a.—4a

1884. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR TE KOOTI (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Laid on the Table by the]Hon. Mr. Bryce, with leave of the House.

Te Kooti to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. (Translation.) Kihikiki, 25th July, 1883. tarn awaiting your reply about a piece of land for me to live on at Orakau. Do you let me know as soon as possible. From The Hon. J. Bryce. Te Kooti.

The Hon. Mr. BEYCiTto Te Kooti. (Translation.) Wellington, 30th July, 1883. Youb telegram has arrived. I have not forgotten my word. I will endeavour to procure a piece of land for you near Orakau, and I will attend to it as soon as Parliament is over. Te Kooti, Kihikiki. Na Tβ Pabaihi (John Bsyce).

Te Kooti to the Hon. Mr. Beyce. (Translation.) Otewa, 2nd August, 1883. Greeting to you, the lord of lords, the saviour of those who are in adversity; long live you and the Governor, who relieve people who suffer in body and on account of their land. May you live for ever and ever. Ended. I have received your letter; it is well: the decision rests with you alone. From Mr. Bryce. Te Kooti.

Mr. G. T. Wilkinson to the Undek-Secbetaey, Native Department. Sic, — Native Office, Alexandra, 28th August, 1883. Eeferring to a request made by Te Kooti some time ago to the Hon. Mr. Bryce, at Alexandra, for a block of land somewhere near Orakau for himself and people to reside upon, I have the honour to state that I have made inquiries from several sources, including the Secretary of the Highway Board in that locality, also some of the leading land commission agents in Auckland, but I cannot hear of any block of unimproved land in the vicinity of Orakau that is attainable by purchase. Mr. Bryce is aware (having been informed by me when at Alexandra) that there is no available Government land in that locality; but there is a block of Government land close to the Township of Kihikihi, viz., Section No. 69, Parish of Mangapiko, containing 129 acres 2 roods 30 perches, which might be utilized for the purpose required. Unfortunately it has not a frontage to the Purua Eiver; hut I have reason to believe, from a conversation I lately had with Hoani Poruru, one of Te Kooti's principal men, that the absence of a river frontage would not be considered a drawback, so long as there was a road by which they could get to the river when they required. They are anxious for the Government to give them a piece of land as soon as possible, in order that they may plant food on it during the season, which is near at hand. I also learned from Hoani that they would, be glad to accept the piece at Kihikihi, and that, although not at Orakau, as asked for by Te Kooti, still that would, be near enough for their purpose. It is plain to me that Te Kooti, with his people, is anxious, seeing the turn things are taking amongst the King Natives and Ngatimaniapoto, to cease living upon Maori land to which they have no title, and, instead, to occupy land which they can call their own. They have already left Te Kuiti, and are now living at a place called Otewa, about two miles from Mango-o-rongo, where Mr. Bryce's meeting with Te Kooti took place in March last, and fifteen miles from Kihikihi; they have, however, no claim to the land they are living on. With regard to Section No. 69, referred to, the Inspector of Surveys, in a memorandum to me in March last, writes of this piece as follows : "Crown land is marked in books as Native reserve, not Crown-granted, nor is it known to whom it is promised." The question, however, arises as to whether this land could be given to Te Kooti and people under "The Waikato Confiscated Land Act, 1880," as they had no claim to it, neither did they occupy it before the war, although there is I-α. 4a.