PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE. [Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated of 28th July, 1865.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1865 Session I, E-02

E.—No. 2.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE. [Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated of 28th July, 1865.]

- That there bo. laid wpou the Table copies of Mr. Buller's recent reports upon the Bangitikei Land Dispute, together with copies of the letters recently addressed by the Chiefs of the three tribes engaged in the dispute to the Superintendent of Wellington. Also, copies of all correspondence on the same subject between the Minister for Native Aaffairs and Mr. Bulle-r." (Dr. Featherston.) WELLINGTON". 1865.

E.—No. 2.

No. 1. MEMORANDUM BT THE SITPEBINTENDENT OF WELLINGTON FOE TUE COLONIAL SECEETAHT. In my Memorandum of the 18th of February last,* I detailed fully the measures I had adopted to prevent a collision between the Ngatiapas on the one side, and the Ngatiraukawas and the Rangitaiies on the other, and also the arrangements I had made with a view to the Ultimate adjustment of the long pending Rangitikei land dispute. To render my present report intelligible it is simply necessary to remind you that after holding several meetings with them, and failing to induce them to agree to a compromise, I gave them to understand that the Queen's government would not permit any fighting, that it was determined to preserve the peace, and protect all Her Majesty's subjects whether Pakchas or Maoris, and that whichever of the three tribes engaged in the dispute dared to fire a shot or strike the first blow, would be regarded as in arms against Her Majesty and punished accordingly : that as neither party would agree to the proposals of the other, I insisted upon their retiring from the disputed block, each tribe leaving only a sufficient number to look after its cultivations ; and further that I would not allow the squatters to pay any rents until the matter was finally arranged : that the Ngatiapas at once assented to these conditions, and formally handed over to me for sale whatever interests they might be found to have in the land; that the Ngatiraukawas and ltangitanes also, after Borne considerable demur, agreed to abandon the block and the non-payment of the rents, intimating at the same time their determination neither themselves to sell the block, nor to permit the Ngatiapas to alienate any portion of it; and that I expressed my belief that if the agreement thus entered into was abided by, not many months would elapse bofore a compromise would be come to. I have now the satisfaction to report that the arrangements then made have been upon the whole very faithfully adhered to by the contending tribes, and that my anticipations as to the effect of them have been most fully realized. The principal chiefs of the Rangitanes and Ngatiraukawas some time since came to the conclusion that the only way of settling the dispute was by a sale of the Block, and they quietly set themselves to work to convert their people to the same opinion. The payment of twelve thousand pounds to the Rangitanes for the Upper Manawatu Block no doubt tended very materially to Hasten the conversion of the opponents of the sale. Some were disappointed at not getting any portion of the purchase money, others sore at not obtaining what they considered their fair share, and there were very few who were not tempted by the distribution of so large a sum to agree to the sale of the Rangitikei Block. Defectives from the ranks of the anti-sellers begaii to take place so rapidly that the leading chiefs determined to lose no time in offering the Block. They first however sent presents to the Ngatiapas as an intimation of their desire to make peace. The Ngatiapas accepted these presents, and invited the Rangitanes and Ngatiraukawas to meet them at Parawhenua (at Rangitikei.) On the 17th of September, Ihakara and other chiefs addressed a letter to me (copy annexed) in which they placed the Block in my hands for sale to the Government. This was followed by letters from other chiefs to the same effect. On the 12th of October, I met the Ngatiraukawa and Rangitaue chiefs by appointment at Manawatu. There were twelve or fifteen present, besides some twenty or thirty Natives of inferior rank. Ihakara opened the proceedings in a temperate speech, the purport of which was that they had come formally to surrender the land into my hands, but that they still had to obtain the consent of the people, which probably would take two or three months. The other chiefs one after another got up and made a similar surrender. Some of them protested against the Ngatiapas being allowed to sign the deed of sale, but there was an entire absence of angry or even unkindly feeling towards them. There was on the contrary a tacit admission that the Ngatiapas had undoubted claims, and would be entitled to a share of the purchase money. In reply I sketched the history of the dispute, referred to the agreement entered into between the three tribes and myself in January last, and expressed my satisfaction at the faithful manner in which they had kept it. I then while accepting their offer, subject to their obtaining the consent of their people, reminded them that I had in January accepted whatever interests the Ngatiapa might be found to have in the block, and that I now repeated my determination to respect and maintain those interests. Ihakara and others then urged me to allow them to receive the rents, but when I

