31

G.—l

selves the right to say what shall be done with their own lands. Then, the land shall bo disposed of in accordance with the land laws of the colony. For instance, land will not be allowed to be sold in large blocks if it is agricultural land. There will be a limit placed on the size of the blocks, in order that there may be a large population placed on the land. The Government think that they have a right, for the good of both races, to prevent what is called " land monopoly for the few;" and therefore the land shall be cut up into the smallest areas suitable for settlement. That is the limitation which the Government put upon the powers of the Committees and of the people. Hoani Nahe (Chairman of the Committee) : said that he was pleased and satisfied with what the Native Minister had said. He said that the Committee wished that, before the Bill referred to by Mr. Ballance was brought in, it should be circulated amongst the Natives. They were very pleased to hear that they were to be allowed to manage their lands themselves. It was his opinion that, if the preliminary investigation of land were gone into by the Native Committee, it would be much easier for the Native Land Court, and thereby the Maoris would be relieved of the expenses they were now put to in attending Court, and paying Court fees, &c. The Committee had great objection to the action of the Native Land Court in charging fees. They had heard that the Natives of the Arawa had got licenses to purchase guns and ammunition, and they had heard that the reason the Arawas were so anxious to get guns was to avenge the murder of Kereopa, who was murdered by Natives some time ago. That was why they sent a notice concerning this matter to the newspaper, and also one to Mr. Wilkinson. They suggest that applications from the Arawas to purchase guns should be referred to the Native Committee. He asked whether it would be advisable for the Hauraki Committee to deal with matters in the Waikato and vice versa. Hoani Nahe then read some of the minutes at the last meeting of the Committee, one of which was where they wished to get some revenue to carry on their work and pay for stationery, and also with reference to the payment of the clerk and Chairman of the Committee. It was proposed that the Chairman should be allowed to frank letters on public service, also that the Committee should have power to issue summonses to bring anybody before it. If an amending Act to the Native Committees Act were passed there ought to be a clause inserted so that, whenever a person falls out of the Committee, there should be the power to elect another in his place. Tamati Paipa spoke with reference to a dispute that existed between himself and Mr. Alley about the boundary-line of Hikutaia No. 1. He stated that Sir F. Whitaker promised to settle the dispute. Several surveyers had been to survey the line. Mr. Ballance said it was understood in the Native Department that Sir F. Whitaker had settled the whole dispute. Tamati Paipa said that the boundary-line of Hikutaia No. 1 had not been settled. Hikutaia No. 1 was surveyed and went through the Court, and was stibdivided, some years ago, some of the land going to the Government, and some being left as Native Eeserves. Mr. Ballance : I am very much pleased at the business-like way in which the Chairman, Hoani Nahe, has brought before me the several matters relating to the Committee. It shows that they have given a considerable amount of attention to the duties pertaining to the office, and it has confirmed me in the opinion that the Committees are calculated to materially assist in the administration of the law in matters relating to their own people. I will now deal with the various questions that have been brought forward, one by one. It is quite right that copies of Bills relating to the Native race should be extensively circulated amongst them before being introduced into the Legislature, and I purpose sending to the Chairmen of the different Native Committees copies of the Bills which we intend to introduce into the House next session—that is to say, copies of the more important measures, for sometimes there are Bills brought in with very short notice, and we might not have time to circulate those Bills amongst the people. Those are Bills, generally, of small importance, and all the principal Bills I shall have circulated amongst them. I agree that the Committees may materially assist the Land Court in inquiring into cases and making the preliminary investigation required of them by the present Act. The Government have long been of opinion that the expenses of the Native Land Court are too great, and various measures have been taken for the purpose of reducing them. I think the action of the Committees themselves may lead to the reduction of those expenses. I feel myself shocked and disgusted at the enormous expenses attending the passing of some blocks through the Native Land Court, for it is a notorious fact that some of the blocks have been entirely eaten up by the expenses of lawyers and agents, and in various other ways, the Natives deriving no benefit whatever from the sale of their lands, while their lands have gone from them for ever. The object of the Government is to remedy these things. I heard what Hoani Nahe said about the Arawas trying to obtain licenses for guns and ammunition for the purpose of making war upon some neighbouring tribe. I confess that I was very much surprised at that statement, for I-was under the impression that the Arawas themselves were exceedingly loyal people, and I cannot now suppose that that feeling of revenge or retaliation is general amongst them, or that there is any general desire to shed blood. Perhaps what Hoani Nahe refers to is the desire of a few men, but very few. The Arawas know that Kereopa was justly punished according to law for the great crime he had committed, taking the life of the Eev. Mr. Volckner; and I believe that the Arawas themselves as a body are perfectly satisfied with the course that the law took in that case; but lam very much obliged to Hoani Nahe for mentioning the matter, and I am quite sure that Mr. Kenrick will be cautious in issuing licenses, making due inquiry into the character of the people who apply for them. I also agree with the suggestion made by Hoani Nahe that Mr. Kenrick, when there is any doubt in his mind, should take the advice of the Native Committee. Eeference has been made to a very delicate matter, viz., the Committee of one district interfering in another district. You will see yourselves that, if the Committee of one district interferes in another district, it would lead to a great deal of jealousy, and might lead to trouble ; but it might be desirable in some cases, where matters affected both districts, or where the people of one district were affected by