LANDS IN THE PATETERE DISTRICT. (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE THERETO.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1880 Session I, G-01

G,—l

1880. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS IN THE PATETERE DISTRICT. (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE THERETO.)

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 3rd June, 1880. " That copies of all correspondence and telegrams which have passed since the Ist day of October last between the Government or any of its officers, with Messrs. Sheehan and Whitaker, or either of them, or with any Judge or officer of the Native Land Court, or with any Land Board or member of a Land Board, or with any surveyor, relative to any lands, Native or Government, in the Paletere District, or in the neighbourhood or vicinity of that dislrict, be laid before the House." — (Sir George Grey.)

No. 1. (Telegram.) Auckland, 19th June, 1879. Hon*. Sib G-. Gbey, Wellington.—Yesterday afternoon E. B. Walker, of Cambridge, whom you will remember meeting at Te Kopua, came down to see me from Waikato, accompanied by Mr. Whitaker. They had advised me of their coming, and I directed Mr. Grace to come along with them. Their business had relation to negotiations now going on for purchase of lands lying between east bank of the Waikato and the Tauranga -watershed, and extending south as far as Te Atiamuri. Walker's object was to ascertain whether or not any arrangement could be come to whereby the competition now going on between himself and his friends on the one hand, and the Government on the other, could be avoided by us agreeing to allow them to acquire certain interests, and they withdrawing from others, for reasons which I shall explain further on. I deemed it advisable to meet them and discuss the question with them. The substance of their proposal to me is as follows : They ask us to allow them to complete negotiations for blocks of land containing about 40,000 acres, on which they have paid about £5,000. These blocks are adjacent to each other, and are all situate eastward of the Pokawhenua Stream, extending to Native settlements on the Patetere ranges known as Te Wetu. If that be done they propose to give up their interest in about fourteen other blocks, containing about 280,000 acres, lying between the Erukaiwhenua Stream and the east bank of the Waikato, running down to Te Atiamuri, including what is known as the Tokoroa Plains. They also propose to abandon their negotiations over the Horohoro Block, upon which they have paid £900. Several of the blocks which they propose to give back have been surveyed, and they have paid moneys upon them to the extent of about £1,000. They propose to abandon these moneys, and to hand over to the Government the survey-maps free of charge. They undertake to assist the Government in every way in completing negotiations for the blocks from which they propose to retire, and they agree to be guided by our officers in all matters connected with the negotiations of the blocks which they propose to retain. I should mention, also, that there is another block —through which the Botorua main road to Tauranga passes—the survey of which I stopped the other day, for which Walker has been negotiating, and upon it he has paid a little more money. He proposes to hand this block over also. In considering this proposal the following matters require to be taken to account: Ist, Walker is a bond fide settler, and is expending a great deal of money in the permanent improvement of a large area of country in A-Vaikato. 2nd, the fact of their competing has been, and will continue to be, a means of raising the price of the land which we are seeking to acquire, besides protracting the completion of our block indefinitely. As things exist at present one is almost powerless to prevent these causes of disturbance, and on that account it may be worth while to consider whether or not it would be desirable to come to such an arrangement as is now proposed. The question is one for Cabinet to decide. I will be glad if you could find time to talk the matter over with other Ministers now in Wellington some time through the day, so that I might be able to give Walker an answer before leaving Waikato on Saturday. —John Sheeiian. No. 2. (Telegram.) Auckland, 19th June, 1879. Hon. Sib Geo. Geex, Wellington.—Confidential.— Be my telegram sent herewith respecting Walker's offer about Patetere lands, I wish you to understand that I have simply submitted the proposal *aiade r with the means urged by the parties in favour of its being given effect to; at the same time dteire to point out to you that the whole of the land to which they refer is covered by a Proclamation,, and a great deal of it was included in Brissenden's negotiations of 1873, which were taken ewer by theGovernment of that day. Most of the payments made by Europeans concerned had boen. made sinceour Proclamation was issued, and are consequently illegal. In several instances, t«ke survey or th© I—G. 1.

G.—l

2

surveys have been made without authority, and practically by stealth. For that Moon and Hay are only to blame. I do not care myself what decision the Cabinet may come to, so that my course _ be clearly marked. If agreed to accept Walker's proposal, no doubt will have the effect of shortening the time within which our transactions shall be completed, and saving very considerable expense; although policy of entering into such arrangements is open to grave question, and has in other cases been the cause of serious annoyance to the Government. If it be decided not to accept, then it must be borne in mind that the parties are very powerful, and are well supplied with funds, and will make as hard a fight as possible, trusting to the chance perhaps of a change of Government and to altering in the existing land laws ; nevertheless, if my hands are strengthened by the decision of Cabinet, we can beat them. Many of the people are anxious to deal with us. We have paid considerable sums of money upon the land. By appointing some competent p'erson for the sole purpose of residing in the district and conducting the negotiations, I think wo could pull them through. A great deal of the land is of fair quality, and a fair proportion of it exceedingly good. By retaining negotiations in our own hands we are in a better position to carry on negotiations with the King Natives, as it will be in our power to withdraw if necessary in some cases, or to modify the boundaries of land under negotiation if it should appear to bo necessary to do so. Colonel Whitmore has mentioned to me a proposal which the Ministers in Wellington have considered in regard to future dealings with Native lands. I express no opinion upon it now, but leave it until I have an opportunity of discussing with you in Wellington. Ido not think that these negotiations should be allowed to vary far pending the consideration by Parliament of the proposal of Cabinet. If Parliament refuse to adopt the proposal, will be in a better position to conclude negotiations; whereas, if the proposal should be adopted, it would be quite competent for us to so arrange these negotiations that moneys paid by Government may be recovered and the lands dealt with under the new system. —John Siieehan. No. 3. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th June, 1879. Hon. J. Sheehan, Cambridge or Hamilton, Waikato.—We have considered your telegrams regarding blocks of land on east bank of Waikato. We think the proper course is to point out to applicants the illegality of the course they have pursued, the impropriety of their surveys made by stealth, all which thing's you have so ably pointed out in your confidential telegram ; and then inform them that, for these amongst other reasons, it is impossible for us to entertain proposals.—G. Grey. No. 4. (Telegram.) Auckland, 23rd June, 1879. E. A Wiiitaker, Esq., Cambridge. —Cabinet decline to make any bargain re Patetere lands, and refer parties to Parliament. Will be in Auckland to-day, but leave to-night for Tauranga and Wellington. —John Sheehan.

No. 5. (Telegram.) Auckland, 26th September, 1879. W. H. Guace, Esq., Crown Agent, Cambridge.'—l enclose letter and translation from Wi Maihi, in reference to the survey of Te Whaiti Block. As the survey of this block was authorized on my learning from you that there was no objection to it, as expressed in a memo, to myself, and as you also expressed yourself to the same effect'in correspondence I lately saw with Mr. Gill in Wellington, before anything is done to stop the survey, it is perhaps only right that you should know about it; and I should be much obliged if you would state whether, from your local knowledge of the questions, you consider the peace of the country requires that the survey should stop. Mr. Creagh was informed by me, before starting, that he should not undertake the survey of the eastern boundaries of this block before arranging with both sides as to where it should run. Please return the letter.—S. Percy Smith, C.S. Enclosure in No. 5. Auckland, 18th September, 1879. To S. Pehct Smith, Esq., Survey Office, Auckland; Eawiri te Kakawaero, Kereihi Hopo, Te Hata Maihi, Maihi Ngahio, Korouaputa, Eru Hauotu, Menehira Pouawha— That is, to all the Ngateterangi, Ngatihina, and Ngatitukorehu, and all my relations.—l salute you all. We have heard and have seen that the surveyor, Creagh, whom you have employed and instructed to survey your external boundary, is about to proceed to undertake the work. _ We have been informed that the external boundary you intend to have surveyed -when Creagh arrives is Opoutihi on the north and Kokako te Whetu on the south. My relatives, listen attentively to what I have to propose to you. The Ngatirangiwewehi own the land on the south side of Opoutihi, or Eotorua side; and you" the Ngatiraukawa, own the land on the north side, from Opoutihi to the road leading from Kaharoa to Tapapa ; turning hence to Eotorua is the land owned by the Ngatirangiwewehi. This is therefore to ask you not to take upon yourselves alone the arrangements for the survey. _ Do not take upon yourselves, as one hapu, the sole responsibility of surveying the dividing boundaries of the land owned by the other hapus. If you persist in doing so, trouble will come upon the land and those persons who have acted independently. I would therefore submit to you the following good and easy plan, whereby the boundaries of the lands owned by each hapu may be satisfactorily settled—namely: Let all til© hapus interested in the lands within and abutting your proposed external boundary, assemble at one place and discuss the question; and should a definite understanding be arrived at between the respective hapus owning the lands on each side of the external boundary-line, then let the work be commenced—that is, after the ancient boundary-marks, such as stones, springs or water-holes, streams, hills, stone cliffs, patches of fern or toi-toi, caves, or trees, as passed down from our ancestors, have been clearly pointed out and agreed to. Then let two hapus in a body go and point out the stones or pther marks from which the survey-line is to be commenced, and, after having done so, let them cut the

G.—l

3

line as far as their land runs ; then let the two next hapus, who own the adjoining land on either side of the external boundary, continue the cutting of the line, and so on to the end of the boundary. After this has been done, then let the pakeha erect his compass, and let the two hapus owning the land on each side of the line drag the chain. If this plan is adopted, the matter will be settled satisfactorily, as all persons owning the land will take part in the cutting of the lines and the survey. Let the pakeha only be paid by both hapus, but the Maoris employed must not be paid. The land of the Ngatirangiwewehi commences at Opoutihi and extends as far as the Kaharoa-Tapapa Road, a distance of probably fourteen miles or more. The Ngatirangiwewehi would have to pay half the cost of the survey of this to the pakeha, and the hapu owning the land on the opposite side would have to pay him the other half; but no pavment must be made to any of the Natives employed, nor must the pakeha make any payment to them, as they will be taken from the hapus owning the land under survey, and will have, as a matter of course, an interest in the land. When the survey reaches Kokako, the Ngatirangiwewehi will continue to take part in the cutting of the line beyond it (as they have other lands abutting the external boundary), consequently will have to pay their proportion of the cost of survey. If this course is adopted in regard to our boundary, no trouble will spring up —no trouble will come near either land or man, such as has arisen in all other parts of the country among Natives. —From your loving and faithful friend, W. Marsh te RANaiKAiiEKE. No. 6. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 4th October, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Surveys, Auckland.— Be Patetere lands and your memorandum on Marsh's letter. Have had very satisfactory meeting here to-day with Maoris concerned. They are most anxious to have survey Patetere lands commenced, so as to have no mistakes. Have arranged to meet all parties interested at Tapapa on Thursday next, after which survey ought to go on. Creagh's matter is satisfactorily arranged so far, and there is no fear of disturbance through it if carefully managed. —L. M. Grace, Government Native Agent, Waikato. No. 7. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 6th October, 1870. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Deputy-Inspector, Auckland.—Take little notice of Wi Maihi's claims to Patetere. Have telegraphed him to be present at meeting at Tapapa on Friday next.—L. M. Grace, Government Agent. No. 8. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 4th October, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.— Be Patetere lands. Have had very satisfactory meeting this morning with principal chiefs concerned, and made arrangements to meet whole of Ngatiraukawa and all Te Arawa interested on Thursday next at Tapapa. Meeting here, convened at request of Maoris, lasted three hours, and terminated most favourably for Government. If Mr. Percy Smith is instructed to have men ready, survey can go on at once after Thursday next. There is plenty of opposition on part of private Europeans, and the present request for survey to be arranged and carried out comes from the Maoris themselves. I would respectfully suggest that the opportunity be not neglected. Have telegraphed result of meeting to Mr. Smith.—L. M. Grace, Government Agent. No. 9. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 10th October, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., District Surveyor, Auckland. —Have you issued instructions yet re survey of Patetere lands ? If not, when will the work be commenced ? —Richard Jons* Gill, UnderSecretary. No. 10. (Telegram.) Auckland, 11th October, 1879. Richard John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.—l have never been asked to undertake Patetere survey. As soon as Mr. Grace is ready will go up and meet him, and arrange about it. —S. Percy Smith. No. 1.1. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 11th October, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.— Be Patetere lands. Self and brother just returned. Had a most successful meeting with Maoris re survey ; all opposition withdrawn, and Mr. Creagh has started to cut eastern boundary. We start to-day for Aotearoa, in King country, where the cutting of western and southern boundaries is to be finally settled; and have communicated with Mr. Percy Smith to have surveyors in readiness to start work on our return. Will forward you report of whole proceedings on return from Aotearoa. —W. H. Grace. No. 12. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 13th October, 1879. S. P. Smith, Esq., Deputy Inspector of Surveys, Auckland.—My brother and self returned yesterday from Tapapa. Had a most successful meeting with Maoris re survey, which resulted in all opposition to same being withdrawn. Mr. Creagh has started to cut line between his blocks and the Government block. In cutting this line Mr. Creagh is to adhere to boundaries as set out in Proclamation in Gazette of April, 1878. This line, when cut, will therefore, as far as it goes, form portion of eastern boundary of Government block, and will save Government trouble and expense. We start to-day for Aotearoa,

G.-l

4

in King country, where a meeting is to be held re the survey of the southern and western boundaries of Government purchases. I would therefore recommend that you have surveyors in readiness to start work on our return, which will be about end of week ; for we must strike the iron whilst it is hot. On thinking over suggestion that Mr. W. A. Graham should be employed to make survey of Patetere,! have come to conclusion that it would be better not to have him, for many reasons, which I will explain hereafter. The line to be cut by Mr. Creagh will be from Okoroiri Blocks to Whakatutu, near ie Whetu.—W. H. Gbace. No. 13. (Telegram ) Government Buildings, Wellington, 14th October, 1879. The District Sueyeyoe, Auckland.—No. 1,828.—Mr. Grace wired yesterday from Cambridge thathe had communicated with you re Patetere surveys. Native Minister would be obliged by your seeing him (Grace) on his return from meeting at Aotearoa, and arranging for starting the work— Rich ard John Gill. No. 14. (Telegram ) Auckland, 14th October, 1879. The Undersecretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—No. 1,743.-1 wired Mr. Grace yesterday that I would meet him on his return, to arrange for survey of Patetere. I cannot complete arrangements until I have seen him, but will have everything in train as far as possible.—S. Peecy Smith, Chief Surveyor. No. 15. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 24th October, 1879. S. P. Smith, Esq., Inspector Surveys, Auckland.—Am informed that you have authorized two surveys in Patetere, which will overlap Creagh's and Government Blocks. Report came through Stubbings. Kindly reply at once. lam going to Patetere now : there is a small hitch. I will meet you any time after my return, and talk over matters. There are several Europeans trying to prevent my work being successful. —W. 11. Geace. No. 16. (Telegram.) Auckland, 24th October, 1879. W H GE4VCE, Cambridge.—The only survey authorized is Haukapa, which is a subdivision of Creagh's block probably. I have engaged Stubbings to help on Patetere survey if he should be wanted. Wire directly you come back, please, as I want to employ surveyors on other work if not required tor Patetere. —S. Peecy Smith. No. 17. Sib,— Native Land Court Office, Auckland, 29th October, 1879. I have the honor to transmit the accompanying copy of a letter, with translation, dated 19th instant, addressed to me by Te Peina te Kere, stating that he will not permit certain portions of Patetere to be surveved. 1 have, &<-"•> P. D. Fenton, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Chief Judge. No. 18. (Enclosure in No. 13.) (Translation.) Maketu, 19th October, 1879. The Chief Jhdge, Native Land Court, Auckland.—Priend, salutations to you. This is my warning to you respecting my land—that is, respecting certain parts of Patetere. Friend, let my words have authority with you. "If any person is found by me surveying, I will kill him—that is, if he is surveying by stealth. Priend, be strong to send notice to the surveyors throughout the Island. This is an official warning from me.—Prom Te Peina te Keee, Ngatiahuru. No. 19. (Telegram ) Government Buildings, 14th November, 1879. H W Brabant, Esq., R.M., Tauranga.—No. I,o72.—Chief Judge Fenton has sent to this office a letter from Te Peina te Kere. Ngatiahuru, dated Maketu, 19th October, 1879, m which he warns respecting his land at Patetere, and threatens that if any person is found by him surveying he will kill him. Mr. Bryce wishes to know who the writer is. Can you .inform me?—T. W. Lewis, UnderSecretary. No. 20. (Telegram ) Tauranga, 17th November, 1879. T W Lewis, Esq., Under-Secretary, Wellington.—Tour telegram of 14th was not answered then, owing to my absence at Rotorua on duty. I have made inquiries. I think letter to Judge leiiton must have been written by a man named Te Peina. The other names are possibly the names of others who joined him in signing the letter. Te Peina at present lives with the Tapmka Tribe near Maketu, and 'is connected with them by marriage ; but he is the son of the chief Te Kere, of leYYaotu, in Waikato, and probably an owner of land at Patetere. I can see him and question him, it Hon. Native Minister wishes.—Herbert W. Brabant, R.M,

GL—l.

No. 21. (Telegram.) Tauranga, 18th November, 1879. T. W. Lewis, Esq., Under-Secretary, Wellington.—Neither Te Peina nor any of his connections of Tapuika draw Government pay in this district. —H. W. Brabant, R.M. No. 22. (Telegram.) Tauranga, 21st November, 1879. T. W. Lewis, Esq., Under-Secretary, Wellington. —Referring to your telegram of 15th instant, I have seen Te Peina. His threat to kill surveyors referred to the survey of a Government purchase which is under negotiation by Mr. Grace. I have told him that he did a most improper thing to write such a letter, even if, as he now says, "he did not really mean to kill the surveyors." He is a young man, a son of Te Kere te Hamaka, of Ngatiahuru.— H. W. Brabant, R.M. No. 23. (Translation.) (Telegram.) Cambridge, 29th October, 1879. The Native Minister, Wellington. —Friend, Greeting. Our word to you is that we will stop the survey of Patetere, because of the arbitrary notification of the late Government in respect to it. When you have arranged this difficulty we will then talk about survey and roads.—From Te Kerei te Whanoke (from all Ngatiahuru). No. 24. Ist November, 1879. Mr. Gill.—Please telegraph to both of the Graces in the Waikato that a Native named Hare Heimana has arrived here, and states to me that he has been sent down to try and get the survey of the Patetere Block stopped; and that he fears surveyors will be shot if it is not done. Ask them to report at once, by telegraph, as to the progress of the survey and the character of the opposition to it; also, whether the boundaries now being cut include only land under Proclamation, or whether other lands outside of Proclamation are not being arranged with a view to private purchase. —John Brtce. No. 25. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Ist November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Alexandra.—A Native named Hare Heimana has arrived here, and informed the Hon. Native Minister that ho has been sent down to try and get the survey of the Patetere Block stopped; and that he fears the surveyors will be shot if this is not done. You will please report at once, b} r telegram, as to the progress of the survey and the character of the opposition to it; also, whether the boundaries now being cut include only land under Proclamation, or whether other lands outside of the Proclamation are not being surveyed with a view to private purchases. —Richard JohnGill. No. 26. (Telegram.) Alexandra, Ist November, 1879. Richard John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. —Hearing that a petition praying that Government withdraw from purchase of certaiu portions of Patetere has been got up and forwarded last Tuesday to Wellington, by certain European land-speculators, I have thought it necessary to bring the following under your notice: First, some of the above Europeans are the same parties who, in 1873, sold out their claims at Patetere to Government. Second, that, with few exceptions, the whole of Maoris with whom said Europeans are treating have taken Government money and signed agreement to sell. Third, so far I have, notwithstanding strenuous exertions of said Europeans, made very fair progress with survey, having cut eastern boundary from Okoroiri to Whakatutu, a distance of twenty miles, and am confident that, if Government are firm, I will succeed in carrying survey through without endangering the peace of the country. Fourth, I have discovered that Maoris who obstructed Government surveys were iucentod thereto by the above Europeans. Fifth, if prayer of petition is granted, the very best land in Patetere, comprising nearly 100,000 acres, would become property of above Europeans, and nothing but pumice-stone and rough country remain for Government, to say nothing of the Dad effect it would have on Maoris. Will forward full report by letter. — W. H. Grace. No. 27. (Telegram.) Cambridge, Ist November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. — Be your wire just received. Forwarded at same time as this is a telegram from Tieuii Ranapiri. The person you mention is merely a mouthpiece of certain European speculators, and has been prompted by them to say what he has to Native Minister. I will be watchful, and as soon as ever I foresee any breach of the peace I will not fail to give you timely notice. The survey at present going on is eastern boundary of proclaimed block, and also forms a boundary of lands which are being purchased by private Europeans. Tiema Ranapiri will be in Otaki shortly, and, if wanted, telegraph for him to that place. — W. H. Grace. No. 28. (Enclosure in No. 27.) (Telegram.) Cambridge, Ist November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—Do not listen to what Harry Simmonds says; but all Ngatiraukawa agree to the survey of Patetere being carried on. —Tiemi Ranapiri,

5

G,—l.