Sessional Papers, 1864, E.-No. 3. p. 36.

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.

E.—No. 2.

pointed but that to do so would bo a breach of faith towards the Ngatiapas, who were undoubtedly entitled to receive a portion of the reut3, they consented that the rents should remain impounded till the purchase was completed. Ihakara subsequently presented me on behalf of the tribes with a carved club as a token that the land was for ever gone from them, and was now in my hands. The following day I met the Ngatiapas at Parawhenua ; there were fully two hundred present including some of the chief* from Wanganui. They had made great preparations in the way of food under the impression that the Xgatiraukawas and Eangitanes would have accepted their invitation. Te Kepa was almost the only spokesman, and he simply said that they were anxious to learn what had passed at the meeting at Manawatu, that for their parts they had given me their lands in January, and were determined to leave the dispute entirely in my hands " Only make haste and settle the matter." I then briefly related the result of my interview with the other tribes, when Kepa and others expressed their entire satisfaction, declaring that they never had denied the claims cither of the Eangitancs or Ngatiraukawas, and that as for the rents they had no wish to receive them till a final adjustment had been effected. I feel therefore that I am fully justified in sayiug that this quarrel which has for so long a period seriously threatened the peace of this Province is now virtually at an end, and that though some considerable tiine'inay elapse before the questions of price, reserves, &c, are arranged, that the purchase of the Block is certain. I have again to bear testimony to the invaluable services rendered to me throughout these difficult and harrassing negotiations by Mr. Walter Buller, and also to express my thanks to his Excellency's G-overnment for leaving me so perfectly free and unfettered. I have, &c, I. E. Featiieeston, Superintendent. Enclosure 1 in No. 1. [translation.] Manawatu, September 23rd, 1864. F"F!lE>'n, This is my message to you. I have listened to the contents of the letter sent to you by Ihakara and the others, Mr. Buller having read over to me the copy in his hands. Enough, I consent to the words of that letter. I therefore ask you to add my name to those affixed to that letter. I have one word more ; it is concerning the leases. lam anxious to have the restrictions relaxed. "When we meet you at Te Wharangi (Trask's) you shall hear all we have to say. Ended. From your friend, Tapa Te Whata, Chief of Ngatikauwhata To Dr. Featherston. Oroua. Enclosure 2 in No. 1. [TUANSLATIOIf.] Tawhirihoe, Eangitikei, September 17, 1864. Feiexd, — This is our message to you. Hearken. Our land lying between the" Manawatu and Eangitikei rivers, the land in dispute between us and the Ngatiapa we place in your hands, for sale to the G-overnment, as the only means of finally settling our difficulty. The price to be paid for the land, and the portions to be reserved for us, will require careful discussion, in order that these matters may be properly adjusted. But we wish you to understand that this is the individual act of a few, the leading men in the dispute, and threatened fight. The general consent of the tribe has not yet been obtained to the proposed sale. The final decision as to selling or refusing to sell, rests of course with the whole tribe. But we are anxious to communicate to you at once our own conclusions on the subject. You are sufficiently acquainted with the system of laud selling—that it is only when both chiefs and people are agreed the land can be absolutely ceded. This is all we have to say to you at present. Ended, From your true friends, lIIAKAHA TUKUMAEr, A Chief of Ngatiraukawa;

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

E.—No. 2.

