I.—3a.

20

[j. H. W. ÜBU.

8. In some cases, not in all? —Well, we expect it in all cases. We hold that Greymouth has gone ahead during the last twenty-one years. 9. And who has made it go ahead —the tenants and the Government? —You people have made it go ahead—the industry round about Greymouth did it —the coal-mines. 10. The industrious people round about, and the Government backing them up?— That may be so. Our ancestors gave it to them for a paltry £300, and now they want to take away from us the last bit that we have. 11. We want to give you a good return for it. If we give you fair value of it, you can either get that money invested for you or you can invest it in other land in other parts of the colony, which is likely to increase at a greater rate and to a greater extent than the Greymouth land. Have you considered all those phases of the question? —Some of them we have. 12. Have you considered the phase of investing some of your capital where the unearned increment will increase much more than it has done in Greymouth, and the fact that if you have the occupation of that land you may by occupation be permitted to use some of your capital in stocking it, in fencing it, and bringing it into subjection for the Natives who want to work it? Have you considered that? —No. That question just came before us when we were in Wellington. The question of selling the Greymouth land and for the Public Trustee to purchase land for us with the money was not dealt with at our meeting. 13. Would you be prepared to give that question consideration? —Yes, we will consider that question. Tv Meihana examined. (No. 11.) 1. The Chairman.] Do you wish to make a statement in regard to the Greymouth Reserve?— Yes. I have nothing further to say, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, in addition to what Mr. Poynton and Mr. Beare have already said. At our meetings we were strongly against converting the leasehold into freehold ; but the question of the Public Trustee getting the money to invest in other lands for us is something new, and we never heard anything about that proposal till we came to Wellington. I think if you could give us time the beneficiaries would consider the matter. 2. Hon. Mr. Guinness.] How many beneficiaries are there over twenty-one years of age?—l do not know. Those who live in Greymouth do not receive money until they are twenty-one ; they only get it up till they are sixteen years of age. Joseph William Poynton further examined. (No. 12.) 1. The Chairman.] Do you wish to add anything to what you have already said?—ln regard to the question of the number of beneficiaries which was asked the last witness, I might say that there are not many over twenty-one years of age. There are not as many children as there ought to be. They are increasing in this way: when a Native dies his share is divided amongst about ten beneficiaries. Our pay-sheets do not indicate correctly whether there has been an increase or not, because one man may die and his share would be paid to nine other beneficiaries perhaps. Although the number on our pay-sheet to receive payment would be larger, the number of beneficiaries would not be so large. There are forty-three separate payees altogether who receive the income. I might mention that the impression has been caused that the Greymouth people are particularly selfish in this matter; but we have had the same difficulty in Motueka, where a number of tenants got together. There, lately, we had the same difficulty, and the gross rent is less than 3 per cent. Where a number of tenants get together they naturally support each other.

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