A.—B

4

peaceful settlement of both races upon the West Coast, has been steadily progressing. It was no less .in the interest of To Whiti and Tohu themselves than of their people and the colonists generally, that they should be temporarily kept free from the temptation to yield to fanatical impulses until settlement was so far advanced as to make resistance futile, and until motives of self-interest were called into play among the Natives by the profitable management of the reserves on their behalf. The hope, too, which subsequent events have greatly justified, was present to the Government and the Legislature, that a larger acquaintance with the world outside of Parihaka would not be without beneficial effect upon the mind of Te Whiti himself, convincing him of the hopelessness of reverting to his former position. The Amnesty Act was one of more general application throughout the colony. It was passed in the belief that the time had come, or was immediately to arrive, when the Crown could draw a line between the past and the future, condoning past lawlessness and offences, and indicating that, so far as the Government was concerned, if the Natives lived quietly there was no reason for future distrust or uneasiness. The display of power at Parihaka had shown that forcible resistance by numbers to the operaiion of the law was impossible. The capture and conviction of Hiroki for murder, before the passing of the Act, showed, as did that of Winiata afterwards, that justice would sooner or later overtake crime. The question that was decided by the Amnesty Act was whether the time had come when the interests of both races, and the evident disposition of the Natives, for the most part throughout the country, to submit to the law, justified a passing-by of all offences which were associated in their minds with the wars of the past. The Act gave the power to the Governor to extend the Amnesty "to all offences and to all Maoris," or to except " certain offences and certain Maoris " from its operation, It remained for the Government to satisfy itself whether there was in any case sufficient reason to make exceptions. Tour Excellency was pleased to concur in the unanimous opinion of Ministers, that the Amnesty should be complete and without exception. The Waikato Confiscated Lands Act was passed originally in the year 1880, having a duration of two years from that date. The present Act extends its operation for a period of two years longer. The Act enables the Governor to provide lands in Waikato for the residence and settlement of Natives driven out of the Waikato in the late war, and who for the most part have been living an isolated life in what has been known as " the King Country." Various causes have been operating for some time past to break through the isolation of the King party, and it has been the policy of the Government, as expressed in this Act, to afford facilities to those who may desire to avail themselves of them to settle among the European population on the confiscated lands. The course which the Government is taking to give effect to the provisions of the Act, promises to be attended with satisfactory results. It remains to state the course of action which has followed upon the passing of these Acts since the rising of Parliament. Commencing with the West Coast: The survey of the lands set apart in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commissioner, Sir William Fox, for the different sections of Natives, has been rapidly progressing. A large number of grants has already been issued to the Natives, and it is anticipated that the apportionment of the whole of the country allotted to them, south of New Plymouth, will be completed within a few months. The Trustee appointed for the administration of the reserves on behalf of the Natives has been for some time past in communication with them, and they have willingly co-operated with him in the determination of the lands to be set aside for their residences, cultivations, and cemeteries, and for leasing. They have agreed already to lease about 34,000 acres, of which 7,590 acres will be offered for lease on the 23rd of next month, at upset rentals of from 2s. to 15s. per acre, producing probably in the aggregate more than £2,000 per annum. Twelve thousand acres more will be leased on a later day, producing probably about £2,400 a-year, and subsequently the remaining 14,410 acres, at a rental of about £3,000 a-year. And these are only a small portion of the whole reserves, amounting to over 250,000 acres, which will ultimately be leased for the Natives. When it is considered that these rentals, diminished only by comparatively small costs of survey and administration, will be paid to the Natives, it must be admitted that the action of the Government, which has in some quarters been the subject of adverse criticism, has promoted the material interests of the Natives to an extent which could not have been the case under any other course of action which has been suggested. It is believed that, when the benefits to be obtained from the administration of their lands by the Government are fully recognized by the Natives, they will be led more generally to avail themselves of the Government agency in the manner contemplated alike by " The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881," by the Native Reserves Act of last session, and by "The Thermal Springs Act, 1881." On the West Coast, therefore, the progress of the work of the Commissioner; the large and steady increase of European population, amounting probably now to nearly 8,000; the apparently cordial acceptance by the Natives of the proposals of the Government; all pointed to the conclusion that the time had come for openly showing the confidence which events were justifying, and led to the step which has now been taken of releasing Te Whiti and Tohu, and returning them to their own people at Parihaka. This was done on the Bth of this month, very shortly after the proclamation of the Amnesty throughout the colony, which took place on the 13th of February. There was no demonstration on the part of the Natives other than the ordinary greetings, though they were aware beforehand of the return of their Chief, and on the 17th, the day of the month on which his meetings at Parihaka used to take place, when, if at all, any intention to renew those meetings would probably have shown itself, the Natives —it is said by Te Whiti's instructions —abstained from coming to Parihaka lest trouble should arise. No disposition has from that time to the present been shown to revert to the former course of proceedings in connection with monthly meetings. Turning northwards: The opening of the harbour of Kawhia and the passing of the Native Minister through the heart of the King Country, in the first week of the month of February, must be