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whole of the land from Te Rau-o-te-huia to Urenui was acquired by the Government after making three reserves —severally, 2,800 acres, 500 acres, and 200 acres. Some of the holders of the awards of the Court—how many I cannot say —without an examination of the deed and the Gazette containing the awardees' uames, participated in the purchase-money for the land so acquired by the Government. There were other awards in the block from Urenui to Titoki, which block has not yet been dealt with further than that a small portion was included in the sale of the Urenui-Onacro Block. Some of the awardees also received part of the purchase-money. There were also some awards for the block from Titoki to Waipingau which have never been allocated, no action having been taken to settle them. The unallotted town section in the Township of Clifton, and a portion of the town belt, was promised for use in settling these outstanding claims. 2. In surrendering those portions of the confiscated land to the Government, there was no understanding whatever about the award. 3. No promise was made, nor was the question raised either orally or in the deed of cession. 4. No. R. Parris, Late Civil Commissioner.

No. 6. Memorandum by Captain Blake. New Plymouth, 4th April, 1879. Recommend adopting the following plan of dealing with the Waimate Plains between Waingongoro River and Taungatara Stream : — 1. The Government claim the whole of the land by right of conquest, and will persist in asserting such claim. 2. The Government are prepared to hand back portions to the original owners to cultivate and live upon, the position and boundaries to be fixed and arranged with the hapus to whom such portions originally belonged. 3. The Government to pay a takoha on the portion or portions taken by them, to the original owners thereof, at the rate of not less than ss. an acre, in accordance with former offers, and Sir Donald McLean's memorandum to Mr. Parris. The block between Taungatara and Moutoti, excepting the Opunake Block, to be definitely abandoned, gazetted, and to revert to the original owners absolutely, free for them to deal with as papahipu, to survey and pass through the Native Lands Court as they may think fit. The Government may or may not reserve the pre-emptive right of purchase only within this block. The block between Hangatahua and Waiweranui to be definitely and absolutely fixed as a Native reserve for the Ngamahanga Tribe. Power to Native Lands Court to subdivide on application and consent of the whole of the claimants. The block between Waiweranui and Moutoti—call it, say, the Parihaka Block—to be made and secured as a Native reserve, to be entirely restricted from sale, lease, or subdivision. Patea District. The ownership of Native reserves within the Patea District to be definitely settled, as officers of the Government have stated that such are Crown property, and the Native occupiers living thereon on sufferance. And all promises re lands to Natives within said district to be inquired into and settled witbout delay by some Committee for the purpose. Taranaki District. Compensation awards between Mimi, Urenui, and Onaero, and also other compensation awards, to be inquired into aud settled without delay; and all other Native matters within this district down to the Hangatahua or Stoney River on one side, and to the Patea River on the other side, to be inquired iuto and definitely settled without delay by a Committee appointed for the purpose. Would recommend in all future Native reserves —as, say, between Stoney River and Waingongoro—that no lease be allowed for, say, five or ten years, or even longer, from date of such reserve being fixed. Leasing and sales have caused many malcontents, who have fallen back on Parihaka. In other districts the Government should take immediate steps that kaingas and other places should be reserved and restricted from sale or lease. For, otherwise, chiefs, by forcing and intrigue together, will sell or lease the very places on which the people are actually living. This has already begun at Wanganui, and has been the main cause of many of the Wanganui Tribe migrating to Parihaka. R. T. Blake.

No. 7. Major Brown to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sir,— Wellington, 2nd April, 1879. I have the honor to make the following report on the present state of the West Coast confiscated land question, which has recently resulted in the forcible removal of the various survey parties from the Waimate Plains; the present aspect of it being now very different from 2—C. 4.