G.—l

60

Eating Act is a very unjust Act, because the Natives, being an impoverished people, are not able to pay either the rates on the land, or the property-tax. We ask that these laws may be repealed so far as they affect Native lands. If the Government will not repeal these Acts, then we will continue to think that they are not desirous of affording us any relief. With regard to the restrictions placed by the Government on the Tauranga lands, when Ngaiterangi made peace with the Government many years ago they gave over the whole of their lands to be placed under the law ; but it; was understood and it was mentioned at the time by the various Ngaiterangi chiefs that they were to retain the disposal of the land in their own hands. •It was then settled that fifty thousand acres should be confiscated on account of the tribe having joined in the rebellion; and the Ngaiterangi Tribe now ask that all restrictions shall be removed from the balance of the land which remains to them. Ngaiterangi are under the impression that lands are passed through the Court for the sake of ascertaining who are the owners, and, when that has been done, Crown grants or certificates should be issued to the people who are found to have an interest. Ngaiterangi are at a loss to understand why there should be such a delay in the issue of the grants ; if it is on account of the fees due, or the survey liens, there might be something in it—there might be a valid reason for the delay. Some people here have made application to the Civil Commissioner, and offered to pay any survey charges that may be due on the land. There are some cases in which the Government have said that no survey charges will be made ; but there are some cases where the survey has already been paid for, and neither certificate nor Crown grant has been issued to the owners. Mr. Brabant is acquainted with the names of those lands, but I can mention two—Tauwharawhara and Paengaroa. The fifth subject is with regard to the issue of arms and ammunition. The restrictions regulating the supply are very strict, and Ngaiterangi are not able to obtain arms and ammunition. We do not wish that this privilege of obtaining licenses may be restricted to the chiefs only; we wish that any person may be allowed to get them if he wishes. Ngaiterangi think they are entitled to this consideration, because since the time of their peace-making they have never done anything wrong to the Europeans. The fighting that took place between the Europeans and the Ngaiterangi arose from a very great cause, which could not be controlled; but even that fighting was carried on in a straightforward and manly spirit. During that fighting Ngaiterangi committed no murders, and when the fighting was over and peace was made Ngaiterangi firmly held to that peace and did not break it. The whole of the people of Ngaiterangi have heard that in other districts the restrictions are not so strict with regard to the issue of licenses for arms and ammunition; that is why Ngaiterangi now request that the regulations may be relaxed. We do not know whether the stringent regulations are the act of the Government officers, or whether they are carrying out the wishes of the Government. The Native District Committee extends from Katikati and Te Awa-o-te-Atua inland to the south end of Taupo Lake. It comprises a very large district, and Ngaiterangi think it is much too extended. Ngaiterangi are very urgent that they may have a separate Committee of their own. There are some blocks of land which have already passed through the Court and been awarded to Ngaiterangi, yet they have been brought under the action of the Thermal Springs Act. Taumata Nos. 3 and 4, and Oropi, are the names of some of the blocks. This land is bounded by the road that goes through the bush to Eotorua, and is situated on this side of the Mangorewa Gorge. Ngaiterangi are very strenuous in asking that this Act may be confined to the lands owned by Ngatiwhakaue and other tribes that have hot springs upon their land. There are no hot springs near this land, and it is quite unreasonable that they should be brought under that Act. If White Island were a little nearer there might be some excuse for it. The Ngaiterangi think that these matters are unjust to the Native people. Ngaiterangi ask that the Government will call one of their tribe to the Upper House, so that this person may be able to assist Ngaiterangi in getting relief from Parliament for any grievances from which they are suffering. The Ngaiterangi think that this request is a reasonable one to make, and will have no difficulty, so far as they are concerned, in selecting a person to recommend. These are all the subjects about which I have to make an explanation, but'Ngatai will speak with regard to the two other matters. Ilori Ngatai : Because it has been left for me to explain these two subjects, it is not that they affect me more deeply than they affect the whole of Ngaiterangi. With regard to the rates, this matter has pressed very heavily upon me. I will speak of the case of a block of land which the Government gave to me. This land is situated near a very ancient Maori track. When the confiscated lands were dealt with, the vaarious Ngaiterangi hapus had portions of the land adjoining awarded to them. The Council appointed a Eoad Board for the district in which this land is situated, and I have been put to great loss through the action of the Eoad Board. I was summoned by the Eoad Board to pay rates, because they thought that I was the right person to pay them. I was summoned for £16. I appeared in Court, and lost the case, and was ordered to pay £8. Another demand was afterwards made upon me, and I paid £9. Ido not know why the Eoad Board or the Government should have a' grudge against me, because they made no demand upon other owners of land adjacent, but only upon me. I was told that, if I did not pay, the Council would take the land, or that they would put me in gaol. I think I have been treated in an exceptional manner ; other people owning adjoining lands have not been treated in this way. I have been made an example of and harshly treated. It is my wish, and the wish of the whole of the Ngaiterangi, that this rating should be done away with. If I am to be treated in this way in future, I ask that I may be killed outright, and not killed by degrees ; for I may as well say at once that I have no money to go on continually paying these charges. lam in fear and trembling because I am afraid that some very stringent measures will shortly be taken against me with regard, to rates. I ask you how lam to obtain relief from the action of the Eoad Board. Mr. Ballance : Do you object to pay rates the same as Europeans who hold land in the same way? Hori Ngatai : Ido object; the reason I object is this: that lam the only one who is called upon to pay rates: none of the others are called upon to pay. Maoris own land all round the road,