G.—2

as only the open plains Avere being surveyed, he bad continued on the most friendly terms AA rith the surveyors as well as the Commissioner and his assistants; and on several occasions, Avhen the lines of a projected road approached his place at Okaiawa, had communicated Avith them on the direction they were to take, and the best place for crossing his creek. A block of about 16,000 acres of the open plain Avas thus suiweyed into sections of small size, and the site of a toAvn laid off without any interruption. ToAvards the end of February, however, a change occurred: tne Natives began cutting off the numbers from the pegs at the township (Manaia). On the 28th February the Chief Surveyor reported that his difficulty Avas the Native clearings and cultivations, and that in cutting one of the lines through a bush, the Natires "kept on felling into the line and hindering the surA'eyors in eA'ery way." This report Avas at once submitted to the Minister by the Surveyor-General, but remained apparently unnoticed for a month, when Mr. Sheehan minuted "No special instructions: atta,ch to other Waimate papers for the present. —J. S., April 2." The interruption of the survey meanAvhile was increasing. On the 12th March one of the surveyors reported that the section pegs Avere rapidly disappearing from one of the blocks, and that from station to station for several miles the pegs had all been pulled up. The surveyor to whom this happened AVould not alloAV that the changed conduct of the Natives was connected Avith his laying-off a road-line near TitokoAAraru's settlement at OkaiaAva: but after careful inquiry Ave ourselves entertain no doubt that this road Avas a principal cause of the surveyors being turned off the Plains. When the road approached TitokoAvaru's clearings, his grass-paddocks, and his village, the surveyor, for engineering reasons Avhich certainly appear to us very inadequate, insisted on taking this road-line in a direction Avhere it cut into a large fenced enclosure, sown with English cocksfoot grass, a yearly source of income. Captain Wilson (at the request of Titokowaru) interfered, but without avail, and the line was taken in the direction to which the chief had objected. It had only just been finished when he left for Parihaka: and Avithin a fortnight the surveyors were all removed. Later on Your Excellency's attention will be called to Avhat Te Whiti thought of it, and the effect it had upon him. We thought it necessary to inquire Avith much care into the matter, and the circumstances will be found detailed at length in the evidence. But though this unlucky step alienated Titokowaru and lost us the benefit of his friendly influence, there was a far more Avide-spread cause of dissatisfaction influencing the Avhole body of the Natives interested in the Waimate Plains. This was the omission of the Government to make proper reserves for them. We have already referred to Sir D. McLean's instructions to Mr. Parris in 1872, directing him to make ample provision in land for the resident Natives : and up to this time both Mr. Parris and Major BroAvn had treated with them on the same basis. Shortly after the commencement of the surveys, Mr. Sheehan promised a deputation of Waimate Natives that they should have reserves made to their satisfaction ; and tAvice during the progress of the survey he distinctly promised TitokoAvaru, Manaia, and their respective people, that large reserves AA rould be made, that their burial-places, cultivations, and fishing-places would be respected, and that in addition thereto they would receive money as takoha from the Government to assist them in fencing their reserves and otherAvise promoting their'social improvement. When, hoAvever, they saw the survey of sections for sale nearly completed, and not only no sign of their reserves being made but on the contrary silence maintained by the Commissioner and the surveyors on the subject, and when they heard that the surveyed land Avas to be offered for sale, they probably thought it Avas time to forbid any further progress, and so they quietly removed all the surveyors to the south side of the Waingongoro Biver. Among the questions that have arisen connected with these events, there are three Avhich Ave have considered it our duty very carefully to investigate:— 1. Were any specific instructions given to the Commissioner (Major Brown) in reference to making reserves on the Plains, either before the commencement of the surveys or during their progress ? 2. As a matter of fact, Avere any reserves made, and if so AA'hen and how ? 3. If none were really made, either before or during the progress of the

1879. Chief Surveyor, Evidence, Q. 1016 to 1020. 'Ibid, Report, 29th February 1879.

Surveyoi'-Gene-rul, sth March, 1879.

Minute, Hon. Mr. Sheehan, 2nd April 1879. Einnerty, Evid. : Q. 1198 to 1229 ; and Wilson, Q. 1230 to 1257.

Hon. Mr. Sheehan, Minute for Cabinet, 14th April 1879. P. P. 1879, C.-4.

XXVI