Hoaki Meihana te Eajcgiohi, A Chief of Bangitane ; WIEEMV PUKAPUKA, A Chief of Ngatiraukawa : NOA TE EaUHIHI, A Chief of Ngatiraukawa ; Hoei Kerei te "WAnAEOA, A Chief of Ngatiwhakature; Apeeahama te Hueuhueit, A Chief of Ngatiraukawa Te Eei Paehua. Witness to Signatures— Walter Buller, E.M. To Dr. Featherston. No. 2. THE RESIDENT MAGISTEATE, MASAWATU, TO THE HO>*. THE NATIVE MINISTER. Manawatu, 11th May, 1865. Silt,— I have the honor to report that a Ngatiapa Chief, Hunia Hakekic, cainc to me, asking me to prevent the settlers having runs on the disputed land from paying the rents. He informed me that if they persisted in doing so, war would be the result, and that immediately. As I am in no way empowered to interfere in this question, I desired him to make his report to me in writing, in order that I might forward it for your information. Enclosed is his letter, together with one for yourself, and one written to Mr. Hamlin by a Ngatiapa Chief, who holds different views. Unless some decided measures are immediately taken, I fear far more serious complication will arise. I am informed that the Ngatiapa have got the Wanganui natives to join them in the event of hostilities. As I understand it, the question stands thus — The Ngatiraukawa, the Eangitane, and the Ngatiapa tribes, claim this land. Europeans rent runs on it. The rents were formerly paid to Napu, the Ngatiraukawa Chief, who used to give some of the money to the Ngatipas. Upon the death of Napu, the Ngatiapas claimed a share of the rents, on the ground, that Napu gave them a portion. The Ngatiraukawas not agreeing to do so, the Ngatiapas offered the block to Dr. Featherston for sale, who authorised the settlers to pay no more rents until the land was purchased, or some other arrangement was agreed upon. It is not for me to offer an opinion, but if all the information is true that I get, I cannot but think that the settlers are in much danger of being drawn into this quarrel, as the Ngatiraukawas threaten to detain their stock if the rents are not paid, while the Ngatiapas threaten to go to war with the Ngatiraukawas, if they receive them. I can do nothing without instructions. I have, &c, M. Noake, The Hon. the Native Minister, Eesident Magistrate. Wellington. Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Turakina, Pepuere, 16, 1860. Kia Mataea, — E hoa Tena koe he kupu atu tena ki a koe mo te whenua, ara, ko te ingoa 0 taua whenua ko Eangitikei, i timata mai o Omarupapaka, i te taha ki Manawatu, ko te mutunga o te taha ki uta, kei Pikitara. Ko tenei whenua kua hoatu eau kia Petetone, Otira, c nga iwi c rua c Ngatiapa, c Wanganui. Ko tenei c hoa, he uinga atu tena kia koe, mchemea kua v.aiho iho pea c Petetone taua whenua ki a koe, me nga pukapuka hoki 0 taua Whenua, Otiia, kite kore c homai c ia ki a koe, he wareware pea nona, otira kite wareware a Petetone, mau c vi atu kia Te Peka raua ko Te Hemara. Heoi ano, Na. Apeeauama Tipae, Xi a Matara. B

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E.—No. 2.