No. 29. (Telegram.) Kihikihi, 3rd November, 1879. Richard John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. — Be Hare Heimana's mission. The object of certain speculators is to prevent survey of Patetere country by Government for time being, and thus gain time to work their point. They wish to make Government have the impression that matters are in a very bad state, and by that means induce Government to throw up their purchase, leaving the field open to them. I will be careful that there is no disturbance over this survey. The Ngatiraukawas, as a whole, are most anxious to get the survey completed, in order to get the land passed through the. Land Court. To bear out this statement, I would refer you to the applications made to have these lands investigated by the Land Court, and to the numerous complaints and indignation meetings of Natives because Government prevented certain blocks within the proclaimed land from being investigated by the last Court that sat at Cambridge. It is pretty well known that Europeans arc at bottom of opposition. The Natives obstructing also told me such was the case. The only objection to survey up to present time has come from a certain section of Natives who have received money from these speculators, who encourage them in their obstruction. These very Natives had applications before the Land Court to have their claims to portions of proclaimed blocks investigated, and it is now strange that they should change their views if no influence is being brought to bear on them. I have met with no real opposition from the Hauhaus. Rewi Maniopoto, who is head of the Ngatiraukawa Hauhaus, is with me, and is using his influence to prevent any obstruction. He has even stated that were he well enough he would go on to the land with me, to help in the work of pushing survey through, and suppress any disturbance that might arise. The Government have the game in their own hands; and, if firm, and keep the Proclamation over the land in force, the difficulties of acquiring it will not be any more than in other purchases. In haste. —W. 11. Ghace, Government Agent, Waikato. No. 30. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Ist November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., District Surveyor, Auckland. —Hon. Native Minister would be obliged by your telegraphing, urgent, how the Patetere surveys are progressing, and whether you know of any Native opposition to the work being carried on; also whether the boundaries now being cut include only land under Proclamation, or whether other lauds outside of the Proclamation are being surveyed with a view to private purchase, and, if so, under whose authority. Please reply at once. —Richard John Gill. No. 31. (Telegram.) Auckland, Ist November, 1879. The Under-Sicceetary, Land Purchase, Wellington. —Patetere survey has not yet commenced. lam waiting for Mr. Grace's return from Tapapa. Have had four survey-parties waiting for some time, but have been obliged to send some of them to other work. I know there will be considerable opposition to survey. I have received protest against it. The Whaiti Block, adjoining Tapapa, was commenced some time since for the Native owners, but they have stopped the survey. This was for private parties. The survey was authorized by me in the usual manner, after ascertaining that the Land Purchase Department had no objection. It is outside the Proclamation. Shall be ready to attempt Patetere within a few days of hearing from Mr. Grace. —S. Pekcy Smith, Chief Surveyor. No. 32. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 3rd November, 1879. W. 11. Grace, Esq., Alexandra.—No. 1,880. —Following is a copy of a telegram received this day from Mr. Percy Smith in reference to the survey-work now carried on ill the Patetere country : —" Auckland, Ist November. —Patetere survey has not yet commenced. lam waiting for Mr. Grace's return from Tapapa. Have had four survey-parties waiting for some time, but have been obliged to send some of them to other work. I know there will be considerable opposition to survey. I have received protest against it. The Whaiti Block, adjoining Tapapa, was commenced some time since for the Native owners, but they have stopped the survey. This was for private parties. The survey was authorized by me in the usual manner, after ascertaining that the Land Purchase Department had no objection. It is outside of the Proclamation. Shall be ready to attempt Patetere within a few days of hearing from Mr. Grace. —Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor." Native Minister wishes you to explain the difference of facts in this telegram and yours of Saturday. Surely, if the present survey-line forms the eastern boundary of the land as proclaimed, the District Surveyor' must know it. Eor whom is the present survey being made ? AVho is paying for it ? To what point has it been carried ? —Richard John Gill. No. 33. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 3rd November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Auckland.—The Patetere surveys are just now the subject of much speculation here. Mr. Grace's reports and your telegram conflict. Be good enough, after seeing him, and matters are arranged, to wire full particulars for information of Native Minister.—Richard John Gill. No. 34. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd November, 1879. The Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. —Mr. Grace has returned, and I go up to meet him to-morrow.—S. Percy Smith.

6

G.-l

7

No. 35. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Kihikihi.—l will meet you at Hamilton to-morrow, either by first or second train. In the meantime say whether you think we can put on three survey-parties at once; if so, I must send into the country to warn the surveyors. —S. Percy Smith. No. 36. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 3rd November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Inspector of Surveys, Auckland. —I will meet you early to-morrow afternoon at Commercial Hotel, Hamilton. I think one survey-party will be sufficient for time being.— W. H. Grace. No. 37. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 3rd November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington. — Be Patetere. In reply to your telegram of Saturday last, on inquiry I find that Hare Heimana must have been misrepresenting matters to you, as he has not been sent down by consent or at wish of majority of tribes interested, but has done so as the paid agent of Messrs. Moon and Hay's party, and is but speaking words which they have put into his mouth. There is no danger of any surveyor being shot by Maoris, unless they are put up to it by Europeans. The survey of eastern boundary of block as proclaimed has been cut and traversed from Okoroiri to Whakatutu, a distance of twenty miles. This line also forms western boundary of block outside Government claims, which is being surveyed by Mr. Oliver Creagh, with view to private purchase. The character of opposition to survey is not as between Maoris and Government, but as between Messrs. Hay and Moon's party and Government, and as between the first party and Mr. Creagh's party. If differences between these parties are adjusted, no fear need be entertained of Maoris doing any mischief, for the Maoris interested are all partisans of either one or the other of the parties referred to, and will be led by them accordingly. Moon's party have been indefatigable in their exertions to thwart survey. Moon's especially, on seeing that a new Government was about to take office, and hoping for better terms from them than from late Government, did their utmost during last month to delay survey until the new Government were safe in their position, when they at once sent down Hare Heimana to Wellington. These Europeans will continue obstructing surveys until they get a settlement with Government. As my brother knows the whole history of case, and as some arrangement must be made with the parties referred to, otherwise surveys must stop to assist in coming to some settlement. If such is undertaken, I would respectfully suggest that you send for him to go to Wellington, where he will be of great help to you in matter. It would be unwise to abandon survey operations now, especially after having gained over more than four-fifths of Maoris to Government side. Do not attach any weight to petition which Hare Heimana has taken to Wellington.—L. M. Grace, Waikato. No. 38. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 4th November, 1879. Richard John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, AVellington.—Received your telegram, No. 1,880, last night, too late to reply to. lam somewhat puzzled with Mr. Smith's telegram. Following are facts of the case: Mr. Creagh has been and is surveying a block to east of Government proclaimed block, otherwise called Patetere Block. Its western boundary forms part of eastern boundary of proclaimed block. Mr. Smith is fully aware of this, as I informed him some few weeks back. I do not know who is paying Creagh for his work; I only know that his survey is authorized according to law. When he came to cut boundary between Government block and block to east of it, I went to Tapapa to overcome a difficulty at request of Natives, and to see that Creagh did not encroach on to Government block. The survey of this boundary will eventually form part of survey of proclaimed block. I assisted to overcome obstacles to running this line by Creagh, because by his doing it it would be a saving to Government of both expenses and work. The line has been run to a point at Whakatutu, near Te Whetu. Here Creagh's western boundary ends. The survey of proclaimed block has not yet commenced. I have been interviewing the different hapus claiming, and, as matters seem satisfactory, I hope to see surveyors on the block next week. I do not know why Mr. Smith expects considerable opposition; but it seems time to survey a large block such as this, we must expect to meet with difficulties, and they must be faced sooner or later. I anticipated none from the Hauhaus; though protest which Mr. Smith has received, and to which he alludes, is to a block some distance from proclaimed block, and, I believe, comes from, some Rotorua Natives. I hear the protest is withdrawn. Yesterday I had a long interview at Rewi's settlement with Hauhau Natives from Aotearoa and other Ngatiraukawa Hauhau settlements. I told them all about survey of proclaimed block, and they said they would not interfere. I asked them if they were aware that Hare Heimana had gone to Wellington, and had told Native Minister that, if survey of above land was attempted, there would be bloodshed. They replied that Hare Heimana had not been authorized by them to say so, and that he was not sent to Wellington by them. They also added that Hare Heimana is trying to get hold of some money. They did not even know that Heimana had gone to Wellington until told so last Saturday. I meet Mr, Smith to-day at Hamilton. — W. H. Geace. MWMVMOHM No. 39. (Telegram.) Hamilton, sth November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—Have met Mr. Percy Smith, and arranged that surveyors start for Patetere Block about Wednesday next. I hold a meeting with Natives at Waotu on Monday, and would like to have copies of documents applied for, as without them I cannot get on,—W. H. Grace.

G.-l

8

No. 40. (Telegram.) Cambridge, sth November, 1879. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.—Member for Waipa holds petition from Ngatiraukawa re Government Proclamation. Patetere Natives declare survey stopped until satisfactory answer received. Taupo Road dependent upon satisfactory solution of this question. —W. Moon. No. 41. Mr. S. P. Smith to the Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department. Sir, — Survey Office, Auckland, sth November, 1879. In compliance with your telegram of the 3rd instant I now have the honor to state, for the information of the Hon. Native Minister, the state of matters in connection with the survey of Patetere. Tour telegram states that " there is considerable speculation here as to the Patetere surveys, and that my reports conflict with those of Mr. Grace." After having seen Mr. Grace to-day at Hamilton, I think this admits of simple explanation. Mr. Grace, in referring to the survey of Te Whaiti Block, which adjoins Patetere, has alluded to it under the latter name, whilst I, in mentioning Patetere, confine that term to the block over which the Government Proclamation extends ; hence the confusion. Te Whaiti Block is situated immediately to the east of Patetere, and, according to the boundaries stated in the application for survey, is of very considerable extent —probably over 50,000 acres—and is, I learn, of excellent quality. You will probably remember the fact of my having mentioned to you, when I saw you in Wellington in August last, some particulars as to the size and character of this block. The survey now going on (for the stoppage referred to in my telegram of the Ist instant was only temporary, it appears) is for the Natives, and is made at their expense by a Mr. Creagh, surveyor, who was authorized by me in that behalf, as the Act requires. As the boundary between this block and the proclaimed boundary of Patetere are common for some miles, the survey can be made available for the latter, and is therefore so far an advantage to the Government. It was this survey to which Mr. Grace has referred in telegraphing to you. I proceeded yesterday to Hamilton, and met Mr. Grace, and completed arrangements for commencing the survey of the Patetere Block as soon as he returns from Waotu in the beginning of next week. The matter is in the hands of one of my most experienced officers, Mr. Cussen, who will render Mr. Grace every assistance possible; and as soon as he shall have advanced the triangulation over the nearer parts of the block —and Mr. Grace informs me that he is ready —I propose sending up three, or possibly four, more survey parties, in order that we may get the whole thing finished, including the subdivisions and reserves, at as early a date as possible. If the Native obstruction does not cause delay, probably the whole survey will be completed and ready for the Court in from four to five months' time. To insure this it will be necessary that the triangulation be extended right through to Te Atiamuri at once. When this is once done any number of surveyors that the Government wish could be put to work at once. It will also reduce the cost of survey by at least one-half. I am therefore extremely anxious that this important work, which I have been endeavouring to accomplish for nearly seven years (at first personally, under the direction of the late Inspector of Surveys), should be successfully carried through. Mr. Grace is very sanguine as to the amount of opposition that will be met with, and believes that after the first start there will be none. In my telegram of the Ist instant I stated that there would be obstruction to the survey, and I still hold to that opinion; but Ido not wish to convey the impression that it would be such as would endanger the lives of those engaged in the work, although it will doubtless lead to considerable delay. In connection with this work there is one matter which I esteem of great importance, which I wish to bring under the notice of the Hon. the Native Minister —and that is, the absolute necessity of having some Native officer constantly on the ground, who could anticipate and deal with Native questions as they arise. It is too much to expect that the surveyor, in addition to his own proper duties, should have to leave his party idle whilst he goes to arrange the questions that constantly arise in all Native surveys. In the matter of economy it would be a saving to the Government, as the expenses of a survey-party, especially in an outlying district like Patetere, are very heavy. Mr. Grace concurs in the advisability of this course. In sending District-Surveyor Cussen to commence these surveys, I have had to withdraw him from other Government work; and, as I contemplate sending another staff-surveyor to join him as soon as Mr. Grace is ready, this will make seven of my staff engaged on land-purchase surveys: therefore, if more surveyors are wanted, extra ones will have to be employed, in terms of the arrangement between your department and the Surveyor-General, to the effect that they shall be paid by the Land Purchase Department. I will communicate with the Surveyor-General on this subject as soon as we know the number required. I have, &c, S. Percy Smith, The Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington. Chief Surveyor. No. 42. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 6th November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Cambridge. —To be forwarded on. —No. 1,889. —Hon. Native Minister directs that, for the present, all surveys in connection with the Patetere purchase be stopped ; also, that the survey now being carried on outside the eastern boundary of the land by private persons be stopped. You will be good enough to see that these instructions are carried out forthwith, and report as early aa possible. —Richard John Gill (by order). No. 43. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 6th November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —-Hon. Native Minister requests that you will please not to authorize any survey-work to be commenced in connection with the Patetere proclaimed

9

G.—l

block until further notified by him ; also, that you will cause to be stopped the survey at present being carried on by private persons in the neighbourhood of this land, and forming, as is reported, the eastern boundary of the Patetere Block. Please reply after taking action. —Richard John Gill. No. 44. (Telegram.) Auckland, 6th November, 1879. Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.—l have sent notice to our own surveyors, who were just on the point of starting to commence Patetere, to return, and also to the privato surveyor, Mr. Creagh, who is surveying Te Whaiti, adjoining Patetere on east. It will be some days before his actual operations can be stopped, as some of them are far back in the bush. It was only last night I returned from Hamilton, having completed arrangement re the Government survey, about which I have written at length.—S. Percy Smith. No. 45. (Telegram.) Auckland, 6th November, 1879. District Surveyor, Hamilton. —Do nothing with respect to Patetere until you hear further. The Government have stopped all surveys in that district. Confidential. —S. Percy Smith, C.S. No. 46. Auckland, 6th November, 1879. 0. M. Creagh, Esq., Surveyor, Parnell. —Since seeing you this morning I have received a telegram from the Under-Secretary of Land Purchase, Wellington, in which he requests me, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to stop all surveys in or near the Patetere District. I must therefore request in the meantime that all survey operations in connection with the Te Whaiti Kuranui Block may be stopped, and that at once. Will you be good enough to take action in this matter. —S. Percy Smith. No. 47. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 6th November, 1879. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —Can you kindly inform me why survey of Patetere proclaimed block has been stopped ? It is a great mistake, and Natives will be greatly annoyed, as they have been preparing for survey ever since June last. When the time comes that we want to survey the Natives will most likely object. —W. H. Grace. No. 48. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Alexandra. —Patetere and Creagh's surveys were stopped by order of Native Minister yesterday. Ido not know of the reason, but can guess. I agree with you in thinking it is a mistake not to try at all events. —S. Percy Smith, C.S. No. 49. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 14th November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington. —Numbers of Patetere owners ask, as Government will not proceed with survey of block, whether Proclamation over it will also be rescinded. They complain of great delay and expense they are put to. —W. H. Grace. No. 50. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 15th November, 1879. W. H. Grace, Esq., Alexandra.—No. 1,916. —It is not the intention of the Government to withdraw their Proclamation over Patetere lands. You will please explain to the Natives that the stoppage of the surveys was in consequence of repeated statements that if carried on a breach of the peace would ensue. —Richard John Gill. No, 51. Cambridge, 10th November, 1879. Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister, Wellington.—We have heard that the Government have stopped the survey of Patetere. Do not stop it. We will follow the paths of our ancestors, and trouble will ensue. The people are identical with the land. If the Government do not stop it, the trouble will be avoided. The people are identical with the land. Do you reply.—From Paora Karetai and all Ngatiruite. No. 52. Native Minister's Office, Wellington, 11th November, 1879. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Rich, Graham, Walker, and Major Wilson, waited on the Hon. Mr. Bryce, Minister for Native Affairs, in reference to certain lands in the Waikato District, in which they were interested. Mr. Bieh said that their object in seeking an interview was, that in 1877, when he was in Waikato, he was informed that there was a lot of land in that district upon which no Government money had been paid, that there was no claim whatever on this land, and it could be obtained under the existing laws. He and Mr. Williams, a gentleman who had been acting for and in connection with him in the matter, had a survey commenced upon the lands. Some of the blocks were completed] when the proceedings were stopped. He had advanced £2,800 on the land, and Mr. Walker had made; large advances; and he should say that altogether £11,000 or £12,000 had been paid on the lands. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Rich the name of the block. 2—G. 1.

