G.—2

XXV

side this month." Mr. Blake replies to this : " Pay no attention to what Major BroAvn says. It is not right that the survey should be commenced first and the discussion take place afterwards; after both parties have made arrangements, it can proceed. lam going to-day to Mr. Sheehan and Sir George Grey. Expect another telegram from me. Major BroAvn is perhaps preparing to embarrass the new Government." This document is indorsed, in Mr. Blake's handwriting, " Memo, for J. S. and Sir G., Te Berenga." Hoav it came into Mr. Sheehan's possession does not appear; but on the 24th November 1877 it was minuted in the margin by Mr. Sheehan to the Under-Secretary thus : "Do you know anything of this P Captain Blake suggested to me that it might be desirable to stop the survey at present." The Under-Secretary replied: " I knoAV nothing of this: Major Brown has not reported the circumstance of any difficulties Avith the surA'ey." We have found no other trace whatever of any ground on Avhich the Ministry stopped the survey than this suggestion of Mr. Blake's. A feAV days after the Avriting of the above minute, namely on the 3rd December 1877, it Avas stopped as Ave haAre described. On the 28th January 1878, the Assistant Surveyor-General sent orders to the Chief Surveyor at Taranaki that as soon as the Native difficulty Avas got over Government would want the Plains to be surveyed Avithout delay. Nothing more was done, hoAvever, till the 20th May, when Major Brown reported the state of the Natives in his district, and their understanding that the land on the Plains Avould be taken by the Government Avith the exception of the reserves which were to be made as soon as the chiefs had seen the Minister. On the 22nd May, Mr. Ballance (Colonial Treasurer) telegraphed to Major BroAvn, " Would you recommend the immediate commencement of the survey of the Waimate Plains with an adequate staff of surveyors ? If the work once undertaken, Government would sustain you by sufficient force." And on the same day the Hon. Mr. MacandreAV Avrote the following minute: "I desire to submit to the Cabinet the expediency of there being no further delay in taking the necessary action toAA rards surveying for settlement and disposing of the Waimate Block. In my opinion the Government has shoAvn great remissness in not having had this land in the market noAV. It avoulc! have placed us in funds to a very large extent, and enabled public works to be carried on, so far, irrespective of loan. I know that there are numerous purchasers prepared to occupy and turn to account this land at once, and to pay a good price for it. My belief is that it will place in the Treasury close on half a million sterling. I Avould suggest that a strong detachment of Armed Constabulary should be located in the neigbourhood, and surveyors started on the block at once : and that the Native Minister be apprised that such is the intention of the Government unless he is of opinion that good policy absolutely forbids it." Mr. Macandrew's views were approved in Cabinet, but no action was to be taken till the Native Minister had visited the district. In the meantime, the surveyors were ordered to be in readiness. On the 27th of July Major Brown again reported favourably of the Native feeling, and expressed his intention of crossing the Waingongoro in the folloAving week, when he expected a harmless protest without injury to any Europeans. On the 10th of August he reported the survey had commenced. There was a formal protest made by a chief in a friendly Avay, but he said there Avould be no recourse to arms. A day or two afterwards, a deputation Avent to Parihaka to consult Te Whiti. He told them not to oppose the survey; the effect of which, says Major Brown, Avas very beneficial in producing submission to it. After the usual half-yearly meeting at Parihaka in September, all opposition ceased for a time. "It was pleasing," says the Chief Surveyor, "to see the Natives returning from the large meeting at Parihaka, joking and in good humour." The first interruption to the survey happened in December, when a road-line Avas being taken into the forest near the Native settlements at Taikatu and Omuturangi. The work then went on quietly till the 16th Eebruary 1879, when the survey was taken close to the Native settlements at Mawhitiwhiti. Titokowaru had given warning to Captain Wilson, then acting as Major Brown's assistant, that the Natives Avould resist any lines being cut through their cultivations : but so long

1877. Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Minute, 24th Nov., 1877.

1878. Telegram, Mr. McKerrow, 28th January 1878.

Telegram, Hon. Mr. Balance, 22nd May, 1878.

Hon. Mr. Macundrew, Minute, 22nd May 1878.

Chief Surveyor, Evidence, Q. 993.

Major Brown, Report, 10th August 1878. P. P. 1879, 0.-4, Sess. I.

Chief Surveyor, Report, 25th September 1878.

Chief Surveyor, Evidence, Q. 1008.