E lioa o Matara. Ko vga mahi o runga o taua whenua i hoatu o inatoii kia Petetone, ko nga reti otaota, ko nga reti rakau, a whakaae mai ana liaia ki a ia katoa to tikanga. E hoa c Matara. Kia rongo mai koe, kei te tohea c Ngatiraukawa raua ko Ngatiapa ki Rangitikei nga Moni o nga reti kia kainga, engari ko to te rakau kua pau i a Ngatiraukawa raua ko Ngatiapa ki Rangitikei. Ko te Pakeha nana i utu, ko Puru ko te moni kua pau, kotalii rau pauna, na Puru tena moni. Ko tetahi o nga Pakeha ko Touore Pere ha ko tana moni c rima tekau pauna. , Ko te ingoa o taua whenua, ko Pakapakatea, i Rangitikei. E hoa c Matara, ko enei rakau kua pau nei nga moni, ne pupuru c koe, no te mea, kei a Petetone te tikanga mo taua rakau, kite pupuru koe i taua rakau, me tuku mai c koe tetalii kai tiaki me Rangitikei mo te whenua i whakaaturia c matou kia Petetone. Otiro me tuhituhi mai c koe kia Kapene Taniora, raua ko Takuta Kara, me te Pura hold, hei pupuri i nga rakau me nga reti, me te whenua hoki ara, no te whei.ua kua hoatu ki a Petetone c maua ko Hori Kingi. Heoi ano, Na to hoa aroha, Na Apebahama Tipie, Xi a Matara. Xi te tae atu tena reta kia koe, ka tuhituhi mai. Translations of Enclosure 1 in No. 2. Turakina, February 16th, 1865. Me. Mahtell, — Friend! Salutations to you. This is a word of mine to you respecting the land. The name of that land is Eangitikei. If (the boundary) commences at Oinarupanako on the Manawatu side. The (inland) boundary is Pikitara. I have given this land to Dr. Featherston, that is by the two tribes Ngatiapa and Whanganui. Now O friend, this is to ask whether Dr. Featherston has left this land and all the papers relating to it with you, or not ? If he has not done so, perhaps he had forgotten it. If he has forgotten, do you enquire of Mr. Baker and Mr. Hamlin. This is all. From Apebahama Tipae. Fbiexd Me. Maxteil, — The questions relating to this land that we handed over to Dr. Featherston, are the grass rents, and rent for trees. We consented to accept the management (settlement). Friend Mr. Mantell. Do you hearken, the Ngatiraukawa and the Ngatiapa are urging that the money for rents should be distributed at Rangitikei. The (bush rents) have been consumed by the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiapa at Rangitikei. The European who paid that money is Bull (?) The amount was one hundred pounds (£100). Another European was Donald Eraser (?) His money was fifty pounds (£5O). The name of that land is Pakapakatea at Rangitikei. Friend Mr. Mantell, the trees for which the mone}' has been consumed, do you take them (i.e. prevent them from being taken away), because Dr. Featherston has the management of those trees. Should you take them, do you send some one to guard Rangitikei, the place that we gave to Dr. Featherston. But do you write to Captain Daniells and Dr. Curl and also to Mr. Buller to hold (look after) the trees, the rents and the land given ,to Dr. Featherston by Hori Kingi and myself. This is all. From your loving friend, Apeeahama Tipae. Enclosure 2 in No. 2. Takauataru, May Bth, 1865. To Mb. Hamli*-,— friend, Salutations to you! A word of mine to you. Do not listen to talk of men when they come to you. Ngatiraukawa grieved about it. Friend Ido not see any wrong in Ngatiraukawa at present, because peace has been made by Mohi Hunia, Te Ketana, with the Ngatiraukawas. That is the reason of my writing to you, and Mr. Schultze, and Dr. Featherston, that the rents be opened. This must be done first. The cause of the disturbance of the three tribes, Ngatiapa, Rangitane and Ngafjraukawas, the land afterwards. Friend, do you write to Dr. Featherston least he should fix his mind on those letters of Ngatiapa, and trouble befall again. Friend, be cautious of those people who disturb the good that is already made.

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A.—No. 2.