10

G.—l

Mr. Rich answered, Patetere. The Government had seen fit to issue a Proclamation which it was generally understood included the whole of this land. It included, no doubt, the greater portion of it. All this land ever since had been at a standstill, and the capital had been locked up. It was a great injustice to the negotiators, and was very objectionable to the Natives. That was the history of the matter up to the present time. There was a'block of land of 20,000 acres, which had been surveyed, and a large sum of money paid upon it, that was generally supposed to be under Proclamation. _ He had had an interview with Mr. James Mackay on Saturday last, and Mr. Mackay had given him a memorandum for the Under-Secretary, which memorandum slated that this land was excluded from the Proclamation. The Natives had a very strong feeling about the matter, and the parties who had advanced the moneys and negotiated for the land felt very much aggrieved about it. The Natives were anxious that a general meeting should be called; that the Government should be represented at that meeting; and that then they could deal with the whole matter. He had gone into the affair with clean hands and in perfect good faith. Hon. Native Minister asked what the deputation proposed the Government should do. Mr. Bich thought the Grovernment should be represented at the meeting to be held by the Natives, and that the whole matter should be discussed. Hon. Native Minister said that, before the matter could be determined, the title to the block would have to be ascertained; the various interests of the different Maoris would have to be ascertained and determined by a Court before a final settlement could be arrived at. Mr. Bich said, what the deputation thought desirable was, that, as the Natives proposed to have a meeting, if the meeting was held, the Native Land Court should sit at the same time. It would simplify matters. Tliey considered that they had a prior claim, and were entitled to some consideration from the Government on account of the manner in which they had been treated in regard to the matter. In fact, they felt sure the Government would do everything they could to have the matter settled between the Government, themselves, and the Natives. Hon. Native Minister inquired how the deputation wished the Government to evince that treatment to them. Mr. Walker said that Patetere was a large district, on which the Government had made advances. The Natives said that the Government had not made advances on land in which they (the deputation) were interested. It remained to be seen, however, whether the Government had or had not done so. They wished to assist the Government, and also that the Government and themselves should work amicably together ; and the land could thus be got at a much lower price. Mr. Graham said, as far as he could gather, the Natives wished their intertribal matters to be settled by a Commissioner appointed by the Government. The payments on account of the land by the Government and private individuals were conflicting. The Natives wished to have the matter discussed, so that they could ascertain on which land the Government had paid money, and on which private persons had advanced money. Intertribal disputes could be settled at this meeting which it was proposed to hold —disputes which could not be brought before the Court. Hon. Native Minister said that they must observe that the survey would have to be sufficiently forward to allow the Court to sit. He believed the surveys were not sufficiently forward to allow of the land being brought before the Court. He did not think the matter could be amicably settled until the surveys were sufficiently forward to satisfy the Court. Major Wilson said the Government had paid some £4,000 upon 80,000 or 90,000 acres of land of the blocks of which Messrs. Itich and Walker had spoken. That land was partly surveyed, but not altogether. The land that had been negotiated for by persons outside did not interfere at all with that 80,000 acres. Hon. Native Minister said that it was a question the Court would have to determine, whether the Government had any interests in those blocks or not. He would not be prepared to admit that they had not. He was informed, on ihe contrary, that payments had been made to the Natives by the'Government, It had been suggested by Mr. Graham that an officer of the Government should be appointed to settle intertribal matters outside of the Court. Would the Maoris accept the decisions thus given outside of the Court ? Mr. Graham said that, as a matter of fact, the cases which had been most successfully settled were those in which even the Judge himself had gone on to the ground with the contesting parties, and heard them all speak there. Whatever Commissioner the Government appointed, the Natives would listen to him, and he could arrange these disputes and adjust the survey, so that the matter could be brought before the Court. It would be a good thing to have the Court sitting on the ground. The Hauhau section of the Natives bad agreed not to interfere in the matter with the friendlies on this side of the Waikato. It was a thing to be feared, if the Hauhau section should go back on their promise, and so close up the lands. The Natives wished to know who had taken money either from private individuals or from the Government. Mr. Williams had informed him that the survey of a number of blocks was sufficiently advanced to enable the blocks to be brought before the Court. Hon. Native Minister said that he had been informed that there were sixteen blocks which were actually sufficiently surveyed to pass the Court. There was a little gap to finish on the western boundary. He thought that, until that survey was sufficiently advanced to pass the Court, their interests could not .be determined in the block. With respect to the Commissioner whom they said might be sent up to •assist the Maoris in ascertaining the tribal boundaries, he fancied, as far as he understood, that Mr. L. M. Grace was occupying that position at the present moment. Mr. Grace had been with the surveyparty for a considerable part of his time. He had, he understood, been endeavouring to smooth matters -sw**r iiii/this way between the conflicting parties. Major Wilson said, if the Natives were going to ha*ve a meeting, Mr. L. M. Grace could attend on behalf of the Government. Mr. Wnlkep,s,'M& the Natives wished to have a person to act as arbitrator between the parties. Mr. Graham saJ4 the Natives wished an impartial judge to be appointed to inquire into the paymeat «f moneys on the fends. He apprehended that Mr. Grace was a qualified officer to appear

11

G.—l

on behalf of the Government to advocate their claims. He would appear on behalf of Mr. Walker to advocate his claim. There were a lot of obstructive Natives who would stop the survey. Hon. Native Minister said he had come to the conclusion, after having heard all the evidence on the subject, that there was considerable risk that the surveys would be stopped with violence. He had stopped the surveys in consequence. It had been suggested to him that a public meeting should be held. He, however, confessed that he had no great faith in large Maori meetings. He had never seen any good come from a large Maori meeting. Major To Wheoro had suggested that it should be a meeting of representative men, and said that in his opinion it would lead to a more definite result. Mr. Graham said he supported that, but the meeting would be a gathering of owners. The Natives wished to have the meeting at the Waotu. Major Wilson said it would be a meeting of representative men, but they would be owners. Hon. Native Minister asked how many, in their opinion, would attend the meeting, and what would be the subjects for discussion. Mr. Graham said he supposed the subjects to be discussed would be the question of moneys paid on the lands, the tribal boundaries, what lands had been sold and what had not, and also as to reserves. Hon. Native Minister asked if the Natives would understand that these proceedings would be but the preliminaries, and that the questions would have to go before the Court. Mr. Graham said they would understand that. Hon. Native Minister said that, while he thought it would be advisable to have a meeting, still he would like to see the Maoris take the initiative. He would see that the Government were properly represented. He would do everything he could to make the meeting pass off smoothly. Mr. Walker wished the Government to know that, while he and his friends would represent themselves, they wished to assist the Government in every point on which they possibly could. Hon. Native Minister said it had been represented to him that they were perfectly willing to assist the Government in this way : that they were willing to assist the Government in getting bad land if the Government would assist them to get the good portions of the land. Mr. Graham thought it was the reverse. He and his friends were content to get the second-class lands. Major Wilson said there was another piece of land in the Patetere Block (he spoke for himself) — the Horohoro Block. A Southern gentleman and he had paid £850 on it. The Government, he believed, had proclaimed it. There were some 30,000 acres, as far as he understood. If the Government wished to obtain that land he would assist them in every way. If the Government would allow them to purchase it they would not interfere with the Government in any way. Mr. Walker said he was in the same state. Hon. Native Minister said he did not apprehend any difficulty in the way. Mr. Graham said that the Government had only purchased 80,000 or 90,000 acres of the block, which consisted of 300,000 acres, and was more than enough for all parties (including reserve). Their purchases were not nearly so extensive as the Government purchases. It would be a great pity for the Government to withdraw. No such opportunity had ever been offered before. The Natives were the parties moving in the matter. The deputation thanked the Minister and withdrew. No. 53. 15th November, 1879. The ITnt-ee-Seceetaey, Land Purchase, Wellington. —-I have been asked by Mr. P. D. .Rich as to whether the boundaries of the Kokako Nos. 1 and 2 Blocks encroach on the Government purchases in the Patetere District. After going carefully into the question, lam of opinion that the western boundary of the blocks, as surveyed, may be taken and deemed to be the eastern boundary of the Government claims. —James Macxat. No. 54. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 30th October, 1879. Majoe John* Wilson*, Wellington. —Some time back, when in conversation with you re lands on which you said you had advanced money, which lands are included in Government Proclamation of Patetere, you stated you would relinquish and withdraw from any further negotiation for the same, and would put such withdrawal into writing. If you have not done so already, would be obliged if you would on receipt of this.—W. H. Geace. No. 55. Major Wilson to Mr. W. H. Geace. Sie— Wellington, 30th October, 1879. With reference to your telegram of this day's date re my withdrawal from purchases of certain Native lands in the Patetere District ou which the Government have advanced money, I beg to state for your information that the Horohoro —otherwise " Eangiaho " —Block, estimated at 30,000 acres, was negotiated for by me, but that, in accordance to the Hon. John Sheehan, and subsequently to yourself, I have withdrawn from the said purchase, and will bo ready to assist the Government in acquiring the same. The money expended by me has been £803. I have, &c, W. H. Grace, Esq., Government Agent, Waikato District. John Wilson. No. 56. Hon. Native Minister's Office, Wellington, 19th November, 1879. Me. Olivee Ceeagh, surveyor, waited on the Hon. J. Bryce, Minister for Native Affairs, in regard to the stoppage of the survey of the Whaiti and Kuranui Blocks, Mr. Gill, Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, was in attendance.

G.—l

12

Mr. Oreagh said he came to see the Native Minister with respect to the Whaiti and Karanui Blocks, situated between the Waikato and Tauranga districts. He had received notice, after having the survey nearly completed, to desist from the work, which he could understand if there was danger feared. There was no possible danger attached to the work; and he knew that the statements made in Wellington were unfounded —perfectly unfounded. He had dealt with the Natives for a long time, and had worked for the Government for the last eleven years. He had never been engaged in a survey where there was more unanimity than in the survey in question. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if there had been no opposition to the survey. Mr. Creagh said there had been no opposition. Hon. Native Minister asked it there had been no opposition whatever. Mr. Creagh said there had been very little. There had been no opposition to his private surve}*-, but there had been to the Government survey. Hon. Native Minister said he had had statements from very influential Maoris indeed that there was very great opposition to the survey ; and that there was, moreover, not only possible danger, bnt very probable danger. The opinions of others had been expressed to him to that effect very strongly indeed. Mr. Creagh said he did not think there was a man —a chief of the tribe concerned in the block— who would really come forward and make that statement. Twenty-five or thirty Natives were preparing to come down to Wellington to see about the survey, but he had asked them not to go to the expense until after he had been down and seen about the matter. Hon. Native Minister said Mr. Creagh was quite right in saying that the survey had been stopped. He had stopped the survey because influential Natives had given him assurance that there was extreme danger of —in fact, bloodshed. Mr. Creagh said the real cause of the survey being stopped was that Mr. L. M. Grace had forced him, in fact, to diverge to the Government line. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if he was in the employ of the Government. Mr. Creagh replied that he was working for the Government, through Mr. Grace. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if he meant that Mr. Grace had employed him on behalf of the Government. Mr. Creagh said Mr. Grace had asked him particularly to run through the line on behalf of the Government. Hon. Native Minister inquired if Mr. S. P. Smith, Chief Surveyor, knew anything about that. Mr. Creagh said Mr. Grace intimated that he would arrange with Mr. Smith, if he (Mr. Creagh) would carry the line through for him. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if he had been a Government servant. Mr. Creagh answered that he had been a Government servant. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if he was not aware that such orders as these had to come from Mr. Smith. Mr. Creagh said, Certainly; but Mr. Grace had assured him that he would arrange the matter. He had undertaken the work in opposition to his own wish. Hon, Native Minister said he had the assurance of Mr. Smith that there had been no surveyor working on the block for the Government. Mr. Creagh said Mr. Smith had not authorized the survey. Hon. Native Minister said Mr. Grace had acted without the consent of the Government in any way —assuming, of course, what Mr. Creagh had stated in the matter was correct. Mr. Creagh said he was perfectly sure that the opposition had not arisen from the Natives, but from Europeans. Hon. Native Minister inquired if the boundary Mr. Grace had asked him to survey formed part of the survey of his (Mr. Creagh's) private block also. Mr. Oreagh answered that it did—part of it. Mr. Gill asked Mr. Creagh if the land he was surveying made the Government purchase larger or the private purchase larger. Mr. Creagh said he did not think it made a difference of 100 acres. What it took out in one place it put in in another. Mr. Gill asked if it was a deviation from the line in the Government Gazette. Mr. Creagh said it was —a little. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if he had been making these deviations without the authority of the Government Surveyor. Mr. Creagh said that he had been. He held an authority in his hand to take in the lands pointed out by the Natives to him. [Mr. Creagh here gave the authority to the Native Minister to peruse.] The Government block was a very large one; he believed it was one of the largest blocks in the North Island. Hon. Native Minister said the application stated that James Mackay, of Wellington (who was at present an officer of the Government), would pay for the survey. Mr. Creagh said that was a former agreement, long ago. The Natives would pay for it now. Mr. Gill asked Mr. Creagh if he knew when the applications for the survey were sent in to the Survey Department. Mr. Creagh said about a year and a half ago. The Natives themselves had put in that application. Mr. Gill asked how Mr. Mackay's name came to be mixed up with it. Mr. Creagh said he did not know Mr. Mackay was-at that time acting as agent for the Natives. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh how long he had been engaged surveying that portion of the Government block which Mr. Grace had asked him to survey —how many days. Mr. Creagh said he thought about three weeks. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh if Mr. Grace was with him when he was engaged surveying the other portions of the private block.

G.— l.

Mr. Crestgh said Mr. Grace was not. He could distinctly state that there was no Native difficulty in the matter, either directly or indirectly. Hon. Native Minister said he could say that he had received what he regarded as good information to the contrary. Mr. Gill asked Mr. Creagh if he was speaking of his own block or of the Government block. Mr. Creagh said he was speaking of his own block. He had been forced into the Government block by Mr. Grace. Hon. Native Minister said he thought Mr. Creagh's knowledge of the Survey Department ought to have taught him not to have done what he had. Mr. Creagh said it was merely cutting a line dividing the two blocks. He had seen Mr. Smith about the matter. Hon. Native Minister asked if Mr. Smith was pleased at his (Mr. Creagh's) action. Mr. Creagh said he thought Mr. Smith was very much pleased. Mr. Gill asked Mr. Creagh if he had not been stopped, or threatened to be stopped, by the Natives a week previous to receiving intimation from Mr. Smith. Mr. Creagh said he had been formally stopped from surveying the line running up to Whakatutu, on which line he was engaged on behalf of the Government. The stoppage was done in a very friendly way. The Natives simply came forward, and said they would take down their poles, &c, and thus stop the survey until a meeting had been held. There was no opposition whatsoever to his private survey. It was the line running up to Whakatutu that had been stopped. Hon. Native Minister said he had stopped the survey for what he then conceived, and still conceived, to bo good reasons. He had information from the very best man he could apply to, and was informed that there was very great fear of bloodshed. He therefore stopped the survey. He was not at that time at all aware that Mr. Creagh was working on that block for the Government; this, was the first he had heard of that circumstance. Mr. Creagh said it was very much against his own wish that he took the work from Mr. Grace. Hon. Native Minister said it was just this: Mr. Smith had four parties of surveyors ready to. commence the work, and had reasons to fear obstruction on beginning it, and Mr. Grace had engaged Mr. Creagh in defiance of this. If was Mr. Smith's opinion at the present time that obstruction would have to be looked for. Mr. Creagh said he understood that a meeting of Natives had been arranged. In the meantime he had withdrawn ail. his surveyors. He had heard since he left the district that an authorized surveyor, Mr. Thorpe, was encroaching and going into the very heart of the block. The Natives were waiting to see what he (Mr. Thorpe) would do, and would communicate with Mr. Creagh that day. Mr. Gill said Mr. Creagh's survey had been stopped between the Waiho and the Whakatutu. What distance was Mr. Thorpe working from there ? Mr. Creagh answered about nine miles. Hon. Native Minister asked Mr. Creagh the extent of the block he had been surveying. Mr. Creagh said about 50,000 acres, but the Natives were reserving about 20,000 acres for settlement. Hon. Native Minister said that merely indicated that there was a further complication in th© matter of which he was not aware, which would, without the previous question, be sufficient to hold the matter in abeyance until the Maori meeting was held. He might mention that the meeting would not be called by the Government, but he would see that the Government were fairly represented at it. Mr. Creagh said it was a very great loss for him to be stopped in his survey. Hon. Native Minister said all he could do was to do the best he could in the interests of the country. He believed that he had very good reasons for stopping the survey. He must act upon his own convictions in the matter. Mr. Gill asked if Mr. Smith knew, when he gave instructions for the survey, that the block contained 50,000 acres —that it was so large. Mr. Creagh said he believed Mr. Smith thought the block contained only 6,000 acres —that it was a small block. He would like to know if there would be aoy opposition to the survey if the meeting ended satisfactorily. Hon. Native Minister said that would depend on the result of the meeting. No. 57. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 19th November, 1879. S. Peecy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland.—No. 1,921. —Mr. Creagh is complaining that Mr. Thorpe is carrying on a survey overlapping the one he was at work on when desired to desist from work. Do you know anything of it, or attach importance to it ? —Richd. John Gill. No. 58. (Telegram.) Auckland, 19th November, 1879. The Undeb-Seceetaey, Land Purchase, Wellington.—To the best of my belief, Mr. Thorpe abandoned his survey months ago, and is now at the Court at Thames. I heard from him only yesterday ; so Mr. Creagh must be mistaken.—S. Pebcy Smith. No. 59. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 21st November, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq , Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—No. 14. —Natives owning south end of Patetere Block are about to hold a meeting at Atiamuri re the survey of block. They wish it to be commenced about beginning of new year. Meeting is to talk over preliminaries. They wish me to attend : shall I attend or not ? Please reply. —W. H. Grace,

13

G.—l

14

No. 60. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 25th November, 1879. W. IT. Geaoe, Esq., Alexandra.—No. 1,937. —Hon. Native Minister understands that a meeting is to be held of all interested in the Patetere lands in January or February, at which the Government will, of course, be represented. Probably there is some error in respect to the meeting mentioned in your telegram of the 21st instant.— Richd. J. Gill. No. 61. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 2nd December, 1879. R. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.— Be your telegram, No. 1,937. There is no error as to a meeting being held at Atiamuri by parties interested in south end of block. Object of the meeting is to discuss the boundary between Ngatiraukawa and Tuhourangi Tribes, and push on survey of that end of block to Tokoroa. Tuhourangi Tribe is not likely to attend a meeting held at Waotu. Since receipt of your wire I have ascertained that Natives resident south end of block near Taupo not aware of a meeting to be held during January or February, and also seem to decline to attend a meeting held elsewhere than at Atiamuri. Following are wires I received from Mr. Mitchell on subject: " 4th November, 1879. —Teri and others are here to notify to you that they intend holding their meeting some time next month after Taupo Court rises re Tokoroa survey, and ask you to provide food—say two tons flour and sugar. They wish you to prepare your people of Ngatiraukawa to attend this hid at Atiamuri, so that survey of all Tokoroa may be arranged and started. The 'Taupo and A.rawa people interested at this end will be invited. Please reply.—H. Mitchell." " 27th November, 1879.—Natives di Atiamuri wrote a few days ago complaining of delay in holding meeting. I have asked Poihi.pi to answer your questions definitely. Taupo Natives are all urging Court to be opened.—H. Mitchell." —W. H. Gbace. No. 62. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 2nd December, 1879. W. H. Gbace, Esq., Alexandra. —No. 26.—Tour telegram will be submitted to Native Minister in the morning. Petitions are now before both Houses of Parliament, signed by Maihi te Ngaru, Menehira Pouawha, Hangina, Ruteue, Era te Hauotu, Hoera, Peuetana te Rauri, Te Kere te Hamaka, Punoke, and 140 other Natives, protesting against the Proclamation over the Patetere lauds. The Natives say they have never received any Government money, or signed any agreement to sell the land, &c. By this you will see that there are further complications that require settlement before survey should go on. —Richd. John Gill, No. 63. Memoea-m-itm on Petition No. 17, Native Affairs Committee, Maihi te Ngaru and 143 Others. Land Purchase Office, 29th November, 1879. The Proclamation quoted by the petitioners, dated 18th April, 1878 (Vide Gazette, page 484), is almost identical as to boundaries with one published in Gazette, 1874, page 635 —land under lease for twentyone years. This land was leased in 1873 to certain private persons, and transferred to the Government in 1874. The consideration paid by the Government was £3,600 ; since then further sums have been paid to Natives claiming to own the land, £3,034 6s. Id. Several of the Natives signing the petitions nave received money direct from the Government. —Riciid. John Gill, Under-Secretary. No. 64. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 3rd December, 1879. Richd. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.—No. 32.—Tours, No. 23, to hand. The petitions you refer to were drawn up and signed at Cambridge in June last, whilst Land Court was sitting, after Messrs. Walker and Whitaker had tried to get Government to forego their right to about 80,000 acres of Patetere Block, but failed. The petitions were drawn up by Mr. Whitaker. I have no hesitation in saying that three-fourths, if not more, of the petitioners, if they are genuine Ngatiraukawas, have taken money from Government or from Brisseuden and Co., who were bought out by Government in 1873. But lam certain that a great number of those who have signed petitions are outsiders having no claim to the block, but were simply got to swell the numbers of petitioners. Even amongst the names mentioned by you I perceive several who have received Government money. Whilst at Patetere recently, numbers of Natives who signed the said petitions came to me and said that they had withdrawn, from same. Besides these facts, I could point out many other reasons for condemning the petitions; and before the Committees come to any decision on them I should be examined. I have taken much pains in the Patetere purchase, and have left no stone unturned to arrive at the true state of affairs in connection therewith in the Government interest. — W. IT. Gbace, Acting Land Purchase Agent, Waikato. No. 65. (Teanslation.) Patetere, 16th December, 1879. The Host, the Native Mintstee.—Salutation to you. When the external boundary of Patetere and the line to Manga Harakeke and on to Waikato are cut, we say that some of the words, good and bad, which the Natives have said, will all be heard at tire meeting at Te Waotu, when you will see which is right or wrong of the words of the Ngatiraukawa., which are against the external boundary of Patetere, and the line (survey), and the road to Kaharoa, Rotorua, and Patetere. We (the Maoris) speak of our dislike to Mr. Grace, as some say he befriends some; but you will hear at the Waotu meeting. We have heard of your words which condemned our anger; but why did you not answer our telegram sent on 16th of November last ? So end our words. —From Hekaka Waeeo and 20 others.

a—i.

