G.—2a

6

We attach to this report the whole of the evidence which we have taken in the course of our inquiry Given under our hands and seals this 14th day of March, 1881. (1.5.) Fred. M. P Brookfield. (1.5.) H. T. Kemp.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Royal Commission re Ngatikauwhata claims to certain lands at Waikato, the titles to which were adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court of New Zealand, sitting at Cambridge, in the District of Waikato, on the 3rd day of November, 1868, and following days. Tuesday, Ist February, 1881, at the Resident Maqlstrate's Court, Cambridge. Present: F M. P Brookfield, Esq., and H. T Kemp, Esq., Commissioners ; James Davies, Esq., Interpreter, and W Bridson, Clerk. The Courthouse was found too small to accommodate the great number of people assembled, and an adjournment was made to the public hall, a short distance off in the same street. Public Hall, Cambridge. Present: The same. The nature of the inquiry about to take place was explained by the Commissioners, who expressed a hope that the several witnesses who would be called would have an uninterrupted hearing of what they may have to say respecting the several blocks of land to be inquired into—viz , Pukekura, Puahoe, Maungatautari, and Ngamako No. 2, which were the blocks of land the titles of which were found by the Court which sat on the said 3rd day of November 1868. Alexander McDonald said: 1 appear on behalf of Ngatikauwhata. Major Mair said : I appear on behalf of the Crown. The Commission was read first in English and afterwards translated into Maori. The claimants were asked if Mr. McDonald appeared with their consent and authority They replied he did. Commissioners said that they would hear the claims to the several blocks above named supported by such evidence as Mr. McDonald would call; that Major Mair would examine the witnesses so called ; that Major Mair would then be allowed to produce such evidence as he could obtain ; that Mr. McDonald would have the privilege of examining Major Mair's witnesses, and at the conclusion of the inquiry it would be their duty to report to the Government. [Panuitanga produced in Court and sworn to by Alexander McDonald the agent for claimants. W Bridson, clerk. He Panuitanga. Akarana, 12 o Hanueri, 1581. Ki a Tapa Te Whata, me ona hoa, nga Tangata o te Hapu o Ngatikauwhata, na ratou nei te Pitihana i tuku ki te aroaro o te Pat-emote, i te 19 o nga ra o Hurae, 1877, mo etahi whenua i roto o Waikato, a ki era atu tangata katoa hoki e pa ana ki taua mea : Kia mohio mai koutou, ara, kua oti maua te whakatu e te Kawana hei Kai-whiriwhiri, hei Kaipatai i to koutou paanga ki nga whenua i whakawakia e te Kooti Whakawa-Whenua-Maori ki Kemureti, i te 3 o nga ra o Noema, 1868, tae noa ki te otinga o te whakawa a te Kooti mo aua whenua : He panui ano hoki tenei, kia matau ai koutou, ka tu te Kooti ki Kemureti, a te 1 o nga ra o Pepueri, 1881, a me haere mai koutou me a koutou korero ki reira a taua ra. F M. P Brookfield, Komihana. H. T. Kemp, Komihana] Alexander McDonald sworn : I served the notice of this sitting [copy of which is produced] on the heads of the families of petitioners, that is to the principal persons named in the schedule to the Commission which has just been read. Mr. McDonald asked for a list of the blocks of land, the titles to which were found by the Court which satin November, 1868, with the names of the persons in whose favour orders were issued, also for permission to examine the plans. [Consented to.] The Court said it would hear any statement the claimants were desirous of making, not in the way of evidence but explanatory Kauwhata, of Ngatikauwhata, said : I salute the Court. Takana Te Kawa said : I salute the Court—the Court to discriminate between the white man and the Maori. We are rejoiced that you have come to look into our matters. The people of Waikato shall know why we are here before them, and the reasons for the claims of Ngatikauwhata. Hoeta said : I salute the Court, the Waikatos, and the Ngatiraukawas. We have been looking for this day all these years. We have to-day seen each other's faces. I will reveal our reasons for coming hero. 1. For the confiscated lands. 2, For the lands adjudicated upon in my absence. Tapa Te Whata, the principal claimant, said : I salute the Court. I have desired this day of inquiry I salute the Waikatos. I have thought over you ; this day we have met. Though you do not salute me I salute you. The first thought will be of confiscated land, and the second of the lands wrongfully taken away by adjudication during my absence. Kereama Paoe said: I salute the Court —the substance of our request to the Government, Give a careful consideration to our claims to land given in our absence —some of us were absent, we lived at great distances. This is the evidence of our claims being heard to the lands given by the Coui't in our absence. In 1863 I asked for a Court to inquire into our claims to the confiscated lands.