G.—2.

the original Native owners : which it Avas obviously right for them to do, because the restoration of the land to the original hapus Avould have had the effect of preventing those hapus Avho had had their land, taken for military settlement, from getting anything. But the very fact of this exception showed the intention of the House to be, generally, the restoration of the confiscated land : and Sir E. Stafford accepted tho resolution as an " expression of opinion on the part of the House affirming the intention which the Government had repeatedly expressed." Both Ministries had indeed been incessantly pressed by the Natives on the question. But as soon as the idea became general that the land north of Waingongoro would be restored, protests came from an unexpected quarter. The Natives south of that river saAV no justice in the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki tribes getting back their land on the north bank, while their oavu land on the south was kept under the confiscation. Sir E. Stafford had only just taken office, when news came that Natives were returning to the Waitotara as well as to the land on Waimate Plains. The Premier telegraphed to Major Kemp desiring him to put a stop to this. Kemp immediately replied that the cause of all the trouble was the restoration of the lands between Waingongoro and Stoney Biver. The UnderSecretary told the Prime Minister that Kemp's telegram meant to convey a warning that though he Avould carry out his orders, there would be trouble. To gain time, Sir E. Stafford directed Major Kemp to be told that the Government were considering the question of placing his people on some land, and that it would be done as soon as the session was over. But Kemp Avas sore at no notice being taken of the land north of Waingongoro ; and three days after, he Avrote a second vigorous letter to Sir E. Stafford, complaining again of the restoration. "We have heard," he said, " that the Government have restored all the lands on the other side of the Waingongoro to the Natives who were the cause of all the troubles in this part of the Island. Now, Mr. Stafford," he Avent on, "you are in a position to act Avith more deliberation and forethought than any other person in this Island. You must not think I am asking for land [for myself] : that is not the case, for I have much land besides this. But let Avhat is right be right. You, the Government, have restored the lands of those people Avho were guilty of great offences. Do not take all the land of the man AA'hose offence was small, nor mine who have done no Avrong." Not getting any ansAver, Kemp wrote again to Sir E. Stafford on the 7th October, asking if his letter had been received; but meanwhile the Stafford Ministry Avas out. As soon as Mr. McLean came in again as Native Minister, Kemp renewed his complaints. " You have perhaps seen," he said, "the letter I wrote to Mr. Stafford, and that I Avished to cancel our arrangement; [and] for this reason, that all the lands on the other side of the Waingongoro have been restored to the people Avho provoked the Avar, as you are well aAvare. Titokowaru has returned with all his tribe, and all their land has been restored to them. What Government is it that has acted in this manner ? and Avhat Government is ansAverable for such a proceeding, and for keeping us under restraint ? " Upon this the Under-Secretary made a careful minute, pointing out that Kemp's statement required mature deliberation, his sorest point being the resumption by TitokoAvaru and the Taranaki tribes of the land north of Waingongoro. But nothing was done beyond recording that Kemp's letters had been " seen by the Minister." Noav Kemp's position Avas still a source of grave anxiety. It Avas not long since he had claimed 16,000 acres, and a Boyal Commission had been appointed to investigate his claim; and Avhen the claim was afterwards settled for 400 acres, it transpired that AA'hen he signed a previous agreement for the surrender of his claims in consideration of £2,500, his signature had been affixed with a reservation that his rights Avere not to be affected. But Avhile the Parliament and rival Ministries had been acting as we have described, an attempt had been made by Mr. Parris to make a skeleton survey of the Coast north of Waingongoro. Leaving NeAv Plymouth with a surveyor on the 10th of August, he held a meeting on the Plains to decide upon the survey; but it soon appeared that the Natives Avould not let it go on in peace, and Sir D. McLean ordered all action to be stayed. Again the opportunity for a steadfast: policy was lost. Upon Sir E, Stafford's resignation, Mr. Waterhouse became Prime Minister,

e 1872. 1 e 3 Sir E. Stafford, _, 2nd October b 1872 : Hansard, vol. xiii., pp. 469, 3 m. __, s 5

■ Telegram to Kemp, 24th September 1872. Telegram, Major Kemp, 25th September 1872, 72/1068. Appendix A, No. 8. Mr. Cooper, Minute. Sir E. Stafford, Minute, September 1872. Kemp, letter, 28th September 1872, 72/1157: A ppendix A, No. 8.

Major Kemp, 7th October 1872, Appendix A, No. 8. Major Kemp, 21st October, 1872, Appendix A, No. 8.

Cooper, Minute, 31st October, Appendix A, No. 8. Worgan, Bth April 1872. Sir O. McLean, 9th April 1872. Worgan Papers, Precis, 7th January 1872.

Parris, Report, 26th August 1872, 72/1783. Sir ID. McLean, Minute, 2nd September 1872.

XXI