No. 66. (Teanslation.) Moutoa, 29th December, 1879. Me. Betce, the Minister for Native Affairs.—Salutations to you. This is a making known to you respecting our lands to the north at Taupo, which have been sold by the Ngatiraukawa living at Te Tokoroa. We have withdrawn them from sale. The names of the lands commence at Atiamuri, at the mouth of Mangaharakeke, whence it turns to the east, the source of Mangaharakeke; thence to the source of Tokotokorau, thence right on to Waipuna, thence on to Tahuahinu, thence to VVhakaparu, thence to Kakapo, thence to Matawhana, thence on to the Waikato, following the course of the Waikato ; thence northward, Whangamarino, Te Kopua, Te Waimatahana, Nga Koto, Atiamuri, the com-mencing-point. These are the principal names within that boundary. Te Whakamaru and Maungaiti are the pieces that should not be included in that sale ; for our ancestors lie there, those places being burial-places of ours.—Moeoati Kihaeoa, Matene te AVhiwhi, and others. No. 67. • Memoeandum No. 2,107. Survey Office, Auckland, 23rd December, 1879. The attached letter to the Hon. the Native Minister has been forwarded through me in order that I may add a few words of explanation. You will remember that, on the 6th November, you telegraphed to me that the Hon. Native Minister requests me not to authorize any surveys or to go on with the Government surveys in Patetere ; and again, on the 19th November you telegraphed to say that Mr. Creagh complained that Mr. Thorpe was allowed to go on with a block adjacent to that on which he had been stopped ; to which I replied that I believed Mr. Thorpe had abandoned his survey some time before. It now appears that he started again just a few days before I telegraphed to you. Upon my hearing that he had done so, I at once sent out to stop him, and this letter is in consequence of such stoppage. From inquiries that I have made I, believe -the Patetere question is not affected by Mr. Thorpe's survey of Paengaroa, and that there are no dissentients to such survey. This block, and that lately under survey by Mr. Creagh, adjoin one another near the Tauranga-Taupo Eoad, and consequently are a long way from the disputed part of Patetere. I cannot think that any difficulty would arise by allowing this survey to be completed. The Government interests are in no way affected. The Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, S. Peect Smith, Wellington. Chief Surveyor. (Translation.) Peterehema, Tauranga, 15th December, 1879. Me. Betce, the Minister for Native Affairs. —Priend, salutations. Tour instructions stopping the continuation of the survey by our pakeha, Mr. Thorpe, have been received. Hearken you: There are no complications in connection with that survey ; we ourselves employed him: it was agreed to also by all the people here at Tauranga. This is not Mr. Creagh's survey ; but it is a survey of land that is absolutely our own. That survey is completed, all but a very small portion. This is an application to you to allow that survey to proceed. That is all.—Prom Ngati te Ngoihaeee and 19 others. No. 68. Memorandum for the Chief Survetoe, Auckland. Be survey of Paengaroa-Patetere Block. Following is copy of Native Minister's minute on your memorandum No. 2,107, of 23rd ultimo: "These surveys had better all be delayed in the meantime. —John Beice.—2o/1/80."—P. Sheeidan (for Under-Secretary). No. 69. (TfIANSLATION.) Tapuaeharuru, 7th January, ISBO. The Hon. Me. Betce, the Minister for Native Affairs.—Friend, salutations. This is a word to you respecting my land, Te Tokoroa. It was my own hands that gave it to the Government Commissioners to Mr. Grace and to Mr. Mitchell. That block does not belong to others, it belongs to us two. We wish to give that land absolutely to you. Do you add a further sum to the money of the Government which has already been advance'd to us on it, and let us have £50,800. That is all the word to_ you. Do not hearken to what any one may say, who claims land there. The people who can give information respecting our right to that land are Poihipi, Turuhira te Hohipera, VViremu P. Akara Ngahue, and Hoterene Ngahue. That is all—From your friends, Aeeti Poihipi, Meek Ngahue. No. 70. (Telegram.) Grahamstown, 31st December, 1879. li. J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Tauranga.—A large meeting of Ngatiraukawa will be held at Waofcu, near Cambridge, about the 10th, and reference is likely to be made to the purchase of Patetere Block by the Government, also survey of same. Would not this be a good time to come to some settlement regarding this block ? It is very likely that there will also be some Waiharakeke owners at the meeting—Geoege T. Wilkinson, Land Purchase Officer. No. 71. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 2nd January, 1880. Me. Gill, Native Department, Tauranga.—l have instructed Major Mail- to attend meeting on behalf of Government. Wilkinson can go too if he and you think he can serve a useful purpose, and if he

15

G.—l

16

can leave Thames -without inconvenience. Puckey is ahsent from Grahamstown at present. If he goes, he had better not interfere about Patetere, which is complicated enough, and may easily be made -worse. —John Bbyce. No. 72. (Telegram.) Tauranga, 3rd January, 1880. G. T. "Wilkinson, Esq., Land Purchase Office, Grahamstown.—lf you think that by visiting the Patetere meeting on the 10th instant you can complete the Waiharakeke deeds, it is as well that you attend; but do not in any way mix yourself in the question the meeting is called for. The question of carrying on the survey and the purchase of the land is a matter you must not interfere with.— Rtchaeb John Gill. No. 73. Mr. J. Siieehan to the Hon. the Native Ministee. Sib, — Wellington, 9th January, 1880. Referring to our conversation of yesterday, I have now the honor to address you in regard to the block of land known as Patetere. As you will, no doubt, have observed from the official records, lands comprised within the proclaimed boundaries were partly negotiated for by Mr. Brissenden, on behalf of himself and others, by way of lease. In consequence of the murder of Sullivan in 1873 the Government of the day interfered and stopped the negotiations, paying to Mr. Brissenden and his copartners a sum of money as compensation : in return for which these parties transferred to the Government all such rights and interests as they had acquired. These interests were, strictly speaking, worthless, inasmuch as the land had not been surveyed and put through the Court. But the Government were strong enough to prevent any active resumption of negotiations over the area for several years after the acquisition of those interests, such as they were. These facts apply only to a portion of the proclaimed block, as a considerable area of it is outside of Brissenden's boundary. Prom 1873 down to 1877 scarcely any action seems to have been taken in the direction of acquiring these lands for the Crown. Hardly any moneys were advanced; and the tradition of the office appeared to be that it was not intended to carry out the purchase, but only to make use of the Government position in the matter to prevent negotiations by private persons, which might lead to a breach of the peace. The inaction of the Government, coupled with a quieter state of affairs in the King country, led to a great many private individuals negotiating for several distinct blocks within the boundaries. On coming into the office which you now hold, in 1877, I ascertained that nearly the whole of the country comprised in the Proclamation had been subdivided, and was in course of acquisition, either by lease or purchase, by a number of Europeans. On my first visit to Waikato, in the early part of 1878, to attend my first meeting with the King Natives, I was waited upon by a number of Europeans concerning these transactions, and asked to come to some arrangement whereby they might be allowed to complete the whole or portions of their purchases, the Government taking, if it thought proper, such proportion of the block as it might consider necessary in the public interest. I promised to make inquiry into the matter, and did so at the first meeting, which I have mentioned. In fact, the matter was brought before me by the Natives themselves under the following circumstances : Some of the surveys had then reached debatable ground, and armed resistance to their further progress was openly talked of. I made inquiry, and found the surveys complained of were being prosecuted without authority, and stopped them forthwith. The King people then asked me if I would prevent any further surveys of, or dealing with, the Patetere lands. I asked them to let me know whether they made the request as owners of the land ; and the reply was, they did not make the request as owners, but that all the lands in question had been ceded to the Maori King to form a portion of his Royal territory ; that the cession was first made when the first Maori King was living, and had been voluntarily confirmed upon the accession of the present Maori King. I then pointed out to them that the object of our meeting them was to do away w*ith the existing condition of things, and to make provision for their return to their old condition as loyal subjects of the Queen; and, while I declined to admit the nana of the King as extending over any lands of which he himself was not the owner according to Maori custom, yet I would like to stop surveys and negotiations in respecb of the lands referred to for a reasonable time, to enable our negotiations with the King party to be brought to a conclusion. Acting upon this promise, I took the necessary steps to prevent any further surveys, and also objected, on behalf of the Crown, from time to time, to any land being allowed to be put through the Court. The Europeans concerned complained very loudly about this, but were informed by me that the peace of the country was of much more importance than the acquisition by any one of them of some favourite piece of ground ; that, while I was willing to deal fairly with them in regard to such interests as they might have acquired equitably, I would have to postpone the consideration of the matter until such time as I saw the outcome of the negotiations then pending with the King: and I also informed the Europeans that I would avoid, as far as possible, further complicating the question as between themselves and the Government, and would only advance further moneys in cases where, as a matter of public policy, it would be unwise to refuse such advances. Tou will see, upon reference to the accounts of this particular block, that only a very small amount has been paid since the beginning of 1878 —the largest amount, a sum of £1,000, having been advanced by me at the last Native Land Court at Cambridge with the knowledge and approval, of Rewi, who was present. After the last meeting at Te Kopua the negotiations were finally broken off. I informed several of their leading people that I did not consider myself further bound to restrict dealings with these lands ; that the word of the Government had been fulfilled by preventing surveys and negotiations since the date of our first meeting in 1878; and, as it was now apparent that Tawhiao and his advisers had no intention of coming to reasonable terms, the Government would very probably allow matters to take their course. In subsequent interviews with Rewi he quite approved of my action in the matter, and said we were quite right in acting as we proposed to do, when these people refused to come to reasonable terms, He then (you may remember), with a number of his people, accompanied me to the

G.-i.

Native Land Court at Cambridge, and appeared in Court in support of his own claim to a block of land abutting on the Piako side of the Patetere Block. The Cambridge Court had lasted for a considerable time, and the Natives had exhausted both their food and money. It was under these circumstances that I agreed, after conferring with Rewi, to advance the sum of £1,000 against the block—to be arranged for afterwards, when matters came up for final settlement. The Natives might have obtained this amount—perhaps more—from the private speculators who -were present; but Rewi explained that it would complicate matters much less if the Government paid the money. I discussed the question with him at considerable length on numerous occasions between his "attendance at the Court and his final return from Auckland to Waikato with His Excellency the Governor. Bewi took a perfectly business-like view of the matter, and said that he regarded the bulk of the lands comprised in the block as practically gone; that he himself would offer no opposition, and only desired that, before putting the lauds through the Court, the boundary on the Hauhau side should'be laid down in such a way as to prevent the possibility of collision between the races or between the Natives themselves : and it was arranged that he and I together should, during this present summer, convene a meeting of the Natives at some central place, and, having discussed the matter with them, proceed in person to fix the boundary of the land on the Hauhau side. The Waotu meeting, now about to be held, is the first part of our programme. On the part of the Government, we had made provision in the Native Land Bill, introduced into the House in the first session of last year, to meet the cases of the European negotiators; power being taken to refer all such claims to a Native Land Court for equitable adjustment. Tou will find the case of the European speculators very fully put by myself in a telegram to Sir George Grey sent from Auckland about June of last year. I have gone thus fully into the circumstances of the case for the following reasons : I am about to commence practice in the Waikato, and have been asked by a number of Europeans concerned to undertake completion of their outstanding negotiations. I have agreed to do so, subject to one condition—that I shall not be called upon to do anything contrary to the declared policy of the Government in regard to these lands; and it is with a view to ascertain how far I may proceed with the business in the interests of these Europeans that I now address you upon the subject. As I have already mentioned to you, I do not think that any serious difficulty will arise in the completion of survey or the passing of the lands through the Court. It appears to me that, protected as it is by the Proclamation over the lands, the Crown can suffer no injury from the investigation of the title to the block, either as a whole or in parts. Whether the Crown determines to proceed with the purchase of the block or a part of it, or to retire from negotiations altogether, such investigation of title will be necessary. But, at the same time, it would have an important effect on the position of Native matters in the Waikato if the work of survey and investigation can.be carried out without trouble or disturbance. I may add that it is my intention to proceed to the Waikato at once, for the purpose of attending the Waotu meeting, and also to see Rewi on the subject. If he is so disposed^ I consider it would be exceedingly well worth your while to carry out with him the programme as fixed between him and myself, by taking steps to settle the boundary of the block on the side next to what is termed the King country. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. John Shbehan. No. 74. The Hon. the Native Minister to Mr. J. Sheehan. gjß . Native Minister's Office, Wellington, 12th January, 1880. lhave the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in reference to the Patetere Block of land in the Waikato District. I have perused with interest your resume of the transactions connected with that block, and have also read the telegram from yourself to Sir G. Grey on the subject. With regard to expressing now* the intentions of the Government in reference to proceeding with the purchase, lam placed somewhat in a difficulty; for I have promised a number of Natives, as well as some Europeans, not to arrive at a determination until after the close of the meeting now being held in the Waikato to consider questions rejating thereto. Still, I think I may say,^vvithout any breach of the understanding, that, should means be devised for completely securing a refund or other equivalent of the expenditure already incurred, the anxiety of the Government to proceed with the purchase would not be great. I have, &c , John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. John Bryce. No. 75. (Teleo-ram.) Cambridge, 15th January, 1880. Hon. tiie^Native Minister, Wellington.—We, the undersigned, have the honor to request that you will instruct the Chief Surveyor to authorize the survey of the Mangakaretu Block, as the same is gazetted and advertised by the Native Land Court, and to accept and forward the survey of the portion already completed to the Native Land Court at Cambridge for adjudication.—E. D. Rich, W. C. L. Williams, A. B. Walker, W. Moon, G. Walker, G. Drhiimond Hat. No. 76. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, lGth January, 1880. E. D. Rich, Esq., Cambridge.—No. 90— Be Mangakaretu. The Native Minister directs me to inform you that he believes that it will be more convenient and in the interests of the public to allow this matter to stand over until the whole of the cases in the Patetere Block can be taken together.—P. Sheridan (for Under-Secretary). 3—G. 1.

17

a.—i

18

No. 77. ''Telegram.) Cambridge, 19th January, 1880. R. J. VGill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.—ls there any objection on the part the Government to Mangapouri being heard?—J. J. Symonds, Judge, Native Land Court. No. 78. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 20th January. Judge Symonds, Cambridge.— No. 105.—The Native Minister objects to Mangapouri being heard if within the Patetere proclaimed block.—P. Sheridan. No. 79. (Telegram.) Auckland, 20th January, 1880. TJndee-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington. —Mangapouri is distinctly within the proclaimed boundaries of Patetere, and is so notified on map before Court.—S. Perot Smith, Chief Surveyor. No. 80. Memorandum No. 135. Survey Office, Auckland, 24th January, 1880. I beg to enclose herewith a tracing showing country'round Lake Taupo, but more particularly indicating by colour some surveys which are required to be undertaken for Native Land Court purposes. You will observe that the area to be surveyed is very large, and lies partly within the Wellington District. The matter that I wish specially to bring under your notice is this, that there is at present on triangulation over this country to control the block surveys, although it has been brought up to its borders on two sides, by my own work on the north and north-east, and by Mr. Munro's work on the south-east. As I have had no special request from the Natives to make the surveys of the claims for them, I presume that they intend to take the usual course of paying for them themselves. This being so, the Government are, I think, bound to defray cost of triangulation. If I could have spared one of my own officers I would have detached him to this work; but, as I cannot, I would suggest for your approval that the triangulation be let at the average annual rate for last year—viz., Is. 6d. per acre—at the same time authorizing the surveyor to undertake the private claims. In a large work like this it would, as a rule, be better, perhaps, to call for tenders ; but Ifear the suspicions of the Natives would be aroused by our so doing, and thus defeat the end we have in view. The country is a difficult one, and only approachable from November to early May, on account of the snow and the great cost of getting provisions up ; and therefore, though I would propose to increase the size of triangles to five instead of two-and-a-half mile sides, I consider the mean annual rate none too high. The cost of the whole would be considerable—viz., about £1,600. I should have no difficulty in getting two, or perhaps three, of our best authorized surveyors to join in thework—men who are accustomed to the work, and—which is of great importance in this case —accomplished Maori linguists. I do not doubt that, were the work once started, other Native claims would come in which would gradually lead us to extend round to the west of Taupo. S. Perot Smith, The Surveyor-General, Wellington. Chief Surveyor. No. 81. Memorandum for the Chief Surveyor. Auckland, 11th March, 1880. Taupo Triangulation. Your memorandum No. 135, of the 24th January, was received in my absence at_ the Middle Island, and has consequently been somewhat delayed. The sum involved being considerable, the Government hesitaten about undertaking the work. If, however, you will say that, in view of the state of the finances of the- country, it is a good way of expending £1,600, I believe it would be sanctioned. In any case, however, according to your statement it will be rather late to commence this season.— James McKerrow*, Surveyor-General. No. 82. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 19th January, 1880. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. —We are authorized by the Waotu Native meeting to state for your information that the Natives have agreed that all money advanced to owners of land on account of purchase will be acknowledged as payment for land. Meeting much disappointed at Government Agent not being authorized to make definite arrangements, and say that, unless definite arrangements are made with 'Government at this meeting, they will not attend any Court, nor allow bridges to be made in this district. In the interests of the Government, we would respectfully urge upon you the necessity of making a definite offer; and we are willing to render every assistance in carrying out your views. If this large meeting breaks up in its present angry mood, it will be fatal to the prosperity of the district for years to come, as they state that they will not meet again to discuss the question.—E. B. Walker, E. D. Rich. No. 83. Government Buildings, Wellington, 19th January, 1880. E. B. Walker and E. D. Rich, Esqs., Cambridge.—No. 34.—1 am directed by the Hon. Native Minister to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of this day, and to iuform you, in reply, that he