Should you, the Pakeha, continue to hold the rents, Ngatiraukawas will detain the cattle and sheep. I have heard the words of all the chiefs of Ngatiraukawa and Eangitane. My words to you are at an end. Friend, Salutations to you, and our Magistrate. From your loving friends, Na Haxoeujieea Te Eaikokiritia. Should the words of this letter be clear to you, write, if dark, write. No. 3. THE BESIDEXT HAGISTEATE, BAITGITIKEI, TO THE HON. ME. MAUTEU. Eangitikei, Ist June, 1865. Sib,— Presuming that it is my duty to keep you informed of everything relative to the doings of the Natives in my district, I have the honor to report that several of the chiefs of the Ngatiraukawa tribe held a meeting some few days ago, and decided upon turning the stock oft* the land in dispute entirely. Their first intention was to put their purpose into immediate execution. They met again, said it would not be just to turn the stock oft' without giving warning. Moreover it ought to be a simultaneous movement from the Eangitikei and the Manawatu. They therefore wrote oft* to the Manawatu Natives, telling them of their decision, and calling upon them to fix a day for the expulsion of the cattle. They are now awaiting the reply of Ihakara, their head chief. I have, &c, M. Noake, E.M. The Hon. the Native Minister. No. 4 THE EE3IDEKT MAGISTBATE, 'WAKGAirDT, TO THE HOy. THE NATIVE MIJTISTEB. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Wanganui, June 27th, 18C5. Sib,— I do myself the honor to furnish for your information a copy of my Eeport to His Honor the Superintendent on the subject of the Eangitikei Land Dispute. I have, &c, Waltee Bullee, The Honorable the Native Minister. Eesident Magistrate. Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Manawatu, June 22nd, 18G5. Sib, — I do myself the honor to report that in pursuance of your instructions I left Wanganui on the 9th instant to visit the West Coast Natives, and by personal negociations with the chiefs of the three tribes concerned in the Eangitikei Land Dispute, to prevent, if possible, a further complication of the difliculty by the threatened seizure of settlers' stock. I returned last night from the Upper Manawatu, having, during the interval, visited the principal settlements and communicated personally with all the leading chiefs concerned in the dispute. I held meetings with the Ngatiapa at Turakina, and at Parewenua with the Ngatiraukawa at Eangitikei, and at Manawatu, and with the Eangitane in the Upper Manawatu country. It will be gratifying to your Honor to learn that my mission has been attended with complete success, and that the three tribes have pledged themselves in the most emphatic terms not to molest the runholders, nor to impound or in any way interfere with their stock, and to lot the payment of rents stand over, pending the final settlement of the whole question in dispute. I beg to furnish, as enclosures to this report, the following original documents (with translations) embodying the pledges which 1 have succeeded in obtaining from the chiefs of the several tribes, namely — 1. A letter from the Ngatiapa Chiefs and leading men.

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RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.

E.-No. 2.

