a.—i

65

informed that the land was to be reheard, for the fourth time, and objected to the matter being opened up again. Marata also spoke about the list of names handed in for the certificate of the Otawa Block. She said that supplementary lists had been handed in, and she had been injured and her land taken from her. She hoped that the new list would not be accepted, but the old list adhered to. Pane Titipa said that Sir Donald McLean and Mr. Clarke gave him a piece of land at Manawatu. He was absent from Tauraiiga when the land was dealt with, and it was all taken. Sir Donald McLean promised to give him seventy acres as compensation, which land had never been defined. Pane said that there were papers relating to the matter in Wellington, and Mr. Halse would remember about it. Mr. Halse had since stated that the documents could not be found, but Mr. Clarke said that they were in. Wellington. One of the documents was referred to Mr. Brabant, who sent it to Wellington. He now asked that the piece of land might be defined. Pane also referred to an island near Katikati called Te Hoa, and stated that some of the islands were awarded to him, but this one was not. The island was nearly covered at high spring-tides. He asked that he might be authorized to send in a list of names for a certificate of that land. He also asked that the sandbanks between Whareroa and Katikati might be given to them, as the birds rested on them, and at that time of the year they were covered with curlew. He would not agree to Te Hoa and the other sandbanks, being taken by the Government, as they came to him from his ancestors. Te Harawera spoke with reference to a piece of land at Ngakuriawhare, outside the confiscated boundary, and said that that land —Maurihoro —had not passed from him, but belonged to him and to those associated with him. Pomare spoke about a piece of land adjoining the Mangorewa Eoad, from which the timber was being taken, and said that Mr. Clarke said, that the timber on that land should not be taken to make bridges without his (Pomare's) consent. Mr. Clarke said that any money due on account of the bridge timber should not be paid until the land had passed the Court. The land had been awarded to Ngaiteahi —that is, the land from whence the timber for the bridges was cut. Pomare asked that the money on account of the bridge timber might be paid to them. Pomare also referred to the Haireni Block, and said that he first heard that Mr. Clarke and Major Mair awarded it to Pomare, Hone Makaranri, and Ngaiteahi. Hone Makarauri had had a new survey made lately. Mr. Brabant decided against him (Pomare). Hone Makarauri said that Pomare and others opposed him, but Mr. Clarke awarded the land to him. It was decided by Mr. Clarke that Pomare's name was to be placed in his list so far as the Te Pari part of the block was concerned. The Government afterwards caused a survey to be made, and the case was heard by Mr. Brabant. He admitted that Pomari had a right to Te Pari. Mr. Brabant suggested that she should have ten acres, which was agreed to. He (Makarauri) did not object to another hearing being granted. Te Whare Heira said that he was a joint owner with Titipa in the Hopai Island. The Commissioner ordered a survey to be made of the island, and the part that he applied for was left out. Mr. Turner, who surveyed the land, left out a portion of it. An application was made to Mr. Brabant about that portion, Tney wanted the list of names to apply to the whole island, and wanted the piece that was excluded from the survey to be included in the block. Beneti Ngatai spoke about a piece of land at Tawhai called Ongari, Lot No. 5. Enoka Te Whanake had that land excluded from sale on his (Eeneti's) account. The land was leased to Mr. Vesey Stewart for six years (afterwards extended to ninety-nine years) for £12 a year. Beneti asked that inquiry might be made into this, as the land would not now revert to him during his lifetime ; and also that he might be paid in advance for the ninety-nine years. There were 100 acres in the block. Mr. Ballance : I shall now reply to the principal subjects that have been brought forward. My time is limited, and I have some appointments in town which I desire to keep. I hope you will excuse my replying to all the various small matters which you have brought forward with regard to land. I have not all the facts before me, and it is impossible for me to go into these questions. Most of them are disputes between yourselves, and ought to be settled amongst yourselves, or before the Court. In many of these cases the law has given to the Commissioner the right of decision, and therefore you ought to appear before him and make good your cases. Some of the cases should come before the Government, and those, of course, I will deal with. As to what Eeneti has said about the lease for ninety-nine years, I would point out to him that it was the act of the owner of the land. It appears that he sold the land to Mr. Stewart, and that then the lease was granted for ninety-nine years. If the sale Had been completed the land would have passed from him for ever; now, he is getting a rent of £12 a year. I admit that ninety-nine years is too long for a lease, and no lease should be granted for so long a term; but the act is done, and cannot be undone. The fault does not rest with the Government, but with the person who sold the land. A request has been made to me for a cart. With regard to that, I would say that this Government does not make presents of that kind ; we think that it irrjures the people themselves ; it puts the people continually in the position of being beggars, and destroys their independence. We think that the people should be independent ; and. yon can be independent, with your splendid landed territory, if you only take care of it. Now, with regard to the request that has been made for the division of the £25 for the bridge I would like to say one word. The Government have got the £25, and wish to pay it over ; but why do you not settle amongst yourselves as to who is to get it. This is one of those matters that a Committee might deal with, and therefore I think that you should refer it to the Committee, or to two or three members, and let them decide. If you will do that, and the Committee decide, I shall abide by the decision of the Committee. Eeference has been made by Pane Titipa to a promise of Sir Donald McLean. I am told that there are some papers on this question; then, I will ask my friend to write me a letter, and I shall look into the papers, and, if I find that a promise has been made, I shall see that the land is defined and the pro9—G. 1.