G.—l

19

cannot abandon in a day costly Government interests which it has been the work of years to create; and to do so would not, in his opinion, really advance either general or local interests. The Government interests being protected, he is prepared, however, favourably to consider any fair proposal. — T. W. Lewis, Under-Secretary. No. 84. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 19th January, 1880. Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. —The Ngatiraukawa have arrived. They have determined to ask the Court not to do anything about their cases until some understanding has been come to with the Government. There are a number of Rotorua and Taupo people here to-day. Are trying to induce Rakena not to resist the Court, as they are quite without food. I have issued sufficient for to-day —forty-one rations—and have informed them that I cannot give more without permission from the Hon. Native Minister. Pohipi and the Taupo people want an advance on the Tokoroa, to which land they have a claim. They would like a reply as soon as possible. —W. G. Mair, Agent. No. 85. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 19th January, 1880. Major Mair, Cambridge.—No. 102. —Native Minister has minuted your telegram as follows: "These food-supplies must be brought within the narrowest limits. It is impossible that the Government can go on supplying tribes of Maoris with food. Whatever food is supplied must be charged against some specific block. The advances on Tokoroa cannot be made."—P. Sheridan. No. 80. Cambridge, 21st January, 1880. Under-Secretart, Land Purchase, Wellington.— Be your telegram about food, the total amount of rations issued, £3 19s. 4d. Account of Abraham Isaacs for same forwarded to your office.—W. G. Mair, Agent. No. 87. Cambridge, 20th January, 1880. Hon. Mr. Brtce, Native Minister. —A word of mine to you. Do you remit the balance of the Tokoroa money to Major Mair (he and I will deal with it) ; for that land is yours. That is all the word. Let your reply be speedy.—Akuhata Kiharoa (however, from all of us). No. 88. '• (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 21st January, 1880. Major Mair, Cambridge.—No. 100. —Please inform Akuhata Eiharoa that the Native Minister will not sanction any further payments at present on account of Tokoroa Block. —P. Sheridan. No. 89. (Telegram.) Auckland, 20th January, 1880. Richard J. Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Gisborne. —Self and brother leaving. If Government intend carrying out purchase of Patetere, offer to complete transaction for percentage on area acquired, and enter into bond not to deal for other parties within proclaimed boundary. We recommend this course as cheapest and most expeditious. —W. H. Grace, Cambridge. No. 90. (Telegram.) 21st January, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wanganui.—Have interviewed all necessary parties, and am authorized to state that they will refund the moneys expended by the Government in the purchase of lands comprised in Proclamation of Patetere Block. Natives agree unanimously. Would venture to suggest that all papers, plans, and vouchers be referred to Hon. Mr. Whitaker in Auckland; or that Mr. Gill might be instructed to come up and settle matters on the spot. —J. Siieehan, Cambridge. No. 91. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 22nd January, 1880. John Shekhan, Esq., Cambridge.—No. 6.—1. am directed by the Hon. Native Minister to state, in reply to your telegram of to-day, that Mr. Gill is now at Tauranga, knocked up with land-purchase accounts, and returns, Mr. Bryce believes, to Wellington to-day. The Native Minister will arrange about Patetere as soon as he can, on basis stated, and wishes to know the nature of the guarantee he will get for refund of expenses. —William Berrt, Jun., Secretary. No. 92. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 31st January, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. —Just returned from Waotu Native meeting. Will forward you full account of general matters on Monday. Everything quiet and satisfactory. —J. Siieehan. No. 93. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 31st January, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.—Just returned from Waotu. Natives met to number of 150. Unanimously agreed to accept Government proposal to hand back moneys. Want accounts and vouchers sent up at once. Competent officer should be sent with them to prevent any attempt at denial or repudiation. Meantime Europeans are prepared to give satisfactory security —a guarantee

G.—]

20

to satisfaction of Attorney-General. Natives propose to meet almost immediately, and I would be glad to receive an early reply, as a messenger will come from Waotu to hear your answer. The Europeans have agreed to unite all their interest, to put all lands acquired up to sale, and to submit a large area of best-quality land to auction on deferred payments. —J. Sheehan. No. 94. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 2nd February, 1880. Major Mair, Cambridge.- —No. 128.— 8e Patetere. I have sent telegram, which here follows for your information, to Mr. Sheeliau: " Government will retire generally from purchase of Patetei-e, if satisfactory guarantee given that advances and expenses connected therewith are recouped. This without prejudice in case guarantee not satisfactory ; also this is not intended absolutely to prevent Government acquiring any land within block, although I do not know that we shall have any such intentions." —John Brtce. No. 95. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 2nd February, 1880. J. Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Cambridge.—No. 127.—Government will retire generally from purchase of Patetere if satisfactory guarantee given that advances and expenses connected therewith are recouped. This without prejudice in case guarantee not satisfactory ; also this is not intended absolutely to prevent G overnment acquiring any land within block, although I do not know that we shall have any such intention.—John Brtce. No. 96. (Telegram.) Onehunga, 10th February, 1880. Hon. Native Minister (on arrival), Hawera. —Have now brought Patetere question to substantial head. All parties have come into arrangements. Main terms demanded by me and acceded to by them as follows : All land required to be put up to sale in suitable areas; and 25 per cent., selected in best portions of block, to be put up to auction on deferred payments. Ultimately matter will be formed into regular company, thus insuring fuller publicity and enabling any one to acquire interest. They are prepared to give substantial guarantee to satisfaction of Mr. Whitaker, or any person you may appoint. I wired to you previously it will be of importance that a competent officer should come with all documents and papers, so as to settle accounts with Natives. This is more necessary, as in withdrawing from other blocks you will be greatly helped by our putting down repudiation in this one. Gill would be best man. Mair also should be present. If not Gill, Puckey would do, as he is well acquainted with the whole affair. Reply Auckland. —John Sheehan. No. 97. (Telegram.) Hawera, 10th February, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.E., Auckland. —No. 71. —Will return to Wellington in a day or two, and shall then attend to the Patetere matter, which is already in hand. —John Brtce. No. 98. (Telegram.) Hawera, 10th February, 1880. R. J. Gill, Esq., Wellington. —No. 72. —Have you put the Patetere accounts in hand as I directed, so as to have a complete statement of all our expenses in connection with it ? It is not unlikely that I may have to send you to the Waikato in connection with proposals in reference to that block. — John Brtce. No. 99. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 10th February, 1880. Hon. John Bryce, Hawera. —No. 152. —I have the Patetere land matter well up, with schedule of every expense paid, amounting to near £10,800. — Richd. J. Gill. No. 100. (Telegram.) Wellington, 13th February, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wanganui. —Do not wish to be importunate, but would be glad of reply re Patetere to-morrow, if possible. —J. Sheehan, Te Awamutu. No. 101. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 13th February, 1880. John Sheehan, Te Awamutu. —No. 88. —The accounts re Patetere are being prepared as fast as possible. Advances and expenses on the block will amount to a large sum —probably not less than £15,000.—John Brtce. No. 102. (Telegram.) Waiwera, 21st February, 18S0. Hon. John Bryce, Wellington. —My opinion is, that the best way of dealing with Patetere will be to get the Maoris to give an adequate piece of land for the advance made by the Government, and then withdraw from the rest. If you accept money from one party it will give a sort of claim to that parly, to the disgust of others, as intended to give an undue advantage. Have talked with Mair, and he thinks my proposal can be carried out. Would avoid going into accounts, but name a number of acres of approved quality that you will be satisfied with. —Fred. Whitaker,

21

G.—l

No. 103. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th February, 18S0. John Sheehan, Esq., M.11.R., Auckland. —The Patetere accounts drag, and old accounts are still dribbling in. Indeed, those Waikato accounts generally will turn my hair grey. However, as to sending up some one with the vouchers for examination, Ido not mind admitting—for you must be aware of it—that not one-half of the vouchers would bear anything like a strict legal examination. Still, the payments wore bond fide in a sense, and Ido not mean to lose the money. I wired to you a few days ago that the total'of the account would be very much larger than you expected, and have not heard from you since. I suppose there is some hitch; indeed, lam told here that there is. I think it will bo found that, if the matter is ever satisfactorily arranged, it will have to bo done, not in Waikato, but in Wellington. When the mountain could not come to the Prophet, you know the other course was adopted.—John Bryce. No. 104. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 10th March, 18S0. Hon. Native Minister, Wanganui.—No hitch has taken place re Patetere, though persons have withdrawn; but we are better without them, and Association is prepared to deal for whole block as originally proposed. —J. Sheehan. No. 105. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 10th March, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Napier.'—Waited on chance your coming before wiring again re Patetere. Q.uite understand your hands being full, and must be content to take my turn. The two things wanted, and which might be arranged without or before your coining, are the accounts of moneys claimed as refund, and nature of guarantee to be given by parties. Parties will give any fair guarantee to pay, either in cash or land, as already explained. The original accounts, plans, and agreements will be wanted: they are at Wellington. If Gill could bring them up, amount of refund might be settled, and terms of guarantee afterwards arranged with you by telegram. Have applied for sitting Court for middle of April; and it becomes matter of urgency to close accounts before that time, so as enable Proclamation to be removed; without which, of course, nothing can be done. Reply Cambridge. — J. Sheehan. No. 106. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 12th March, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Cambridge.— Be Patetere. If persons who have real claims within Patetere withdraw from Association, will you not find that awkward in your after-doalings with the block? Government could not, as you are aware, give Association any prescriptive rights. It could only withdraw Proclamation. It occurs to me that the best, or, rather, the least objectionable, form of guarantee would be one by the Native owners, or as many as could be got, with a suitable indorsement by members of the Association. A block of land might be taken, but there would certainly be difficulties in completing title —at least, I suppose so. The accounts are, I suppose, ready now, and I shall at once direct Gill to send you a statement. As I have said before, the matter will certainly have to be arranged at Wellington rather than Waikato. It would be inconvenient to send original vouchers and agreements to Waikato, and Gill could not possibly spare time to attend to the matter himself. lam now on my way to Taranaki, where I shall probably have to stay a fortnight or more, as the critical period of the West Coast business is about this .time. —John Bryce. No. 107. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 12th March, 1880. Richard J. Gill, Native Department, Wellington. —If the Patetere accounts are complete, you can send a statement or abstract of them to Mr. Sheehan, at Cambridge, and let me know the total.— John Bryce. No. 108. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 13th March, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wanganui. —No. 230. — Be- Patetere accounts, the total amount charged for all purposes is £10,732 ss. Bd. In addition to this I think it fair to charge one-half of the salaries paid to the two Graces during the time they were at Alexandra, £302 7s. 2d. ; making the sum £11,034 12s. lOd. The question as to whether interest should not be charged occurs to me. I would also point out, in furnishing a statement of the sums paid to the different Natives, the value the information would be to private persons dealing with the land; and, unless the terms of transfer are actually agreed to, might render a settlement more difficult.—Rtchd. John Gill. No. 109. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 13th March, 18S0. R. J. Gill, Native Department, Wellington.— Be Patetere. Add interest at 8 per cent., and send Sheehan a statement of total, but not details. Details and vouchers can only be submitted after matter has gone several stages beyond where it is now. —John Bryce. No. 110. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 16th March, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Hawera.—No. 335.—Have added interest —£2,770 —and one-half of the Graces' salaries —£i:02—to former payments, and have sent following telegram to Mr. Sheehan at Cambridge: "The total charges on Patetere lands amount to £13,805 ss. 2d." —Richard John Gill.

G.—l

22

No. 111.

(Telegram.) Auckland, 16th March, 1880. E. J. Gill, Esq., Wellington. —Native Minister wires Patetere accounts ready. When may I expect them ? "Will be glad if sent at once, as time presses. Reply Cambridge.' —J. Sheehan. No. 112. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 16th March, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Cambridge. —No. 336.—The total charges on Patetere lands amount to £13,805 ss. 2d. —Richard John Gill, Under-Secretary. "No. 113. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 19th March, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, New Plymouth. — Persons withdrawing have no claims beside L'atetere proper. They were to have joined so as to reduce cost of survey and negotiation; but at last moment withdraw, being frightened, I believe, at amount of Government claim. Their removal has benefited Association greatly. Entirely agree as to your suggestion about form of guarantee, and will work it out in that way. Nothing can be done, however, until we get the estimate of account; then we shall certainly require some of the original vouchers. Details, as between Government and Europeans, can bo settled in Wellington, but not as regards Natives. I have wired Gill to forward statement as soon as possible. I note that Te Whiti was as mysterious as ever, but I fancy you will have no weapons but words. —John Sheehan. No. 114. (Tbanslation.) Taupo, 17th February, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. —Priend, salutations. My opinion with respect to my piece of land at Te Tokoroa is, that it be ieft for you, the Government. I have no desire to deal with private individuals, for you made the first advance on that land. The particulars of this are in the letter which Major Mair had. Perhaps you have received it or not. If you see it, be speedy in sending me some money. —Poihipi Tukairangi, Aeeta Poiiiipi. No. 115. Memorandum to O. M. Creagh, Esq., Surveyor. Auckland, 21st February, 1880. I understand that, notwithstanding the notice you have received from me, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, that the surveys must all cease in the Patetere and adjacent blocks until such prohibition is removed, that you are still continuing the survey. I now give you notice that, unless you withdraw at once, your name will be struck off the list of surveyors of Native lands. S. P. Smith, Deputy Inspector of Surveys. No. 110. Mr. 0. M. Creagh to Mr. S. P. Smith. Sir. — Tauranga, 25th February, 1880. In answer to your letter of the 21st inst., No. 270, I have not, either directly or otherwise, gone on with the survey of Te Whaiti and Kuranui Blocks since I received notice from the Native Minister through you that the surveys must all cease in the Patetere and adjacent blocks. lam perfectly aware that the Native owners are defining their own boundaries, independent of survey. They applied to me to carry on the survey, and I refused; which seems to annoy them very much. The Natives say that other authorized surveyors have been at work in the first-mentioned block very lately. I have, &c, The Inspector of Surveys, Auckland. O. M. Creagh. No. 117. (Translation.) (Telegram.) Repeated from Wellington, 4th March, 1880. The Hon. Mr. Brtce, Native Minister, Kopua. —I have been to Tapapa at the request of Ngatitukorehe, a sub-tribe of Ngatiraukawa. They have requested me to speak to you about Mr. Creagh, the surveyor, and to have him sent back. There is great trouble concerning that man. He is in the Patetere bush, surveying. They wish him sent back, as they are troubled about the survey. I urge that he should be sent back (not allowed to proceed with the survey) in case he should be killed by the Natives who object to the survey. Do you devise some good plan to frighten him and stop the survey. Answer this, as the hapus are waiting for a reply. —Hare Heimana. No. 118. (Translation.) Cambridge, 4th March, 1880. Major Mair. —Friend, salutations to you. Friend, I was asked by the Ngatitukorehe to go to Tapapa, and I went there. They desired me to speak to you and Mr. Bryco about Creagh—-that he and his party of surveyors who are surveying in the Patetere District be ordered back to Cambridge. They (the Ngatitukorehe) are very much troubled and annoyed about the pakeha. Let the survev be

23

G.-l.

discontinued till after the meeting at To Waotu on these questions : then the course to bo pursued can be settled. 2nd. They spoke to me about the proposed road to Te Kaharoa, as they are dark on account of the word of the Government that the road is to be three chains wide. They also stated that the meeting at Te Waotu had not yet concluded. They likewise complained that the money as payment for the road was too little. All these matters have heen placed in my hands. Now, my friend Major Mair, let those Europeans be sent back. Do not allow them to continue surveying in the Patetere District, lest it should cause trouble. Let that and other proceedings stand over till after the discussion at Te Waotu ; and then the steps to be taken in all these matters can be decided upon. But let this be given effect to now: let Creagh be ordered back. Beply to-morrow. lam here. —Prom your loving friend, Hare Hetmana, The tribe is waiting for me, to hear about this matter. No. 119. (Translation.) (Telegram). sth March, 1880. The Hon. John Brtce. —The Ngatitukarehe hapu of Ngatiraukawa request me to ask you to send back Mr. Creagh, the surveyor who is surveying at Patetere. They (Ngatitukarehe) are much troubled at his doings. Will you instruct Mr. Creagh to discontinue his work at Patetere, lest there be trouble. I am waiting for a reply. —Hare Heimana. No. 120. (Translation.) Hianga, 7th March, 1880. Hon. Mr. Brtce, Native Minister.—Priend, this is an intimation of ours to you that we do not approve of the survey Mr. Creagh is making of our lands. It is being made with intent to defraud us, and we object to it. If you receive this, reply. Ended. —Prom your loving friend, Te Awaniti. No. 121. (Telegram.) Napier, 6th March, 1880. Percy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland.—A telegram has been received by the Hon. the Native Minister to the effect that Mr. Creagh is surveying in Patetere, and I am instructed to ask if you know anything of the alleged survey. Please reply here. —T. W. Lewis, Under-Secretary. No. 122. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth March, 1880. .T. W. Lewis, Esq , Under-Secretary, Native Office, Napier. —No surveys are going on at Patetere until Hon. Native Minister gives permission. I heard the same rumours some time ago, and immediately sent off a special messenger, but found that the surveyor was not near the place, but that the Natives themselves are cutting the tribal boundary between Botorua and Patetere—hence the rumour. —S. Percy Smith. No. 123. (Translation.) Tapapa, 9th March, 1880. Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister.—Priend, greeting. This is an appeal of mine to you to stop Creagh's survey, which he is now proceeding with in the Patetere District. The Ngatiraukawa have received your letter stating that the survey of Patetere would be stopped ; but Creagh is continuing his survey notwithstanding your letter. It is the surveys which prevent us from dealing with our road. If that European stops surveying we shall be at liberty to deal with our road; but if the survey is not stopped there will be a breach of the peace at Patetere. Ended. —Prom Hoera te Mahirahi and others. No. 124. (Telegram.) Auckland, 10th March, 1880. Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. —Patetere Natives requested that Mr. Creagh be ordered to stop his survey, as they have not completed their arrangements about their lands. lam also informed that the Ngatitukorehe, through whose land the proposed llotorua Boad runs, say that they will not consent to the road question being gone into while Creagh is allowed to go on with his surveying; that the meeting Tapapa, called for the 18th instant to arrange terms about the road, will fall through unless the survey is stopped at once.—W. Gr. Mair. No. 125. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th March, 1880. Hon. John Bryce, Native Minister, Wanganui.—No. 192.—1 repeat following telegram, just received from Major Mair: "Auckland, 10th March, 1880. —Patetere Natives requested that Mr. Creagh be ordered to stop his survey, as they have not completed their arrangements about their lands. I am also informed that the Ngatitukorehe, through whose land the proposed Botorua Boad runs, say that they will not consent to the road question being gone into while Creagh is allowed to go on with his surveying; that the meeting Tapapa, called for the 18th instant to arrange terms about the road, will fall through unless the survey is stopped at once. —W. Q-. Mair."—W. J. Morpeth, C.C. No. 126. (Telegram.) Wanganui, 11th March, 1880. W. J. Morpeth, Esq., Native Office, Wellington.—No. 92.—Hon. Native Minister directs me to state, in reply to your telegram of to-day, that he has already telegraphed to the Chief Surveyor, Mr.