2. A letter from Ngatiraukawa chiefs. 3. A letter from Ihakara, principal Ngatiraukawa Disputant. 4. A letter from Bangitane chiefs. These letters are sufficiently explicit, and need no further comment. But I cannot conclude without expressing my sense of the confidence reposed in me by your Honor, in requesting me to undertake a mission of some difficulty in a Native District of which I no longer have the official charge. I have, &c, "Walter Buller, B.M. His Honor the Superintendent, "Wellington. Enclosure 2 in No. 4. [translation.] June 10th, 1865. This is a letter from all the Ngatiapa residing between Eangitikei and AVangaehu to Dr. Featherston, the Superintendent of Wellington. Father Featherston, salutations. Mr. Buller has arrived, and we have had a meeting with him. We have heard your message respecting Eangitikei. Enough: we the Ngatiapa have consented. We are true to the agreement we made with you. We will not depart from our terms. Although the Ngatiraukawa should violate the " covenant " we shall hold to our promise. We have heard Mr. Buller's words, and they are very clear (i.e. satisfactory). Whether the Ngatiraukawa will listen to him or not seems doubtful. Our opinion is that they will persist in their stubborn course, because it is always so with tribes who have no land. Should they therefore prove stubborn, and refuse to listen to you and to Mr. Buller, in our opinion you ought then at once to pay us our money, the payment for our land, because Eangitikei is now in your hands, Now listen ; if the hand of the Ngatiraukawa should touch the sheep or the cattle of the Pakehas, the difficulty will greatly increase, because then fighting will be sure to arise. Don't have any misgivings about your own people the Ngatiapa. AYe are of the same mind as the Wanganui people, Hoani Hipango for example and Herni Napi, both of whom died in your service. Here is another matter. We are glad on account of Mr. Buller's visit, and the opportunity we have had of meeting him. He visited our new pa at Turakina, and we then applied to him to obtain from the Government guns and powder for the protection of our three pas. CTT"" Don't suppose that we want to use this ammunition against the Ngatiraukawa. Not so : because the Eangitikei dispute is now entirely in your hands. We want it for our own protection against this cannibal people the Hau hau. Let our friend, Mr. Buller, distribute the guns and powder, because he is acquainted with nil of us. Let Mr. Buller also furnish this our letter to you. Ended. From all the Chiefs of Ngatiapa, From Aperahama Tipae. X HUNIA TE HAKEKE. X Mohi Mahi. X Hakahaia Pouri. X Matene te Matuku. X Te Batana Ngahina. X Te Eopiha Piuha. X Utiku Matiaha. Hamueha te Eaiko Kiritia Beupena Kewetone. Watene te Banginui. Bawiri Takaoi. And Twenty others. Witness to signatures and marks— To Dr. Featherston. W. Buller, E.M. Enclosure 3 in No. 4. [translation.] Eangitikei, June 12, 1865. Father, Salutations! Mr. Buller, the Eesident Magistrate, has arrived. AYe have seen him, and we have heard your message respecting the rents for Eangitikei. Friends, listen ! We consent to be guided by the agreement we made with you at the Wharangi (river mouth) at Manawatu.

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E.—No. 2.

"We consent to let the Pakehas remove their cattle or their sheep (if they want to), and we leave you to decide about the rents, whether they should be paid speedily or not —because Eangitikei is now yours. It is held in your hand. On the day that the purchase money for Bangitikei is paid, we shall expect you to secure to us the payment of the rents. The words of our friend, Mr. Buller, are very clear to us, and we consent to abide by the agreement we entered into with you at Manawatu. We will not impound nor in any way interfere with the settlers' cattle. But w re leave Ihakara to speak for himself {lit. his words or thoughts are his own). Let Mr. Buller go to Manawatu, and shed some light into his heart, because he is very dark (or gloomy) about the exclusion of this land under the new law (Nat. Lands Act, 1862). Let Mr. Buller go also to the Bangitane, and talk to them, in order that their thoughts may be made to agree with ours. Ended. From your attached Friends, Noa te Eaithihi. Te Wieemu Pukapuka. ApERAIIAMA TE HuRUHUBU X. Eei te Paehua. Witness to signatures and mark —W. Buller, E.M. To Dr. Featherston, Superintendent. Enclosure 4 in No. -A. [translation.] Manawatu, June 14, 1865. Friend, Salutations ! Your friend and my friend Mr. Buller, the Eesident Magistrate of Wanganui, has arrived here. When I saw him I gave vent to my angry words in his presence. It is not right that I should hide this great grief (or gloom) I rest under, on account of our land which has been fenced in by this new law (meaning the Native Land Act, 1862), I mean all our land lying between Obau and Eangitikei. We have heard from the pakehas that all the lands of this island have been thrown open (or liberated) by this new law, and that our lands only are left in prison and that we are now just like pigs confined in an enclosure. As we view the matter our names are no longer upon our lands. Enough ! Dr. Featherston, great is my sadness, indeed all of us are sad. We are grieved with you because you did not explain to us this law. When we met at Manawatu to talk with you respecting Eangitikei, on the occasion that I handed to you my meremere (club) as a token of the absolute surrender of our land to you, you and Mr. Buller concealed from us this great matter, and I only now hear of it from other Pakehas. Now listen, then Dr. Featherston, when I had this explained to me great was my wrath, and my word went forth to Ngatiraukawa : " Now will I indeed, take back my meremere from the hand of Dr. Featherston, for my proposal for the sale of Eangitikei is completely at an end." And we have sent our petition to the Great Assembly of New Zealand to give utterance to our grief, and to get this land lying between Eangitikei and Ohau thrown open also: so that we may sell or lease to any pakeha whatever, and (we determined) that if our prayer should not be granted by the Assembly, we would then drive off the cattle and the sheep. These were our thoughts, and when Mr. Buller came I was still holding to this determination and grieving on account of the injustice of this law passed by your Pakehas. And when 1 rose to speak many were my angry words in Mr. Buller's presence. I demanded to have my club returned by you, and I declared than Eangitikei was now held back and would not be sold. For three hours did our talk last, while our two friends Wiremu Pukapuka and Noah te Bauhihi sat by listening. All your regulations were fully explained by Mr. Buller, and he told me your thoughts and his thoughts respecting Eangitikei. Enough ! Great was the clearness of his explanation and of the message which you wrote to him. Our agreement respecting Eangitikei still holds good because the land is firmly held in your hand and because the land is in dispute between us and the Ngatiapa. Listen now. The cattle and the sheep of the pakehas depastured on that land will not be seized or interfered with by us. It will be for you to decide respecting the rents. Ended. From your friend, Ihakara te Hokcwhitttkitbi. To Dr. Featherston, Superintendent. C

