G.—lA

8

Karaitiana Takamoana (Ngatikahungunu) : Now that I understand how the matter lies —that is, that the boundary of the confiscated land is to be defined by the Court—l have no further question to ask. (The speaker referred at length to a conversation that took place between himself and Tamihana during the Hatepe meeting.) Toha (Ngatikahungunu) : It was deemed advisable by the Government to retain the land in its own hands, on account of the feeling existing at the time in connection with the Urewera and Ngatikahungunu tribes. Mr. Locke: This land waa confiscated after the first fight at "Waikare. A meeting was held at the Hatepe for the purpose of coming to a final settlement of the interest of the Government Natives in the land confiscated. On the occasion of that meeting, payment was made to them in liquidation of their claims to the portion taken over by the Government. The Government then became the sole proprietor of that land, the whole of the Native title being completely extinguished. The remainder of the land, being that which is now under discussion, was returned, with the proviso that the principal chiefs among the Natives on the side of the Government be appointed to look after the land. On peace being made with the Urewera Natives they submitted a claim to this land in conjunction with Ngatikahungunu Natives, to whom the land had boeu returned. Had the Government acquired and retained this land before the restoration of peace with the Urewera, no claim of theirs would have ever been heard of to the land in question. The Government were evincing no small consideration for the Urewera Natives in sanctioning at all the investigation of the claim put forth by them, considering the grounds upon which they assert their right, being as they were at the time in rebellion when the laud was confiscated and dealt with. Karaitiana Takamoana (Ngatikahungunu) : Ton have afforded me clearly the information I desired. In Major Biggs's time, he had the management of this land. That was in the time of the Stafford Government, when Whitmore was in command of the colonial forces. The land was divided, a portion being set apart for the Government. The four blocks were not included in the land thus set apart. "Wherefore 1 am of opinion that the Government has no claim upon those particular lands. Evidently there has been a first division of the confiscated land which did not include the portion now claimed by the Urewera. Mr. Locke : The confiscated boundary does not go as far as Huiarau. It only extends to "Waikare. Karaitiana Takamoana (Ngatikahungunu) : The Government should not intimidate the Maoris in this manner, by telling them that they hold the land, and inducing them to lease it, when really the Government has no power to do so. Ngatikahunguuu were not aware that this land was confiscated. Mr. Locke: The Government is in no way intimidating the Natives. If such were the case, why should they have returned such a large quantity of land once confiscated ? And now, when the owners are desirous of disposing of it, the Govei'nment is endeavouring to amicably settle the long outstanding dispute between these contending tribes that have been for generations at war: at the same time completing the investigation of the title by the Native Land Court, in accordance with the law of the country, before concluding the purchase. We will now bring this meeting to a close, and lay the whole matter before the Native Land Court on Monday next, the 2nd of November, 1875. [Meeting dispersed.] Bj Authority : Geobge Didsbubt, GoTernment Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Prico 6d.]