G.—l

24

Smith, to ask him whether this information is correct; and Mr. Smith says that neither Mr. Creagh nor any other surveyor is surveying the Patetere Block. There appears to be some mistake. Telegraph to Major Mair accordingly. —William Berry, Secretary. No. 127. Puhirua, Tauranga, 4th March, 1880. The Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister. —Friend, greeting. We have heard that you have complied with the request of Hare Teimana to stop the survey by Iverei (Creagh) of the Patetere Block. This is the word of the Arawa and Ngatirangiwewehi Tribes and their ten hapus. The hapus of the Arawa Tribe have agreed that Creagh, surveyor of Patetere, shall survey the boundary-line between the Patetere and Botorua Blocks. These hapus have agreed that Creagh shall define the boundary between the Ngatiraukawa and Arawa Tribes. These hapus will not stop Creagh. I will commence to cut the line this week. Ended.—Prom your loving and humble friend, Wi Maihi te Bangikaiieke. No. 128. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 23rd March, 1880. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —I have just received a telegram from Mikaere te Papa, at Cambridge, that Creagh's survey has reached the Kaharoa Boad, that Ngatitukorehe have gope to arrest the party, and that there wdll probably be trouble about it.—W. G, Mair. No. 129. (Telegram.) Auckland, 24th March, 1880. W. G. Mair, CO., Alexandra.—Creagh has been warned long ago that, if it is proved that he is proceeding with survey, his license wdll be cancelled. Prom what I can gather, it seems that his Natives are cutting the line themselves without Creagh being present, who disclaims all connection with their acts. The same complaint made me a few days ago by Mr. Preece on behalf of some Tauranga Natives. I at once communicated with Mr. Smith, who is at Tauranga with Mr. Preston, that he might take steps to ascertain the truth. This department can do nothing more than has been done to peremptorily stop the survey. —W. C. Kensington (for C. S.). No. 130. (Telegram.) Alexandra, 25th March, 1880. Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. —No. 214.—Eeturned from Tapapa. After some opposition all the hapus concerned agreed to Botorua Boad being made, and are willing to do the work if the price suits them. The Hikurangi meeting did not come off, as Tawhiao and most of his people are at Kawhia making a road to Hikurangi. Ngatimaniopoto holding a meeting at Otorohanga. The principal subject for discussion is " Mokau Jones's " surveys. Bewi and other leading men of the tribe are at Otorohanga. Since my return from Batetere I have heard that some of Creagh's surveyparty are working secretly in the bush, and that an opposing party have gone out to arrest them. —W. G. Mair. No. 131. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th April, 1880. Chief Surveyor, Auckland.—Major Mair telegraphs to Native Office that some of Creagh's surveyparty are working secretly in the bush, Patetere. Is Creagh in any way instructed by you in this survey?—J. McKerrow, Surveyor-General. No. 132. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth April, 1880. Surveyor-General, Wellington.—No. 214. —Creagh was some time since peremptorily ordered to discontinue his Patetere survey, which he did immediately and returned to Auckland, where he now resides. As I informed Major Mair, there is reason to believe that a man formerly employed by Creagh is helping a section of the Native claimants to cut lines; but the surveyor is no way identified with this work, nor has control over the man. —W. C. Kensington (for C. S). No. 133. Ta Papa, Cambridge, 12th April, 1880. Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister.—Priend, greeting. This is to inform you that we have stopped the survey of a European called Pereri (Frederick), who is connected with Creagh, and was survejnng in the Patetere District, the land that you decided was not to be surveyed. So now let the Government remove this European, lest a serious difficulty should arise among us, the Maori people. We found this European and his Maoris surveying, and captured them, because we object to the survey, Priend, Mr. Bryce, do you give effect to our words. Ended.—Prom Hoera Te Mahirahi and others. No. 134. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Ist April, 1880. Hon. John Sheehan, Auckland. —I c:spect to be in Auckland in a fortnight.—John Bryce. No. 135. (Telegram.) Auckland, 2nd April, 1880. Hon. John Bryce, Wellington.—Thanks for telegram announcing your arrival. Refrained from telegraphing for some days, understanding you were ill. Bray bring all Patetere papers with you. I will go through them with you in Auckland, and pick out all that are essential for Native purposes. Informality of vouchers of no consequence,as all required is original documents with Native signatures.

25

G.— l

A Court sits on the Bth May, when all the proclaimed blocks in Patetere will come on for hearing. Will be glad if you will give instructions to Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor, to accept surveys and maps. Position of Government is rather strengthened than weakened by lauds passing Court, as Proclamation is not removed, and you can then (if so decided) obtain legal signatures. I shall feel extremely obliged if you can spare time to look into this, and give me a reply. If I have not put the matter clearly enough, will be glad to furnish further explanation.—.T. Sheehan. No. 136. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, "Wellington, 2nd April, 1880. John Sheehan, M.H.R., Auckland.- —I have to go Wanganui, in consequence of a death in my family. Will be back on Tuesday next. Patetere must stand over until then ; but I believe, if minor blocks go through Court the)'- will be gradually worked away from Government control. —John Beyce. No. 137. Cambridge, 16th April, 1880. Hon. Natite Ministee, Wellington. —I understand you leave for Auckland about the end of the week. Kindly bring the whole original papers re Patetere. You need not take them beyond Auckland. If you think proper, several Native chiefs will come down and see you, to save time. Everything else is progressing well, and settlement with Government will be arranged without difficulty.—J. Sheehan. No. 138. Civil Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 24th April, 1880. Messes. J. Sheehan, M.H.E., B. B. Walker, and two others waited on the Hon. Native Minister to-day, with reference to matters connected with the survey and purchase of the Patetere Block. J. Sheehan, M.H.8., introduced the deputation, and stated briefly the objects the gentlemen who accompanied him had to bring before the Native Minister. He said there were a number of Natives waiting outside the building, who wished to see the Native Minister, and ask him to remove the Proclamation from the block, allow the surveys to proceed, and the land to go through the Court. Hon. Native Minister said, about the time that he came into office the survey-parties were about to proceed to Patetere to survey the land. The surveyors were actually on their road to commence operations when he came into office. They had merely been stopped or detained temporarily for a few days. At that time a deputation of Maoris came to Wellington, and asked that the survey should be stopped, and to stop a private surveyor who was surveying land adjacent to the Patetere Block. The deputation urged that there was danger of bloodshed if the survey proceeded. He believed that their fears in that direction were exaggerated ; but he thought it would have been the easiest thing in life to stop the survey, and, after giving the subject very full consideration, he came to the conclusion to stop the survey from going on. It seemed the position was so far changed that the same Maoris who formerly desired to stop the survey, and the Europeans associated with them, requested that the survey should go on. It seemed to him that was the first thing to be done, and he was perfectly willing that the survey should go on. Mr. Sheehan said he had seen all the people interested, and they were anxious that the survey should go on. There were in Auckland eleven of the principal chiefs from all parts of the district, who would ask him (Hon. Native Minister) to let the survey go on. Hon. Native Minister said there was this point: He supposed one section wished the survey to go on at that time, and one stopped it. The people who w*ished it to be stopped at that time now wish it to go on : possibly the people who formerly wished it to go on might now wish it stopped. Could Mr. Sheehan inform him on that point? Mr. Sheehan pointed out the positions of the tribal boundaries on a sketch of the block, and gave the Hon. Native Minister information about the several hapus concerned. Hon. Native Minister said there were, he believed, eighteen minor blocks inside the block in question. If he understood them, they wished now that the survey of the minor blocks should go on, but not the main one. Mr. Sheehan said, the whole lot. Some 80,000 or 90,000 acres still remained unsurveyed. They were applying for the whole area to be surveyed. Hon. Native Minister inquired if that was the application. Mr. Sheehan answered, Yes. Hon. Native Minister inquired if, then, they wished the external boundaries of Patetere proper to be completed. Mr. Sheehan said they wanted to go on with the external boundaries first. The applications now made were to survey the land. The subdivisions now made were subdivisions according to Native customs. There might be no virtual external boundaries according to the Proclamation. What they proposed to do was to survey what was called the Tokoroa Block. [Mr. Sheehan here pointed out the situation of the block on a map of the district.] Mr. Sheehan, in answer to a question from the Hon. Native Minister, said the Waikato Eiver was the boundary of the Patetere Block in some places. Hon. Native Minister said he was quite prepared to decide the matter, as far as he was concerned, now. With respect to the external boundary, he was quite willing that that survey should go on if they assured him that it would not be opposed. Mr. Sheehan said he would not press that the external boundary should be surveyed if he were not certain that it would go on without opposition. Hon. Native Minister said, if certain minor blocks which Mr. Sheehan had mentioned were allowed to go through the Court, the inducement for settling the boundaries of the main block might disappear. The Maoris might easily be induced to stop the survey of the external block. 4-G. 1.

G.—l

26

Mr. Sheehan said that there was no fear of that. In point of fact, they had plans properly prepared, and they could get tracings of them, from which the Court could determine the title. Hon. Native Minister said there was another reason why he attached the utmost importance to the external boundaries being surveyed. It was this : that he could only take money from the owners of the land within the boundary of the survey. It was impossible that he could be certain who the owners were until the land had gone through the Court. He could only negotiate with the tribe through representatives. Mr. Sheehan said he was present at the meeting lately held in Waikato, and saw the conclusion come to, and he had no hesitation in saying that the people who were here (in Auckland) now were perfectly qualified to settle the whole question in regard to surveys, &c. Hon. Native Minister said they could now leave the first question of the survey. He was quite willing that the surveys of the external boundary should go on. Hon. Native Minister^ in reply to a question, said he had no objection to the restriction being taken from the minor blocks if the external block were surveyed. He would do everything he could to facilitate the immediate survey of the external boundaries ; and when he was satisfied that that was completed he was quite willing to remove the restrictions from the others; but he had made up his mind not to take oft' the restriction from the minor blocks until the whole of the block had gone before the Court: he wanted it in such a position that the title could be examined by the Court. Mr. Sheehan said that would suit the members of the deputation exceedingly well —just to get the external surveys settled. After that survey was completed the Hon. Native Minister could intimate that the surveys of the minor blocks could go on. Hon. Native Minister, in answer to a question, said he thought the Government interests in the block would represent about £14,000. It was not quite so much as that at present, but there were still a number of email accounts coming in. It was arranged that Mr. Sheehan should see the account-abstract representing the Government interest in the block, with the Hon. Native Minister, and also that the eleven Maoris who wished to see the Hon. Native Minister in regard to the block should have an opportunity of doing so on Monday next. No. 139. Native Office, Auckland, 24th April, 1880. Messes. Hilwoeth, Howard, Creagh, and Grace, and Paora Karetai, Kakawaero, and Heperi Matiaha waited on the Hon. the Native Minister to-day with reference to the Patetere Block. Mr. Grace said that the Natives were making a survey of the block themselves, and the deputation would like to know what the Hon. Native Minister would do with the survey that has been done by the Maoris. Hon. Native Minister: Of course, it must be understood, nothing which would authorize the . survey. As a matter of fact, have you time to complete it? Mr. Creagh: Yes; I would only have the chaining and bearing to take. [A sketch was here produced, and Messrs. Creagh and Grace indicated to the Hon. Native Minister the position of the block, and the stage at which the survey was stopped by the Hon. Native Minister.] Hon. Native Minister (to Mr. Creagh) : This line was cut, perhaps, under your supervision ? Mr. Creagh: No, it was not. A man named Frederick Mace was with them. Paora Karetai: I employ him, and he is my workman. My arrangement with him is, that I pay him £1 a day, and pay all the other men who are assisting him. Hon. Native Minister : As far as I am concerned, I am only too glad to see the surveys of Native land going on in all directions. I exercised a power given to me by Parliament, and stopped the surveys. Mr. Creagh said, if the Native in question was conducting the survey he believed the lines would be cut straight; and if the restrictions were taken off the block, he (Mr. Creagh) would not take long to complete the survey. Hon. Native Minister : Mr. Creagh, if I could see a way of holding you responsible for that, I would take some means of punishing you for it. Mr. Creagh : Certainly, Mr. Bryce ; but I never had. Hon. Native Minister: I saw your report; and you seemed to be rather annoyed with them going on : but, from the confidence you spoke of the straightness of these lines, I came to the conclusion you had something to do with them. Mr. Creagh : I believe the line has been run perfectly correct if that man (Mace) was on it. Hon. Native Minister .* I have good reason to suppose, apart from the assurance you have given me, that any obstruction which might have been given at one time is not likely to be given now ; and, unless I hear of something to the contrary, I will remove the restriction of the surveys. I can assure you I want to see as much land go through the Court as possible, and of course it cannot go through the Court unless it is surveyed. Members of Deputation : Thank you. Hon. Native Minister: I have no sympathy with any obstruction to any land going through the Court. I think the sooner the land has gone through the Court the better. Paora Karetai: Speaking about the work that we ourselves are doing? Hon. Native Minister: We will have to go over the survey. Paora Karetai: Salutations to you, Mr. Bryce —salutations to you, the Minister who has been selected to conduct Native affairs, and to look into matters which grieve us, the Native people. Por those reasons we, who are people residing on Patetere proper, have come to interview you. You have seen the plans which have been produced, and it is for you to untie any matters which may be pressing heavily about us with respect to the land. We are specially come to see you, and to request and to ask you if you will kindly withdraw any restrictions which are placed on the land. By your removing those restrictions we can ascertain who are the owners of the land when the matter has been investi-

27

G.—l.

gated by the Land Court; for you have given us a law to go by, which is, that land should be surveyed, taken into the Land Court, and after the Land Court has investigated it, we then get the title. I am the owner of land, and there are others also who very likely will say they are the owners o£ the land; and we, who consider ourselves the owners of those lands, have made requests to you, and have also addressed you in writing. And for these reasons we have come here to ask you to be kind enough to withdraw any restrictions you may have placed on the laud. I dare say you are aware that a Gazette has been issued, saying the Land Court will sit on the 10th of May to investigate those Patetere lands. That is all I have got to say, Mr. Bryce. Hon. Native Minister: lam much obliged to Paora Karetai for his greeting, and I will always endeavour to perform my duties as Native Minister, not only to the advantage of one race only, but to the advantage of both races. I fully concur-with what you have said as to the desirability of the title being ascertained in accordance with the law. Any restrictions which have been imposed by me on the survey of land were because a larger question —that of the peace of the country—might become involved if the surveys were allowed to proceed. At present lam led to believe that such apprehensions need not be entertained, and, unless between now and Monday afternoon I hear things to convince me that those apprehensions are still to be feared, I will remove the restrictions, and allow the survey to go on, and the land to go through the Court. I hope the land may go through the Court, and the title be ascertained without undue difficulty. Kakawaero : Salutations to you, Minister for Native Affairs. lamaTupati: I am a Rotorua Native, and lam also a Patetere Native. We, the chiefs of Rotorua, have agreed to this survey, and wish these subdividing lines to be made between us, so as to divide the Rotorua from the Patetere land. The line that has been made is perfectly correct, according to their boundaries, and I pray you to sanction this survey. I have nothing more to say ; for Karetai has pretty well expressed our opinions, and what he has said may be said to be the expression of us all. Hon. Native Minister: lam obliged to you for your greeting, and hope this matter will turn out as pleasantly as you say it will. The deputation then withdrew. No. 140. Native Office, Auckland, 27th April, 1880. Twelve Maoris, members of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe, waited upon the Hon. Native Minister to-day with reference to the Patetere Block. Harrg Simmonds (Hare Heimana, half-caste) : I went to see you in Wellington in consequence of the troubles of Ngatiraukawa. I told you this trouble commenced in the days of SirD. McLean, down to the days of Dr. Pollen, and to the time when Mr. Sheehan was Native Minister. Now that you, Mr. Bryce, are Native Minister, I wish this trouble to be brought to an end. I came with these people present, who are delegates of the tribes, to invite you to the Waotu, where the Ngatiraukawa are assembled to meet you. They are there, waiting to see you, to speak to you about these troubles. The chiefs of the tribe have sent this letter by us to you, that you may stand in the centre of your people Ngatiraukawa and inquire into all these troubles. I would like you to reply to what I have said, and also to reply to the other. [Major Mair read the letter, in which the Native chiefs invited the Hon. Native Minister to visit Waikato.] Hon. Native Minister: lam very glad to see you here, and on the business on which you appear. If this trouble'has existed, as Harry Simmonds says, from the time of Sir D. McLean till now, I think it is time it should be settled shortly. I understand that it is the wish of the present deputation that the matter should be settled, and be settled by the course of the law, which is very laudable. With respect to the invitation which the tribe has been so good as to send to me, it is a matter of great regret to me that lam not able to accept it. When I came to Auckland a few days ago, I did think it likely we should be able to visit the Waikato; but I found engagements here and in other places pressing so heavily upon me that I find it quite impossible. Still, it seems to me that my business will not prevent the settlement of the trouble which has existed so long: in fact, the settlement may proceed just as well without me as with me. Therefore, while I say lam obliged to the tribe for their invitation to mo, still I have to say that I cannot, under the circumstances, go up there at present. Perhaps now Harry Simmonds would be good enough to go on with the other portions of the business on which the deputation has called. Harry Simmonds: The first matter was the point of accepting the invitation of the tribe to go and see them. It is the particular desire of the people that you should go amongst them, and that all these matters should be laid before you there, on the spot. The reason why the people wished you to be present among them is that they may all have an opportunity of asking you questions, and accordingly be able to hear what you had to say about the action of the Government in retaining a hold upon the lands of Ngatiraukawa. I hope you may reconsider what you have said, and will find time to accept the invitation, and go up and see those who have invited you. Hon. Native Minister: I feel that you do wish to persuade me to go up there, and I appreciate your effort and that of the tribe ; but the truth is, I am not my own master in many respects, and I find myself at the present moment dragged away. Harry Simmonds : The second point is the desire of the people that you should send all the papers, bills, accounts, and agreements connected with their land to them, so that the people might see and examine them. Hon. Native Minister said he would not do so. Harry Simmonds : I hope you will consider your decision in respect of these accounts. That was the principal matter the people wished you to go to Waotu about. Hon. Native Minister : I shall be quite prepared to answer anything ; and proceed as slowly or as fast as you like. I will answer that. He has alluded to two points. With reference to the first point. After reiterating the wish that I should go up to meet them, he (Mr. Simmonds) then stated that it was their wish to know why I retained a hold on the land, and then they wished to examine

