CONFISCATED LANDS.

7

C—No. 4,

cannot be classed as an unsettled claim, for it was settled long ago. Still, I should have wished to satisfy him under the circumstances, had he been but reasonable. Part of his compensation was to select 100 acres beyond the boundary of the surveyed district at Opotiki. The land was selected by him, and I ordered its survey, when Major Mair intimated to the surveyor that it was dangerous to survey in that place. The survey was not made, and Tiwai complains that timber for fencing has been removed from the land in the meantime by Europeans, and that he could not stop them, because the land was not surveyed. I offered him, without prejudice to the right to give him nothing, 100 acres in any other place he might choose outside the surveyed district—this he declined—or 25 acres of excellent land, one mile and a half from the township, to be given in addition to the 100 acres selected, they being seven or eight miles up the Otara Gorge ; this he also refused. He would have nothing less than 10 acres on the edge of the township, in addition, to the 100 acres already selected, and to choose the 10 acres himself. I would not consent, but offered him 5 acres, and mutually to choose, but he would not agree, and Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., who was aware of the matter, coincided in my view, and recommended me not to give way to Tiwai's extortionate demand. The removal of the timber was no act of the Government, nor did Tiwai ever represent that it was being removed. On my return from Wellington in the latter part of November, I settled some outstanding business in Auckland; and having spent four days looking into the papers Connected with this work, I proceeded to the Bay of Plenty on the Bth December, but might have got away four or five days sooner had there been an opportunity. Nothing, however, would have been gained, as the event proved, for I had, as it was, to wait four days before the surveyor detailed to my work by Mr. Heale could finish Government work at Katikati sufficiently to be spared ; he had been promised to me in two days, but it was four before he came. After my interview, however, with Mr. Clarke, on the 9th December, I determined not to go without the surveyor, as I saw that there was work to be done at Whakatane, Eangitaiki, and Opape that I had not expected, and that it would be better to get the surveys started as soon as possible, in order that certain lines might be cut while I was in the neighbourhood. Besides, a short visit round the district with the surveyor would answer the double purpose of enabling me to point out on the ground the various lots and lines actually to bo cut, or contingently so, and would afford an opportunity of initiating measures generally with the Natives. The surveyors occupied in all sixteen days of my time. They are now at work, and have their instructions in writing in regard to sixty-four lots, great and small, besides road and boundary lines. The boundaries are Government boundaries, never before defined on the land by lines, and are now cut to intercept a disposition that the Natives have shown to shift them. The road lines are as few as possible, to avoid expense —cutting only one side, and pegging the other. Had the surveyors not been unfortunately called away to Katikati again from my work almost before it was commenced, it would have been finished by this, and a perfect plan of everything would have been submitted with this report. For the same reason, many of my schedules cannot yet be made. About forty have to follow the sixteen complete schedules herewith forwarded. My short trip round the district in December soon showed me that affairs, in some important instances, were not to be improved by a rough or hasty treatment, or would even bear it. The Ngaitai requested time to make up their minds—some being of one opinion, and some another. Even on the simplest things they differed—such as, as to whether they would accept Crown grants from the Government, or whether the land had ever been confiscated; while some affected ignorance of the action of the Compensation Court in their case, and others denied it. William King, who is a sensible man, urged me to see them again in a few weeks, and to let the question work in the meantime, a course which, with that chief's assistance, answered perfectly. The Ngatiawa wanted time; but with them the respite favoured Wepiha's return, which did not render the aspect of their case more plain. In Upper Bangitaiki, where Tukehu's humour varies with Tiopira's counsel, complications had arisen on the agreement of the 11th March, in regard of the resurrendered Ngamaihi, Ngaitamaoki, and Warahoe, and it was impossible to push matters there, unless I would carry them with a higher hand than I considered myself warranted in doing. While at Opape, nothing could be done, because all the chiefs —Matanuku excepted —were absent at Kereopa's trial, and Eopata's whakcthau. Under these circumstances, I deemed it my duty to return to Auckland for a time, seeing nothing I could do pending surveys and Maori discussions, more especially as your telegram of the 6th January miscarried, and was kept in the Richmond Post Office a month. I regret I was rather unlucky in having delays that could not be foreseen or avoided. On my first trip, I had to wait for the surveyor; and Christmas and New Tear intervened, and diverted the Natives' attention from my business. On my second trip, the weather was, a considerable part of the time, incessantly raining, and floods were frequent. These detentions were the more trying, that there was far more to be done —as my schedules will testify —than could have been expected from the information at my command before I visited the district. I have &c, J. A. Wilson.