C—No. 4

24

SETTLEMENT OE

Courts at Whanganui and elsewhere, fifteen months afterwards, were facts patent to all the Natives throughout the Colony, it may be presumed that those who had claims made them, either personally or by agent. In every case ample provision appears to have been made, as well for those who applied as for absentees represented or unrepresented ; nevertheless, retaining in view the Proclamation above referred to, there may be exceptional cases of unsatisfied claims which the Q-overnment would think worthy of consideration. In one instance, that of Te Kepa Rangihiwinui, a protest against the award of the Compensation Court was made at once, with demand for rehearing, which Mr. J. C. Richmond refused to sanction, after which a payment was made by Mr. Booth and Colonel Gorton, of £2,500 to Wanganui Natives, partly in recognition of their loyal service in the war, and wholly in extinguishment of their claims to any land in the Ngatiruanui Coast Block. Te Kepa urges his claim, 17th August, 1867, upon Mr. Rolleston, and states his intention of refusing the sum tendered by the Government; notwithstanding which, he does, 9th November, 1867, seven weeks afterwards, accept this offer, concerning which acceptance, I have been informed that Major Kemp reserved his rights, when finally induced to sign the memorandum of agreement and receipt, referred to in Mr. Booth's letter to the Government, conveying intelligence of the payment having been made 9th November, 1867. I find myself at a loss to understand upon what principle so large a sum was paid upon such unsatisfactory grounds. I note the subsequent reference of Major Kemp's claim to a Royal Commission, and the report of the Commissioners, 18th December, 1871, setting forth Major Kemp's persistence in the validity of his claims, and suggesting compromise. I coincide with the comment made by Mr. R. Pharazyn, " that the fact of Major Kemp making this claim is of more importance than his reasons for making it." In respect of the claims of Te Puni, Wi ,Tako, Mohi Ngaponga, and Henri Parai to receive blocks of 100 acres each, I agree with the opinions expressed by Mr. Halse, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Parris, that the Government in abandoning the whole of the land between Taungatara and Mautoto Rivers, with the exception of the Opunake Township, to the people to whom these claimants belong, have rendered substantial justice, the individual claims properly merging in the tribal one. I note more particularly the incompleteness of the surveys, and the applications made by the claimants to have the awards of the Courts carried out. For the purposes of preparing the report I have named, and of effecting settlement of outstanding questions, I shall require in the first instance the assistance of the Survey Departments at Whanganui and Taranaki, as well as the aid of the officers of the Ndtive Department and the Confiscated Lands Department at these places, in addition to the aid which I derive from the Native Office and from the Crown Lands Office in Wellington. In the second instance, the settlement of outstanding questions, it will be necessary for the Government to define my exact duties, and the powers conferred upon me in this behoof. I propose, as I shall effect a complete understanding of the question by visiting these districts and becoming personally acquainted with the claimants, to start for Whanganui and West Coast as soon as the Government furnish me with the necessary instructions and authorities. Numerous tracings of maps will be required, together with occasional clerical assistance, with, aid also in the field in defining boundaries, &c, all of which, if left wholly to my personal execution, would trench largely on my more valuable time. I beg therefore to suggest that the Government should place at my disposal the services of Mr. Alexander Taylor, who, having been two years in my office, I would prefer to a stranger. I should consider him sufficiently remunerated by a salary of £110 per annum. I can, with pleasure, testify to his being an upright steady young man. If the Government desire that I should execute any of the surveys if incomplete, or which may be required in the settlement of outstanding claims, it will be necessary to furnish me with authority to employ labour when needed, and to obtain the assistance of the Survey Departments within the districts' of Whanganui and Taranaki. By Thursday next I shall have finished making notes and copies of such documents as are indispensable for reference, &c, in the preliminary stages of the business. I have, &c, Geoege B. Worgait.

No. 11. The Assistant Native Secretary to Mr. G-. "B. Worgan. Sir, — Native Office, "Wellington, 4th January, 1872. I am directed by Mr. McLean to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, being an ad interim report of your investigations into the history of past transactions in respect to the confiscated lands on the West Coast of this Island. I am to thank you for this report, which Mr. McLean considers satisfactory. He desires that you should visit the Waitotara, Patea, and Taranaki districts as soon as possible, for the purpose of ascertaining the state of the surveys and present actual condition of all Native reserves, and of lands awarded as compensation, abandoned, or in any other manner restored by the Government to the Natives ; but you will be so good as carefully to abstain from any interference with the progress of the surveys or the action of the surveyors, and will take special care to act in every way in concert with the officers charged with the administration of confiscated lands, for whose information copies of this letter will be sent. You are authorized to employ Mr. Alexander Taylor as clerk and draftsman and general field assistant, on the terms named by you, viz., £110 per annum, without further allowances. I have, <fcc, H. Haise.