G.—l

28

the accounts and moneys against the lands. And next, as to the accounts. Now, as to the first—the hold on the land—that hold was acquired, as every one here must be perfectly aware of, not by me, but by others. When I came into office, I found that certain rights had been acquired over the lands ; and it was my duty to preserve those rights over the land, as of moneys of the Crown, so long as I believed them to be right. Now as to the production of the accounts. Supposing I came up with the whole of the accounts before me, and an account was pointed out and questioned as to the person who got the money, and the ownership, &c, what could I say ? No; if these accounts are to be produced one by one in this way, very likely one-half of them will produce further trouble, and the trouble will be further from settlement than ever. In something I must be trusted. Why should I cheat the Maoris ? I have no such desire. I will therefore not consent to produce the vouchers in detail, but I will produce an abstract to the satisfaction of any person appointed by the tribe. I take up that position in my desire to see this trouble ended. If it were my desire to see this trouble continue for ever I should perhaps ask the whole tribe to go into each separate account. That is my feeling in the matter. Harry Simmonds: Tou have stated that you have reason to believe that, even though you are not in the presence of the whole tribe, yet the matter may be arranged. Hon. Native Minister: I understood that the present deputation were to wait upon me with proposals; and I will listen to those proposals. Let me recite a little. Tou came down to Wellington just as the surveyors were about to proceed to that block to survey it, and made certain representations to me that trouble was likely to take place if the survey proceeded. Wo all understand that the first preliminary to the real settlement of any trouble, or the purchasing of Native land, is the survey of that land. That appears to me to be the first question. Now, if I am expected to approach the subject, I would ask Harry whether he thinks the same danger exists now to the survey going on that existed then—when he came down to Wellington ? If he does, the survey will not go on. Harry Simmonds : The wish of the people is that the restrictions should be removed from the land ; and then, if you say that can be done, I will answer your question about the survey. Hon. Native Minister : My belief is, that the survey is preliminary to everything; yet I will answer that because Ido not wish to evade anything. In answer to the question, I say this :In the first place —speaking now as the Government —I do not want the land. I can see too many difficulties before me in the way of not acquiring it. I would rather not have the task, provided I can protect the Government interest otherwise. But it is my duty, while I remain a Minister, more than to defend the interests of the Crown; and before the removal of the restrictive Proclamation which is over the land I will see that the Government interests —narnety, the moneys spent upon the land —are not lost— in fact, that they will be returned. If I can see my money back I will take the Proclamation off. But I will come back now to what I said at first. It seems to me that in all these difficulties the survey of the block and ascertaining of the ownership is the very first thing to be done. How do we know otherwise who the owners are? Tou come here as the representatives of the tribe: and most likely you are; but I have no legal information that you are. I must be first told by the Court that you are the owners. Then I know it. This is another thing with respect to the recovery of the Government interests : The Government interests may perhaps amount to between £12,000 and £14,000 ; but if I were offered £14,000 to remove the Proclamation from this land I would say No ; I can only take this money from the owners. The money has been paid, so lam bound to assume, to the owners ; and if the money is to be paid back to the Government, it must be by the owners and no others. Therefore I come back again to my original position, and 1 say, Who are the owners ? The laud must be surveyed in order that the owners may be ascertained. Preliminary lo every settlement, it seems to me that the land must be surveyed. -If you tell me now, as you told me in Wellington, that the survey of the block will in all probability cause bloodshed, it will not go on; but if not, the survey —that is, the preliminary survey —that is, the first step to the settlement of the matter—will proceed. Harry Simmonds: If you will promise that the Government will release the land, we will promise that the survey will go on. Then I shall see my way clear to have my land surveyed, the land go through the Court, and the money returned to the Government. Hon. Native Minister: I say that lam willing to remove the Proclamation—l say that quite distinctly; but I must have the money from the owners, and from as many of the owners as I can get it from. Harry Simmonds .* I consent to return the Government money, and I would like the papers shown to me to see how much I have to pay the Government. Hon. Native Minister .* I have no objection to any one seeing the abstract. But this is a point: I can only deal with ascertained owners as to the recovery of the money. Ido not mean to show the vouchers —-only an abstract of all the accounts. Harry Simmonds : That was the reason why we so much wished the matter settled at the Waotu — so that you might have an opportunity of judging of the feeling of the people more fully. Hon. Native Minister: I have no doubt that these gentlemen are representatives of the tribe, and the owners of the laud very probably. But when the Court tells me there are certain men owners of the land, then I know who are the owners of the land, and then I shall be prepared, when I know the owners, to take the money from them. I will not remove the Proclamation until I have the money from the ascertained owners ; and the owners can only be ascertained by the Court. Harry Simmonds: Tou are content that that land over which the Government Proclamation exists should go through the Court? Hon. Native Minister : Tes ; I will allow it to go through the Court of course. A plan will have to be made to satisfy the Court. I cannot deal with any but the ascertained owners. What is the cause of the suspicion in your mind ? I give you my .word that I will pursue a certain course. Why cannot you accept my word ? Harry Simmonds: That is settled. Hon. Native Minister : I have stopped the survey in the meantime. Will Harry tell me that there will be no bloodshed if the surveys go on ?

29

G.—l

Harry Simmonds .* It is the blocks that were surveyed, or partially surveyed, at different times that the surveyors should go on with now. Hon. Native Minister : There is a block called the Patetere Block. That is divided into two parts : one part is covered by the Government Proclamation, and one is not. We are referring to that part of the Patetere Block which is covered by the Government Proclamation. Harry Simmonds: That Proclamation embraces some country over which no surveys have been attempted to be made, and I only wish now that the survey should go on over those blocks which have been partially surveyed. Hon. Native Minister said he understood there were eighteen minor blocks within the proclaimed block. What he understood they had come about now was with respect to the whole of the proclaimed Patetere Block with the exception of a strip along the Waikato River; but if they were merely speaking of the eighteen minor blocks he had nothing to say to them. Mr. Sheehan, M.H.R., entered the room at this stage. In answer to a question by Mr. Sheehan, Harry Simmonds said they had no objection to the lands inside the proclaimed boundary being surveyed and put through the Court during the present sitting if some of the blocks were cut out. lion. Native Minister : Whereabout is the land that you do not wish surveyed ? Is it on the banks of the Waikato, or where ? Harry Simmonds: It is on the banks of the Waikato River, and across to the Patetere Bush. No. 141. (TRANSLATION.) Auckland, 27th April, 1880. Friend Betce.—We submit to you our applications regarding our lands. (Ist.) The name of these lands is Patetere —that is, the lands restricted by the Government. (2nd.) We request that the following blocks be excluded from the survey and the Court: The Waotu-Matanuku, Motukakapo, and Maungaitia. (3rd.) That the remaining lands in the proclaimed block we have all consented to be surveyed and passed through the Court. (4th.) We consent to repay the moneys expended by the Government on these lands. (sth.) We leave with you, the Native Minister, the adjustment of these moneys after the lands have passed the Court, and the proper owners are known. (6th.) Authorize the Chief Surveyor to permit the necessary surveys to be made ; also request the Chief Judge, Mr. Benton, to proclaim a Court for these lands which we have consented shall be surveyed and adjudicated. This is all from your friends. —Prom Hare Heimana, Rongowhitiao Arekatera, Te Rei Paihua, Pore Motunau, Hoera, Aperahama te Kume, Perenara Tamahiki, Areti Poihipi, Nikorima, Poihipi Tukairangi, Tuwhakarara. No. 142. (Telegram.) Auckland, Ist May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, New Plymouth.—Have just seen your telegrams to Kensington re Patetere surveys, and feel convinced there is some misunderstanding. We distinctly understood that the surveys of minor blocks inside proclaimed boundary should go on, we undertaking that survey of external boundary should be started at once. This is now Ist May, and Court opens on 10th. It will take us all our time to get small blocks ready concurrently with the outer boundary. Land cannot be passed through Court in one block, as owners are various, and claim specific areas in the big block, which are known as the minor blocks. Survey-party already started for survey of external boundary to co-operate with trig, survey by Government surveyors; and two parties are ready to go on with finishing up subdivision boundaries. Please reply, urgent. —P. A. Whitakeb, John Sheehan. No. 143. (Telegram.) New Plymouth, 2nd May, 1880. Messrs. Wiiitakee and Sheehan, Auckland. —Have been away selecting site for camp; hence delay in answering. There has been no misapprehension. I never intended to allow private surveys in proclaimed block until Government claim satisfied after ascertainment of title. Tour telegram suggests a difficulty in getting largo block through Court, and I think it likely you are right; but if I now acceded to your wish, and authorized the private surveys in the proclaimed block to be completed or officially authorized, the end would be, that the minor blocks would go through, and the main block bo hung up. Ido not think I ever said a word which could lead to the impression that I was prepared to accept such a position as that.; but I have said a good many to the opposite effect, and have been most careful to show that I thought the ascertainment of title in the main block was the first thing to be done, and preliminary to every other. —John Bbyce. ■ No. 141. (Telegram.) Auckland, sth May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Opunake. —I am sure you will pardon me when I say that I still think there .must be some misunderstanding. I beg to ask you to consider following matters : First. Please refer to Berry's notes of our interviews. Second. Tou will remember that you raised question of survey of external boundaries at first interview. After some discussion I understood you to agree that, so long as outer survey went on concurrently with interior surveys, you would not object. Next, Whitaker and self saw you, and we both agree in our recollections of what we understood to have taken place at close of interview. Whitaker wrote down on an envelope the three main points to which you were able to give your consent. They were, that all the surveys should go, that you would notify Court claims must be heard, and that, to protect Crown's interest, Proclamation would still be maintained. In course of same interview I pointed out to you that difficulties might arise, as Crown land was all one block, but it would go through Court in separate blocks; and you replied that it was a matter which would be dealt with on fair conditions. It may be perhaps that you meaut one thing and we meant another. But I would beg of you to consider matter again. I could point out that your lien is

G.—l

30

entirely unaffected by the survey and investigation, that we are now carrying out extended survey as arranged, that adhering to your instructions to Kensington simply means that not one of the blocks can go through Court, and that, while wo have specially maintained our good faith on this matter, a block as large as ours is being allovved to be put through, upon a survey made by stealth, in direct defiance of your order; and, while the two Europeans, proprietors of the last-named block, are buying entirely for themselves, wo are buying on conditions which compel the cutting-up and sale of our blocks in suitable areas, and to a considerable extent upon deferred payment. I might also ask you to refer to letter of Natives to you, your reply, and also a memorandum sent to Survey Office, which you were kind enough to allow me to peruse. I trust you will be able to see your way to allow surveys and plans to bo approved in time, as, if present Court falls through, some considerable time will elapse before you will be able to get the Natives to attend another. —John Sheehan. .ft No. 145. (Telegram.) Hawera, Gth May, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Auckland. —I take the earliest opportunity of perusing Mr. Berry's notes, as you request, and find they completely bear out my impression of what occurred at the interview you refer to, as the following extract will show: ''Hon. Native Minister: He would do everything he could to facilitate the immediate survey of the external boundaries. And when he was satisfied that that was completed he was quite willing to remove the restrictions from the others ; but he had made up his mind not to take off the restrictions from the minor blocks until the whole of the block had gone before the Court. He wanted it in such a position that the title could be examined by the Court. Mr. Sheehan said that would suit the members of the deputation exceedingly well—just to get the external surveys settled. After that survey was completed the Hon. Native Minister could intimate that the surveys of the minor blocks could go on."—John Bkxce. No. 140. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Hawera. —Without discussing further what was understood at our interviews in Auckland, I would submit the following as reasons worthy of consideration in dealing with the request which is made to allow survey of main block. On receipt of your wire of yesterday morning I called on Chief Judge Fenton, and in course of our interview pointed out to him the important reservation in favour of Natives in section 2 of "Government Land Purchase Act, 1878," under which it is enacted that the notification under Act of 1877 of lands as under negotiation to the Crown shall virtually constitute such lands during the existence of notification waste lands of the Crown ; but not as against the aboriginal owners or occupiers. I argued that it was quite lawful and within his jurisdiction to put land through the Court although under Proclamation, and that to hold otherwise would be to deprive even the Crown of the power to put proclaimed lands through Court until the law could be amended. After considerable discussion he agreed with me, and told me I might wire you that he was now satisfied lands may be adjudicated upon without any intimation of intention of Government to remove Proclamation. It will be sufficient to let him know that Government is not objecting to the investigation of title. He will probably wire you so himself. The lands will thus go through under Proclamation and without any promise of withdrawal ; and in event of failure on our part to carry out conditions would place Government in best position to close up its own title, the land having gone through the Court, and the owners being ascertained. This being the case, I venture to ask you whether it would not be perfectly safe to allow the surveys to go on. Tour Proclamation is valid ; you have not even to intimate your intention to withdraw. Tou have right to entertain caveats against all and every block which passes Court; in fact, incase of more blocks, such caveats now exist; and, further,-you possess the power of stopping any transaction until the moment when the Governor, on your recommendation, allows title to go. Further, and perhaps most important of all, we cannot trade with the Natives, or pay moneys, or obtain signatures, as such would be illegal, and would not be made good by subsequent removal of Proclamation. I have given you several times the assurance that there is no intention to work an " oracle." The control of matter is in my hands. There is no intention on part of Association to pick eyes out of block : on contrary, they are using every means to acquire whole block ; and the survey of Tokoroa, which is the balance of proclaimed block, is now going on. I may add that I would at ones retire from business if I noticed smallest disposition to evade performance of any of conditions. And they are quite willing to lot every block remain under Proclamation until the external boundaries have been surveyed, and land put through Court. One other consideration I would like to urge—that of the Natives: they are now to attend the sixth Court called for purpose of dealing with their lands, and have been put to very great expense in so doing. The time is ripe for settlement of questions of title on all this area, and the causes which delayed Court on former occasions have now ceased to exist. Unless you allow minor surveys the Court must stand adjourned, as no business will be before it. Excuse length of this wire; but I desired to put matter before you as clearly as possible, and I hope you will be able to take^ a more favourable view of the matter as it now stands.—J. Sheehan. No. 147. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Hawera.—l may add to my telegram that section quoted by me was not meant to affect Court at all, but merely to give us right to take proceedings against people who, while buyiug in opposition to the Crown, took possession of the land, and complicated questions therobv.-^ John Sheehan.

g.—i.

No. 148. (Telegram.) Hawera, 7th May, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Auckland. —I concur in the reasonableness of your telegram of this morning, and will meet you if I can. I telegraphed to Judge Penton an hour ago, saying that I desired to facilitate investigation of title of Patetere ; that my fear was, that if I authorized private surveys in proclaimed block, it would be taken directly or impliedly by Court as a virtual withdrawal of Proclamation in those cases. If that can be avoided, I shall permit the surveys to be authorized. I quite accept your assurance of good faith. I have expressed myself badly if I have created an opposite impression. I hope to get Fenton's reply immediately. Will start at noon from here for Wanganui.—John Bbtce. No. 149. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wanganui.—Thanks for your telegram of this morning. Have seen Fentou since receipt, and sincerely hope all trouble now removed. Only, to be of use, your inspection of surveys being allowed and of no objection to hearing of cases ought to be sent to-morrow. Please do so if you see your way to agree. —J. Sheehan. No. 150. (Telegram.) Wanganui, Bth May, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Auckland. —I have instructed Survey Department, Auckland, to authorize plans within Patetere.—John Bryce. No. 151. (Telegram.) Auckland, sth May, 1880. Hon. J. Brtce, Hawera. —Do you know that there is no claim in for the whole Patetere Block. The claims are for the smaller pieces, which, together, cover the whole block. If you stop the hearing of these (i.e., the certifying the plans), Court can do nothing. Ido not think that is what you mean. Is it ? If the Proclamation is not renewed, or intimation given of Government intention to remove, Court may be powerless. See 2nd clause " Government Land Purchase Act, 1878." This is sixth time Patetere before Court. Great embarrassment to me, as it locks up Otaki, Maketu, Waikato, &c. Hope we can get it settled.—F. D. Fenton, Chief Judge. No. 152. (Telegram.) Auckland, 6th May, 1880. Hon. J. Bryce, Hawera.- —The word was " removal," not " renewal." So long as the Proclamation • exists, the land is Crown land, and the Court has no jurisdiction. There is no claim for the whole block ; and if there were I expect they would have to order subdivisions, for the titles differ. I fancy it is small pieces or none. The clause of the Act is, " Every notification gazetted, &c, shall be equivalent to a notice that the Native title has been extinguished." I take it this destroys our jurisdiction. —F. D. Fenton, Chief Judge. No. 153. (Telegram.) Hawera, 6th May, 1880. Judge Fenton, Auckland. —I have seen the Act you refer to. It makes the land Crown land against all except Native owners ; but if plans are ready, there is surely some way of having Native title ascertained. Could not claim be made for that purpose yet ? Proclamation could not be withdrawn until two months, and I am not disposed to withdraw it at all until title ascertained and Government claims satisfied. —John Bryce. No. 154. (Telegram.) iluckland, 7th May, 1880. Hon. J. Bryce, Hawera. —Confidential. —The stupid Bill-drawing now in vogue has clone what I do not think any one intended, as the thing is done by notification, and not by Proclamation under seal. I will go on if you will officially, through your agent in Court, inform the Court that it is the desire of Government that Native title should be ascertained; but cannot go on with block, for wo have no claim. Besides, if we had a claim we should have to cut it up, I feel assured.—F, D. Fenton, Chief Judge. No. 155. (Telegram.) _ _ Hawera, 7th May, 1880. Judge Fenton, Auckland.—l am willing to facilitate ascertainment of title to Patetere Block, and see uo objection to subdivision for that purpose. But the objection in my mind is to authorizing private surveys in a block covered by a Proclamation; for it seems to me that would be morally equivalent to withdrawing Proclamation over the land the survey of which is authorized. Now, Ido not intend to withdraw Proclamation until after title is ascertained and Government claims satisfied. What I wish you could tell me is, whether investigation of title can, in the case of Patetere, go on in your Court without Government either directly or impliedly withdrawing Proclamation. —John Bryce. No. 156. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th May, 1880. Hon. John Bryce, Wanganui —Confidential. —lf Government brought the land before Court, it would be in precisely same position as these Europeans are now. Investigation may go on if Government express their desire in my Court, without Government directly or impliedly withdrawing Proclamation. The approval of a survey does not affect a Proclamation,—F, D. Fenton.

31

&—1

32

No. 157.

(Telegram.) Wanganui, Bth May, 1880. P. D. Fen ton, Esq., Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Auckland. —On the part of the Government, I beg to state my desire that the Native title to land within the Patetere Block may be as completely investigated, at the next sitting of the Native Land Court at Cambridge, as possible. Is this notice sufficiently formal ? —John Bbyce. No. 158. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth May, 1880. Hon. Mb. Bbyce, Wanganui.—Tes. —F. D. Eenton. No. 159. (Telegram.) Auckland, 21st May, 1880. Hon. Me. Bryce, Wellington. —Paora te Karetai has informed the Court at Cambridge that blood is likely to be shed if the survey of Te "Whaiti (Dilworth and Howard) is confirmed. Conferring with Deputy Inspector hereon, he says his surveyors are not doing anything there. —P. D. Penton, Chief Judge. No. 160. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 21st May, 1880. James Dilwobtit, Esq., Auckland.—No. 484.—Paora te Karetai has informed the Court at Cambridge that blood is likely to be shed if the survey of Te Whaiti is continued. Be good enough to telegraph, for information of Native Minister, if this land is being surveyed by yourself and Mr. Howard at the present time. —Eichb. John Gill. No. 161. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 22nd May, 1880. Kichd. John Gill, Esq., Under-Secretary, Land Purchase Department, Wellington.—Howard: and Dilworth's survey was finished some time ago without any trouble whatever. The statement made by Paora te Karetai was in consequence of a survey being made by Mr. Cook for W. C. L. Williams within the land surveyed for Howard and Dilworth. Por the Native Minister's satisfaction, we believe no disturbance need now be apprehended.' —J. Dilwobth. No. 162. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 21st May, 1880. Major Maie, Cambridge.—No. 485.—1s Te Whaiti Block being surveyed uninterruptedly '** What does Paora te Karetai mean —that blood is likely to be shed if the survey is continued? What surveyor is at work, and who is he working for ? —Eiciid. John Gill. No. 163. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 24th May, 1880. E. J. Gill, Esq., Wellington. —Pound your telegram, No. 485, at Alexandra on return from Eaglan Saturday night. Native names are not very clear. The only survey which has been interfered with is a subdivision of Creagh's surve}^. Te Penetana and others employed Cook to cut out a portion of Te Whaiti Block. Ngatitirangi object. Paora te Karetai, alias Kereti, is the leader of this party — the sellers to Dilworth and Howard —and they are annoyed at being entirely excluded from the two blocks which have gone through the Court. I have not heard of any serious opposition. It is reported to-day that Cook is now engaged upon another subdivision at Tapapa, and Hoera's people, Ngatitukorehe, threatening violence to the Maoris implicated if he is not removed. —W. G. Maie. No. 164. (Telegram.) Auckland, 26th May, 1880. C. E. Cooke, Esq., surveyor (care of W. C. Williams, Cambridge).—-It is reported that you are running great risk of bloodshed in continuing survey of blocks you were authorized to survey. Be good enough, therefore, to desist at the least opposition or warning, and communicate with me.— S. Peect Smith. No. 165. (Telegram.) Auckland, 20th April, 1880. Hon. Mb. Bbyce, Native Minister. —I assume that it is still the wish of the Government that the Patetere proclaimed block should be defined by this department, and that, all private surveys within that block will stand over. Do you wish the District Surveyor (Mr. Cussen) to carry out the survey of the proclaimed block independently or concurrently with the private surveys abutting on the same? —W. C. Kensington* (for C. S. and D. I. S.). No. 166. Auckland, 20th April, 1880. Mb. Kensington, Survey Office, Auckland. —Yes; you are quite right in assuming that the Patetere proclaimed block should be defined by the Survey Department with the limitation named in my memo., and that private surveys within the block must stand over till the external boundaries are ready for the Court. You will use your discretion as to works concurrent with private surveys. —■ John Bbyce,

33

G.— 1

No. 167.

