A.—No. Ib

the Urewera country. If so, the waylaying of parties travelling to Taupo via Matata would just suit the tastes of both leader and followers. J. H. 11. St. John, Lieut.-Colonel, N.Z.M., Auckland, Bth October, 1869. Inspector, A.C.

No. 27. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 148). Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 17th November, 1869. I. have the honor to enclose herewith, for your Lordship's information, a copy of the final judgment of the Native Lands Court, recently delivered at Wellington, in the case of the Rangitikei-Manawatu land claims, Avbich (as will be remembered tit the Colonial Office) have caused much angry discussion during several years past in the southern part of this Island, and have sometimes threatened to lead to open warfare. 2. About seven years ago, the fertile block of land lying between the Rangitikei and ManaAvatu Rivers, on the West Coast of the Province of Wellington, and containing nearly a quarter of a million of acres, was purchased for the sum of twenty-five thousand pounds sterling (£25,000), from the Ngatiapa Tribe, by Dr. Eeatherston, the Superintendent of the Province, acting on behalf of the Crown. The scene presented at tbe payment of this money Avas witnessed by Sir Charles WentAVorth Dilke, and is very graphically described in his recently published book Greater Britain." The sale was, however, objected to by certain members of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe, Avho grounded their title chiefly on conquest, alleging that the land in question Avas, about fifty years ago, conquered from the Ngatiapas, the original possessors, by the Ngatitoa Tribe, under their celebrated, chief Te Rauperaha, av!io subsequently granted much of it to his allies, the NgatiraukaAvas. Considering the ATery serious consequences which haA^e folloAved the attempt, made in 1860, to carry out, in spite of the protest of a dissentient minority of the Native claimants, the provisions of the sale of tho small block of land (only eight hundred (800) acres in all) on the RiArer Waitara, near Taranaki, the Colonial Government Avisely abstained from pushing matters to an extremity in this new case. Unfortunately, hoAvever (as it noAV seems to be generally agreed), the ManaAvatuRangitikei claims were, in the first instance, excepted from the jurisdiction of the Natives Lands Court, instituted for the purpose of investigating and determining Maori titles, and composed of English Judges Avith Native Assessors. This error Avas, hoAvever, afterwards repaired by an Act of the NeAV Zealand Legislature; and the petitions and protests of the conflicting parties, presented to me soon after my arrival in this Colony in 1868, Avere referred, in due course of IaAV, to the Native Lands Court, sitting at Wellington under the presidency of the Chief Judge, the Honorable E. I). Ecnton. The trial occupied no less than forty-five (45) days, during which eighty-four (84) Maori AAdtnesses Avere examined. The AttorneyGeneral appeared for the Crovra, and Mr. Travers (one of the leading Counsel at the New Zealand Bar) for the dissentients. The able and experienced Chief Judge has informed me " that the case was very Avell got up; that the assiduity and " intelligence of Counsel on both sides were very remarkable ; that the evidence " Avas conclusive; and that there remained no doubt in the mind of any of the " members of the Court as to the judgment." 3. Mr. Mailing, the Judge Avho deliArered the final decision, is the Avell-knoAvn author of " Old NeAV Zealand," a book which is generally held by all competent critics to contain a very graphic and correct picture of the customs and character of the Maoris in the times preceding British colonization. The judgment delivered by him will in itself be found an interesting page of Maori history. The evidence taken AAras chiefly respecting the inter-tribal Avars of the last generation, and the territorial rights acquired and lost by the hostile clans, according to Maori usage, by victory and defeat. One of the principal witnesses on the part of the Crown was Tamihana To Rauperaha, the only son of the conquering chief, and the last survivor of his name and race.

Vide Appendk, XB7O'A- No- 25,

55

AND THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.