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BANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.

E.—No. 2.

Enclosure 5 in No. 4. [translation. Tiakitahuni, (Upper Manawatu), June 20th, 1865. This is an expression of the thoughts of the Eangitane in respect to the rents (for land) from Eangitikei to Manawatu, and in regard to the sheep and cattle of Pakehas now running on this laud. Listen, Dr. Featherston ! Our friend Mr Buller has arrived, and we have heard his words respecting this disputed land of ours. All his speech on this subject was satisfactory to us. We have received also your letter, addressed to Hoani Meihana, and your words with reference to the rents are very clear. Now listen to this our great word (or Declaration). The cattle and the sheep of the Pakehas will not be impounded by us, nor molested in any way. "We are willing to leave the matter in your hands. We leave you also to decide concerning the rents. When the mode of dividing this money between the three tribes is perfectly clear then we will receive it from your own hands, each tribe receiving its proper share. Enough. "We leave our dispute in your hands. Ended, From your friends, Hoani Meihana. Te Peeti te Awxawk. Te Warena Mahuhi. Bota Paea. Kerei te Paua. Tutere Tiweta. Apiata te Matai, x. Karauama te Ka, x. Kenata Hiha, x. Hekonaiha Paeboa, x. Hanita pc Aweawe, x. "Witness to signature and to marks, W. BULLEH, E.M. To Dr. Fdatheraton, Superintei.de.it of "Wellington. No. 5. THE r>DEE SECRETARY TO THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, WBUSBXSVI. Native Secretary's Office, Wellington, July 10th, 1865. SSr,— With reference to your report on the Eangitikei Land Dispute and the several agreements therein signed by Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiapa and Baugitane Natives. lam directed by Mr. Mantell to enquire whether all those who have signed, have claims to the Land in question. Also whether all, or all leading men who have claims, including those of the Maori King party have signed. I have, &c., W. BOLiESTON, Under Secretary. Walter L. Buller, Esq., Eesident Magistrate, Whanganui. No. 6. THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATE WHANGANUI, TO THE HON. THE NATIVE MINISTER. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Wangauui, July 12, 1865. Sir,— I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Under Secretary's letter of 10th instant referring to my Eeport on the Eangitikei Land Dispute, and enquiring whether all those who have signed the several agreements have claims to the Land in question; also whether all, or all the leading men who have claims, including those of the Maori King party have signed.

