of more to succeed her. Her sister, Tangotango, about the same area, fourteen to succeed and prospects of more to succeed. I am, <fee, To James Mackay, Esq., Wellington. Jane Brown.

No. 2. Xi te Hona kia Heemi Make, Paeroa. Whaingaroa, Pepuere 28, 1905. E koro, —Tena koe te kanohi ora o aku matua kua wehea atu nei kite po ara a Maaka Tarapiko me Turi te Patete me Reene teo uenuku me Rupine te Tuki me Raniera Kawharu me Renata Pau, kua huihui atu nei ratou kite ra ao tena koe te mea i mahue ake kia ora koe heoi nga mihi. 1 tuhi atu ai ahau i tena ki a koe he mea kua kite iho ahau i te Panui a te Kawana kia whakaturia koe hei Komihana uiui i nga tangata o Ngatimutunga Kaore nei ano i whiwhi ki etehi waahi whenua i nga whenua i whakaho kia mai mo te Raupatu i roto i te takiwa o Waitara, Taranaki, i pitihanatia nei c Heeni te Rau mo ratou ko nga mea o Ngatimutunga. Kua mahue i aua whenua no reira he mea atu noku kia koe he kotiro taku hei mokopuna tuturu kia Heeni te Rave penei ana. Ko Heni te Rau to mua muri iho ko Mere muri iho ko Te One = Amiria— Mere = Rewi Maaka—ko Huihana. Koia tena taku kotiro c hiahia ana ahau kia uru tahi kia aua whenua kua panuitia nei c te Kawana, ara, ma kite koe c whai take ana tena kotiro i runga i tena whakapapa kua tuhia atu na c au ko Heeni te Rau me Mere me Te One he whaea kotahi he matua kotahi he mokopuna tuturu tena a Huihana na ratou. Heoi ra ka marama mai koe ki tena heoi ra ma te Atua koe c tiaki i nga wa katoa. Heoi ano na to tamaiti pono ara — Rewi Maaka, Whaingaroa (Raglan), N.Z. [Translation.] Raglan, 28th February, 1905. To His. Honour James Mackay, Paeroa. [Here follow some Maori greetings, &c] The claim is as follows: I have written this letter to you because I have seen the notice that the Governor has appointed you to be a Commissioner to inquire about the people of Ngatumutunga who have not received the lands which were set aside for them out of the confiscated lands at Taranaki, which has been the subject of a petition by Heni te Rau for those of Ngatimutunga who have been left out of those lands. I therefore point out to you that I have a daughter who is a grandniece of Heni te Rau—thus: Heni te Rau was the firstborn, after her came Mere, after Te One; Te One married Amiria; their child was Mere, who married Rewi Maaka; their child is Huihana, who is my daughter. I therefore desire that she shall participate in those lands which form the subject of the notice by the Governor—that is, if you find that the girl has