G.—2

10

50 acres at Kawakawa. This land was not given to us because we were friendly Natives, but because we were neutrals : it was intended to be a permanent reserve, to be handed down to our children. With reference to Kanihi and Okahu, the people of Okahu were interested in Kanihi, and the people of Kanihi were interested in Okahu. That is why they were combined and treated as one. These two tribes built their pas adjacent to each other, and in that manner became as one people. This place was an old kainga of our ancestors :it is not as though it belonged to any other tribe; it always belonged to us. At the time we went to live near Colonel McDonnell's camp we went on to this old kainga of ours. We were given 385 acres ; we took 100 there, aud 285 by the sea-coast. 117. The Commissioners here produced a map to the Natives, showing the 385 acres divided into two pieces of 285 and 100 acres, as stated by Katene in his evidence, and when examining the map the Natives agreed that the 100 acres were a satisfactory settlement of the claim to Eauna. 118. With regard to Kanihi, the Civil Commissioner said that the reserve of 500 acres had been surveyed. 119. Mr. Parris said : With reference to the 1,000 acres for Whakataka, I never heard anything about it. The matter was never brought under my notice, and I did not know who made the promise, or when it was made. 120. Major Brown : When Captain Blake was dismissed I requested him to give me up all documents, plans, and maps in his possession; but he did not give me any. Mr. Sheehan showed me some document which he said showed that Whakataka was entitled to the 1,000 acres. I now hand in to the Commission a letter from the Under-Secretary [See Appendix], enclosing a memorandum from Sir Donald McLean, giving particulars of the reserves made by him, and other arrangements, with respect to the lands between Waitotara and Waingongoro Rivers. The reserve for Whakataka is not mentioned in the paper I have now put in. Before Captain Blake was dismissed I understood from him that the reserve was to be 1,500 acres for the Ahitahi people between the Waingongoro and Waitotara Bivers ; and I understood Captain Sheet to say that he was instructed to survey it, but that the Natives would not allow him to do so. Afterwards, when dealing with the confiscated lands, the Natives informed me they would not take any reserve on the W raingongoro Biver. But, in order to cover this and other promises which were said to have been made, I said I would make the Araukuku Beserve of 10,000 acres, which would include the 1,500 acres said to be promised to the Pukete Natives and other tribes, the remainder of whose land I was dealing with, and who had been left without land. This reserve of 10,000 acres was to cover and include all outstanding promises made to those various tribes; and the reserve exceeded what all the promises alleged to have been made amounted to. 121. The Commissioners: Have the boundaries of those 10,000 acres been marked out? 122. Major Brown : It was to include the following places: Onewaia, Tirotiromoana, and Araukuku ; but no notes have been left of the survey. The Surveyor asked me if he was to allow the Natives to exceed 10,000 acres, and I said it did not matter, provided it was but a small addition which could bo rectified afterwards. He did not complete the survey. It turned out to contain 10,000 acres. The Surveyor, I may say, in consequence of this very survey, was suspended, and then dismissed. In consequence of the survey having been defective it will require to be done over again. 123. Wharerata : I have only one word to say with regard to the 1,000 acres promised. Tou should obtain information from Captain Wray and Captain Blake on the subject, the former of whom has certain papers relating to the matter. 124. The Commissioners: We will wait until we have seen the papers which Captain Wray is said to have in his possession. In consequence of what Katene said just now, we wish to know whether all the tribe was aware of this proposal being made for the 10,000 acres. 125. Bepe Heke : Whakataka did not agree to the reserve of 10,000 acres being made. He wanted, rather, to have the whole of the land restored to him. The Kanihi people agreed to the 500 acres because they were anxious to get back and occupy the land. Captain. Blake said Whakataka's reserve of 1,000 acres would be made at Turangatapuae, but Whakataka did not agree to this. The reason Whakataka did not agree to it was that he disapproved of the proceedings of the Government. What he desired was that the whole of the land should be restored to him. Some of the young people of his tribe approved of this reserve being made, but others did not. 126. Baloe : Tou have heard a good deal from those who preceded me in regard to lands promised. I am now going to say something in respect to the block of land lying between Tirotiromoana and Onewaia. The Government advanced money to the Natives as takoha for the lands down as far as Tirotiromoana : Major Brown advanced £500; but I did not agree to the payment, nor to the money being advanced for lands in my district. After this we held a meeting at Normanby to discuss the matter ; it was held there because my people reside in that locality. If my people had said to me, "We will accept that payment," I should have consented. On the contrary, they refused to accept the £500, preferring land instead. After this meeting I and another asked Major Brown and Hone Pihama to let us have Dalton to survey and mark out the land. The day we left Major Brown he said, " Tou follow Dalton andTukarangatai in laying out the line with all its divergences." I went as far as Mangawhero. Beyond this I have nothing to say. Having gone over the line, I found it to be correct. After that Dalton made out his plan of tho land, when it appeared that there were 16,000 acres iu it; but some time after it was discovered that alterations had been made in the original boundaries as laid out by us. I went over the ground and found this to be the case. I have only further to add that the cause of the difficulty is tho alteration of the boundaries. 127. Major Brown : I ask those now present whether I did not state, in the presence of Hone Pihama and others interested, that there should be 10,000 acres awarded: and that if the amount was less, it should be increase'd to the full amount, or if more, reduced ? 128. Hone Bihama : Do not be annoyed with me. when I state that I do not recollect you saying so. Tou and myself told Dalton to follow the line as marked out by Patoe and Tukaraiigatai. The line should be inland of A.raukuku, thence south to Onewaia. 129. Major Brown -. Did I not say anything about the 10,000 acres ? 130. Hone Pihama : No ; I did not hear you say anything about that.