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PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE

E.-No. 2

In reply I beg to observe, 1. Almost the whole of the Laud in question is in dispute between the Ngatiraukawa and Eangitane on one side, and the Ngatiapa on the other. The disputants on either side decline to recognise, except to a very limited extent, the right of their opponents to deal with the land, or to ■eater into any arrangement respecting it. I have formed my own opinions of the respective value of these conflicting claims, but in the negotiations which formed the subject of my report, I carefully refrained from saying anything that could bear the construction of prejudging the case. For this reason I pledged the three tribes separately, irrespective of the dispute as to Title. 2. All who have signed the several agreements, claim, and I believe possess, an interest in the disputed land. 3. All who have signed are not chiefs, nor are they all leading men, but, so far as I amaware the signatures include all the principal claimants immediately concerned. 4. There is a small section of the Otaki Ngatiraukawas, some of whom are Mngites, claiming an interest in the disputed land. "When a collision was imminent, these Natives, headed by Eota went armed to Eangitikei and joined Ihakara. They have taken no part, however, in the matter of the leases, and are not among the claimants for rent. I did not therefore deem it necessary to obtain their concurrence in the agreement respecting the non-molestations of the settlers' stock. I am forwarding to His Honor the Superintendent by the Overland Mail, a supplementary Eeport covering a Letter from the Oroua people, and I do myself the honor to forward herewith a copy hereof for your information. I have, &c, Walter Bulleb, E.M., The Hon. the Native Minister. District Magistrate. Enclosure 1 in No. 6. Eesident Magistrate's Office, Sic,— Whanganui, July 12, 1865. Adverting to my Eeport dated June 22nd on the subject of the Eangitikei Land Dispute, and to the enclosures accompanping it. I have now the honor to furnish as supplementary thereto ■a letter from Topa te AVhata and other Oroua natives together with a translation. I did not consider it necessary to enter into any negotiations with the Oroua claimants ; but before leaving the Upper Manawatu I wrote them a letter detailing the steps I had taken and explaining the nature of the arrangement I had made with the three tribes principally concerned in the dispute. The accompanying letter which I have since received, expresses full concurrence in the terms ■of that arrangement. I have, &c, AYalteb Bulleb, E.M., His Honor the Superintendent, District Magistrate. AVellington. * Enclosure 2 in Ivo. 6. Awahurio, "Wahi Oroua, Xi a te Pura, — Hurae 1, 1865. E hoa, tena koe. Kua whakaae matou Ida waiho pai nga kau nga hipi a nga Pakeha i runga ano i nga Whenua reti, kia kaua he whakararuraru mo nga reti c noho ana ki Eangitikei, nei puta noa ki Manawatu, ki Oroua. Kua whakaae ano hoki matou kia waiho ki ate Petetone te ritenga. Ko tenei, ka ahu tonu ta matou mahi ki a ia. Heoi ano, Na Tapa te Whata Te Koeo te One Eei^pena te One, x Epiha te Moanakino Tamihana AYhaeeahaha Mtjkakai Te Hoeo, x Ateeea te Toko, jc Haeatieea Ttbanga, x Tipene, x Ko nga tangdta i tuhia mai nei c koe, kei te Hauhau katoa.

11

RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.

E.—No. 2

[teakslatio>*.] Aw&huri, District of Oroua, Ist July, 1865. Friend, Salutations ! "We have consented to leave unmolested the cattle and the sheep belonging to Pakehas, and now running on the leasehold lands and not to cause any trouble concerning the rents, (for the laud) extending from Eangitikei to Manawatu and to Oroua. "We have also consented to leave the matter to Dr. Featherston. "We shall now firmly cling to him in this affair. Ended. From Tapa Pc "Whata, Te Koeo Te One, To Mr. Buller. And 8 others: See copy of original attached. The rest of those to whom your letter was addressed have joined the Hau Haus.

12

RANGITIKEI LAND DISPUTE.