103

I.—lo

We consider that these lands xvill carry one sheep [per acre] of open land and two sheep to the acre of bush land. In the bush [the value would be] at least 10s. [?per acre?] in the bush [where there is] no open land. We trust that the Chairman and your Committee will be assisted by God to arrive at a rightful decision. From Paerata Hitiri and Family. Hori Karawhira and Family, poututeranqi te tomo and family.

EXHIBIT No. 6. Sir, — Swanson Street, Auckland, 16th. September, 1912. At the request of the Taupo Railway League I beg to attach copy of resolution passed by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on the Bth day of September, 1911 : — Railway Extension to Taupo. —Resolved, " That under proper restrictions in the form of safeguards to the public interests and providing for the ultimate acquirement of the railway by the State the application of the company be not opposed by this Chamber." I am, &c, A. J. Denniston, Secretary. The Chairman, Select Committee dealing xvith Taupo Totara Company's Railway Petition, Wellington.

EXHIBIT No. 7. [Translation.] Oruanui, 11th May, 1912. The following sub-tribes of the Ngati-Wharetoa assembled at the Hikuxvai village—Ngati-Rangiita, Ngati - Rauhoto, Ngati - Tutemahuta, Ngati - Moeiti, Ngati - Ruingarangi, Ngati - Tama, NgatiHinerau, Ngati-Tahu, Ngati-Karetoto, Ngati-Tutetawha, and others—for the purpose ot considering the, following matters : — 1. We having heard that the railway company has proposed to the Government that 200,000 acres be taken from the Rohe Potae of Ngati-Tuxxffiaretoa to support that railxvay,— (a.) Resolved, That the above-named hapu do not agree that our land shall go, as proposed, under the mana of that company—that is to say, by sale. 2. The boundaries of the lands within the Rohe Potae, xvhich we decline to allow to go as proposed, are: Commencing at the Anaputarua, on the southern edge of Taupo Lake; thence along the line of Tauranga No. 1 to the boundary-line of Tauranga No. 2; thence to the surveypeg of Tauranga No. 3; thence direct to Owhaoko—that is to say, to the Rohe Potae boundary; thence turning eastward along the Rohe Potae boundary and turning xvestward on that boundaryline to the bank of the Waikato River; thence turning down that river to the mouth of the Waipapa Stream, on the xx-estward line of Te Tatua West; thence running up the Waipapa Stream and along the line of the aforenamed Te Tatua West to the line of Whangamata; and on reaching Nga-mahanga to run along the line of Oruanui West and the eastern line of Whangamata, running direct to Tapararoa, at Taupo Lake; thence across Taupo Lake to the Anaputarua, the point of commencement. Our lands inside these boundaries are not to pass under the mana suggested, neither are our lands outside these boundaries to so pass. We say nothing about the Crown lands or the lands of certain individuals (outsiders) xvithin our said boundaries. Those who have considered and adopted the foregoing resolutions are —Hira Rangimatini (and 32 others). There are also many others, and these hapu' entreat of you to carefully watch the petition of that company when it is presented to the House. We also ask you to block it, and to submit these xvords of your Maori people—who will be very much injured if the said proposals be given effect to —to the proper authorities. As witness whereof we subscribe our names hereto. Kuru Rutene (and 149 others).

EXHIBIT No. 8. In the Parliament of New Zealand, second session, 1912. In the matter of the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Company (Limited). Take notice that the Trades and Labour Council of Wellington intends to apply to the Committee appointed to hear the above petition to appear by counsel to object to the whole of the said petition. Dated this 2nd day of September, 1912. [Seal.] W. C. Noot, Acting-Secretary. To the Clerk of Parliament and to the Petitioners.

Authority : John Macka¥, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l2.