(Telegram.) Auckland, 20th April, 1880. L. Cltssen, Esq., District Surveyor, Hamilton. —Chief Surveyor wires : " Engage a competent assistant, and push on with trig, survey, so as to produce speedily a sketch-map of proclaimed Patetere District for purpose of Native Land Court." —W. C. Kensington (for C. S.). No. 168. The Hon. the Native Ministee to Mr. S. P. Smith. Auckland, 28th April, 1880. Memorandum to S. PercY Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland —Some months since, thinking that the peace of the country might be endangered if the private surveys then going on, and the survey of Government blocks about to be commenced, were further prosecuted, I directed you not to authorize survey-parties to carry on their operations in the part of the Waikato country known as Patetere. I am now satisfied that such danger, if it ever existed, exists no longer; and have therefore to remove the restriction which I then imposed on surveying the proclaimed portion of the Patetere. 1 have no objection to the line being taken at some distance from the Waikato Eiver, if by that ineaus obstruction can be avoided. —John Bbyce. No. 169. (Telegram.) Auckland, 28th April, 1880. Distbtct Sueveyoe, Hamilton. —Hold yourself in readiness to carry out former arrangements re Patetere surveys. When I wire authority from Hon. Mr. Bryce to start, employ an assistant to put up stations. —W. C. Kensington (for C. S.). No. 170. (Telegram.) Auckland, 28th April, 18S0. O. M. Creagh, Esq., surveyor, Cambridge.—Hon. Native Minister has authorized the Patetere surveys being proceeded with. You are at liberty to resume yours at your earliest opportunity, in terms of the authority received from Mr. Smith. —W. C. Kensington (for D. I. of S.). No. 171. (Telegram.) Auckland, 29th April, 1880. Hon. Mb. Bbyce, New Plymouth. —There seems to be an understanding amongst the various persons interested in Patetere that you do not intend that D. I. S. should absolutely prohibit the subdivision surveys being proceeded with, but that they should not bo adjudicated upon until the Government survey is before the Native Land Court. I have been applied to by Messrs. Graham and Williams for authority to proceed with such subdivision surveys; but in the face of your memo, must refuse all surveys and plans within the district.—Wm. C. Kensington, Deputy Inspector, Surveys. No. 172. (Telegram.) New Plymouth, 2nd May, 1880. W. C. Kknsington (for Chief Surveyor,' Survey Department, Auckland). —You are quite right. Private surveys are not to go on at present —at all events, within the proclaimed block at Patetere. The limitation alluded to in my hastily-pencilled minute before leaving Auckland referred to my previous instructions that a strip might be left along the Waikato Eiver if by that means obstruction could be avoided. —John Bbyce. No. 173. (Telegram.) Auckland, 30th April, 1880. W. A. Gbaham, surveyor, Hamilton.—Hon. Mr. Bryce refuses permission for any survevs within proclaimed boundary of Patetere until Government block is before Native Land Court. This is final. It is now your interest to get Cussen's survey pushed on with all speed. —W. C. Kensington (for D.I. S.). No. 174. (Telegram.) Auckland, Ist May, 1880. Hon. Me. Beyce, Hawera.—Certain unauthorized surveys within the proclaimed Patetere Block, the plans of which are completed, have been presented to me for approval, for purpose of hearing at the Native Land Court, which, as a matter of course, I refuse to receive. Chief Judge raises the question as to whether your prohibition extends to plans of surveys already made. Messrs. Sheehan and Whitaker say that it does not, and that such plans ought to be received by this office, and approved for hearing. Kindly instruct me in this matter, as so much hangs upon the decision. —W. C. Kensington (for D. I. S.). No. 175. (Telegram.) New Plymouth, 2nd May, 1880. W. C. Kensington, Esq. (for D. I. S.), Auckland.—Private surveys within the proclaimed Patetere Block are not to be authorized at present. —John Bbyce. 5— G. 1.

Q.—l

34

No. 176. Memorandum from Mr. W. C. Kensington to Messrs. Sheehan and Whitakee. Auckland, 3rd May, 1880. I hate received a telegram from the Hon. Mr. Bryce confirming the action taken both with regard to surveys and plans within proclaimed Patetere Block—viz., that no survey or plan shall be approved until the Government block is before the Court. —W. C. Kensington (for C. S. and Deputy Inspector of Surveys). No. 177. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd May, 1880. L. Cussen, Esq., D.S., Hamilton.—Mr. Bryce directs that boundary of proclaimed block on Waikato Eiver side may be taken back from that river a sufficient distance to exclude certain blocks which Mr. Graham will tell you of.—W. C Kensington (for C. S.). No. 178. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 3rd May, 18S0. W. C. Kknsington, Esq., Survey Office, Auckland. —Do I understand that Cook's or my parties are not to commence work until Cussen's map of external boundaries is complete? —W. A. Gbaham. No. 179. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd May, 1880. W. A. Geaiiam, surveyor, Cambridge. — Yes; as far as lands situated within the proclaimed district are concerned. Hon. Mr. Bryce wired finally yesterday, ordering me to refuse approval until Government survey is before Court. —W. C. Kensington (for D. I. S.). No. 180. (Telegram.) Auckland, 3rd May, 1880. C. E. Cooke, Esq., surveyor (care of E. C. L. Williams, Cambridge).—You thoroughly understand that the three surveys you are authorized to make are outside the proclaimed Patetere Block, and must not encroach upon it. —W. C. Kensington (for Deputy Inspector of Surveys). No. 181. (Telegram.) Auckland, 4th May, 1880. L. Cussen, D.S., Hamilton. —Please use all possible expedition in the prosecution of the Government Patetere survey. Trig, pipes will be up directly.—W. C. Kensington (for Chief Surveyor). No. 182. (Telegram.) Auckland, sth May, 1880. E. J. Gill, Under-Secretary, Land Purchase, Wellington.—Do you think Mr. Bryce understands that there is no claim lodged with the Native Land Court for the hearing of the proclaimed Patetere Block on behalf of the Government, and that when Survey Department has completed survey the present Court for 10th cannot take it ? And so Chief Judge says Court will simply open and close, as only one or two blocks advertised are without the proclaimed boundary: all the rest are within the proclaimed block; and therefore must refuse to receive, approve, or send before the Court, under section 7, "Native Lands Act, 1878." —W. C. Kensington (for Chief Surveyor). No. 183. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 6th May, 1880. Chief Sueveyoe, Auckland. —Sketch-map of Patetere cannot be ready for the Court, if it is to be in conjunction with the regular triangulation. I should like to consult you on this and other questions. Please telegraph when I may go up to town to see you. —L. Cussen, District Surveyor. No. 184. (Telegram.) Auckland, 6th May, 1880. L. Cussen, Esq., D.S., Cambridge.—Come down so as to be here Saturday morning. If points can be fixed accurately enough, the regular triangulation can follow. —W. C. Kensington (for C. S.). No. 185. (Telegram.) Wanganui, Bth May, 1880. W. C. Kensington, Survey Office, Auckland. —Plan of surveys of land within Patetere Block, if prepared to your satisfaction, can now be authorized for purposes of Native Land Court. —John Bbyce. No. 186. Mr. S. P. Smith to the Inspectoe of Surveys, Wellington. Sib,— Survey Office, Auckland, 17th May, 1880. I have the honor to inform you that applications for the survey of the blocks of land as per margin* have been received —all of which blocks are within the proclaimed boundaries of Patetere. None of these have been surveyed yet; but, as the applicants will no doubt press the matter, I wish to know definitely whether the Hon. the Native Minister will give permission for these surveys to go on before the boundaries of the Proclamation have been defined —a work which is now proceeding. Several maps have been forwarded to the Court, with provisional certificates, of lands within the pro-

* Patetere, No. 4,918; Te Tokoroa, No. 4,917 • Tikorangi, No. 4,y16 ; Te Kotokaikoro, No. 4,915 ; Whakaaratamaiti, No. 4,914.

Gk—l.

claimed boundaries —the surveys of which were made some time ago by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister; but, judging from the correspondence that has passed between the Hon. the Native Minister and the Chief Draughtsman of this office in my absence, nothing appears to justify me in authorizing any surveyor in making further surveys within the district covered by the Proclamation, in contravention of the 7th clause of " The Native Land Act, 1878," until further permission is granted by the Hon. Minister of Native Affairs. I have, &c, S. P. Smith, The Inspector of Surveys, Wellington. Deputy Inspector of Surveys. No. 187. (Telegram.) Auckland, 20th May, 1880. Surveyor-General, Wellington.—There appears every chance of being able to carry triangulation right through Patetere to Taupo now, at once. Please authorize engagement of assistant surveyor at 21s. per diem, and an allowance of 15s. per diem to Cussen to find extra horses and food for them. Very important that work should proceed whilst Natives are in the humour. Awaiting reply. —S. Percy Smith. No. 188. (Telegram.) Auckland, 29th May, 1880. Surveyor-General, Wellington. —Can you reply to my telegram of the 17th re Patetere surveys? The expenditure is going on, and, if not authorized, had better stop the surveys at once. —S. Percy Smith. No. 189. (Telegram.) Wellington, 29th May, 1880. Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —Your proposals for extra expenditure triangulation Patetere approved. About what date do you anticipate trig, and topographical surveys to be completed over area proclaimed ? —James McKerrow. No. 190. (Telegram.) Auckland, 31st May, 1880. Surveyor-Genkral, Wellington.—l expect the sketch-map for use of the Court now sitting, showing the proclaimed boundaries of Patetere, will be ready in three weeks. The regular major triangulation will take probably three to four months.' —-S. Percy Smith. No. 191. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 20th May, 1880. Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —Shall I supply information and assistance to facilitate preparing a sketch-map of Tokoroa in interests of Patetere Land Company ? lam pressed for an answer to this. —L. Cussen. No. 192. (Telegram.) Auckland, 21st May, 1880. District Surveyor, Cambridge.—Tou can supply trig, information to anybody, but must not delay trig, work on any account. No further surveys have been authorized by Native Minister as yet. I must therefore decline to receive any map. Please say so. —-S. Percy Smith. No. 193. (Telegram.) Auckland, 31st May, 1880. L. Cussen, Esq., D.S., Cambridge.—Referring to my telegram to you of a late date on the subject of supplying information re Tokoroa, there is no objection to your furnishing the information you will obtain as to the boundaries of the Proclamation, which I believe are common to the above block. It is probable that this will allow of a map of that block being made; but until the Native Minister authorizes the reception and approval of such plan, it could not be sent to the Court. The SurveyorGeneral has approved of the employment of an assistant to yourself at 21s. per diem, and an allowance of 15s. per diem to provide what extra horse-hire may be required. I must, however, urge you to keep expenses as low as possible. On the completion of the sketch of Proclamation boundaries, the map showing all the other blocks, which has been prepared, will be sent you to Hamilton, in order that you may lay down the boundaries on it. After this, pending further instructions, please let triangulation proceed in regular course. —S. Percy Smith. No. 194. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 3rd June, 1880. The Chikf Surveyor, Auckland.—Mr. Sheehan informs me that my survey is required for the Court. Pending instructions from you, I have declined to produce it. Please advise me. —L. Cussen. No. 195. (Telegram.) Auckland, 4th June, 1880, District Surveyor, Hamilton. —When your map is complete, send it to me. —S. Percy Smith. No. 196. (Telegram.) Hamilton, 3rd June, 1880. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Survey Office, Auckland. —What reason (if any) exists to prevent Mr. Cussen from supplying Native Land Court with, provisional map of Tokoroa ?—J. Sheehan*.

35

G.—l

36

No. 197. (Telegram.) Auckland, 4th June, 1880. J. Sheehan, Esq., Hamilton.—Mr. Cussen's map must come to me. If the information is sufficient to make a plan of Tokoroa from it, and Hon. Native Minister sees no objection, a plan can then be sent to Court. —S. Percy Smith, C.S. No. 198. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 7th June, 1880. S. Percy Smith, Esq., Survey Office, Auckland.—Following copy of wire sent Hon. Native Minister: "Survey of Tokoroa Block finished by Cussen and Association. Plan ready for Court. Only awaits your final approval of its being handed into Court. Kindly instruct Mr. Percy Smith accordingly. Matter urgent, as Court may reach block to-morrow." —J. Sheehan. No. 199. (Telegram.) Auckland, 7th June, 1880. J. Sheehan, Esq., Cambridge.—l fear your telegram is likely to mislead Hon. Native Minister. Cussen surveyed the block as Patetere, not Tokoroa. Further, the plan is not ready for Court, inasmuch as it has not yet arrived here ; and there is the question of whether the plan complies with the Act sufficiently. —S. Percy Smith. No. 200. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth June, 18S0. Surveyor-General, Wellington.—Cussen has completed a rough triangulation through from near Cambridge to Taupo Koad, covering Patetere Block. The boundaries of Proclamation have been marked. They follow those described in Gazette, 1878, page 484, as far as Paenuiorehua ; from where, instead of following Mangaharekeke to Waikato, they follow a line west-south-west for ten miles, and then to commencement on Waikato River, leaving a strip about seven miles wide on bank of that river to the Natives, as agreed upon by the Hon. Native Minister. The part left out at Mangaharekeke contains about 10,000 acres. Natives would not let it be surveyed. The whole Patetere Block, therefore, contains 106,200 acres, as surveyed, including the private surveys now before Court. The balance of block, known as Tokoroa, as surveyed by Cussen, containing 51,000 acres, can now be passed through Court if the Government wish it, and an interlocutory (order) obtained. I have declined to send map to Court without permission of the Hon. Native Minister: see my letter of Mav 17th. Mr. Gill has, I think, a map of Patetere. Tokoroa case will be called on in Court in a day or two ; so this is urgent. —S. Percy Smith. No. 201. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth June, 1880. Chiee Surveyor, Auckland. —I have read your telegram re Patetere and Tokoroa to Hon. Native Minister. In reply to it and to telegram from John Sheehan on same subject, he has minuted: "If Mr. Smith is satisfied with the plan as a survey, it can be approved for purposes of Court."—James McKerrow, Surveyor-General. No. 202. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 28th May, 1880. Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.— Be Cambridge Court. I send you following notes re proceedings of this Court. The proceedings of the Court have been of the most orderly description. I have never seen a quieter Court. Three cases have gone through, and I expect in the course of next ten days over 100,000 acres wall have passed through the Court. Many of Manga's people are here at his express request to attend the Court and to sign their claims in the ordinary legal manner. In spite of what may have been reported in the newspapers, and perhaps may have been communicated to yourself, no interruption of any kind has taken place in the survey of either external or internal boundaries. All parties are acting peacefully, and the concession made by extending certain blocks on the Waikato boundary has removed all possibility of disturbance. Natives found to be interested by Court are behaving in straightforward manner in regard to Government here, and it is clear that whole amount will be recovered without hitch. —J. Sheehan. No. 203. (Telegram.) Cambridge, sth June, 1880. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.—Knowing that you have been very busy with other work I have not troubled you with telegrams for some days. I have much pleasure in informing you that survey of Tokoroa Block and outside boundary has been finished without risk or trouble. The Court is proceeding very quietly, and getting through a large area of land. There is the usual amount of temporary discontent among the losing party in the several cases, but nevertheless everything is orderly and good-tempered to an extent which I have not seen for many years before. I had long interview with Eewi on Wednesday evening, and he expressed his entire satisfaction at what was being done. He gave me also an amount of important information as to hapus and families who have good claims to the blocks. I have great hopes now that all the land before the Court will go through.—J. Sheehan. No. 204. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 7th June, 1880. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. —Survey of Tokoroa Block finished by Cussen and Association. Plan ready for Court. Only awaits your formal approval of its being handed into Court. Kindly instruct Mr. Percy Smith accordingly. Matter urgent, as Court may reach block to-morrow. —J. Sheehan.

37

G.—l

No. 205. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Bth June, 1880. S. P. Smith, Esq., Chief Surveyor, Auckland. —Following is copy of telegram received by Native Minister: ".Survey of Tokoroa Block finished by Cussen and Association. Plan ready for Court. Only awaits your formal approval of its being handed into Court. Kindly instruct Mr. Percy Smith accordingly. Matter urgent, as Court may reach block to-morrow. —J. Sheehan." Mr. Bryce has replied: "If Mr. Smith is satisfied with the plan, it can be approved." Will you please act in the matter ? —Eiciid. John Gill. No. 206. (Telegram.) Ngaruawahia, 7th June, 1880. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.—lf not already done, please answer my wire re Tokoroa plan—to Auckland —this evening.—J. Sheehan. No. 207. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth June, 1880. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.—Anxiously waiting reply my telegram Tokoroa plan and survey. Everything ready, waiting your approval. Wire to self or Smith will be sufficient. —J. Sheehan. No. 208. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, Bth June, 1880. John Sheehan, Esq., M.H.R., Cambridge.—No. 527.' — Be yours on survey of Tokoroa, Native Minister has minuted paper: "If Mr. Smith is satisfied with the plan, it can be approved." Have wired Mr. Smith on the matter.—Eichd. John Gill. No. 209. (Telegram.) Cambridge, 26th June, 1880. Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. —In all probability the great Whaiti or Patetere Block, of about 140,000 acres, will come before the Land Court on Monday. Ido not know whether the Natives intend to sell all or only a portion of it; but it will be necessary to make large reserves for them. Would suggest also that Government reserves, say, two square miles about Tapapa as a site for a future town. Ido not think that the block will go through at this sitting of the Court, but it will be advanced sufficiently to permit the different hapus to survey their internal boundaries. —W. G. Mair. No. 210. (Translation.) Cambridge, 29th June, 1880. Hon. Mr. Brxce, Native Minister, Wellington. —Are the Europeans acting under your instructions who are purchasing our lands which were proclaimed by the Government in the Patetere District, and retaining a portion of the purchase-money? They say that they are retaining part of our money for the Government.—Mikaiere te Papa.

By Authority: Geobge Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington. —1880. Price Is. 6d.] 6—G. la.