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nothing to do with this inquiry. This is a petition for £500 and 10 per cent, interest.] — The land belonged to the Crown : the Crown had the right to do what it liked with it. The Native title was held to be extinguished over every bit of it.

Thursday, 6th August, 1885. Mr. T. W. Lewis, Under-Secretary of the Native Department, examined. 284. The Chairman.! Will you be good enough to tell us what you know on this subject ?— I should say first that my knowledge of the matter is from papers in the department. 285. Have you any knowledge as to the action of Dr. Featherston ?—I had a general knowledge as private secretary to the Native Minister. Since I have been Under-Secretary of the Native Department it has been my duty on several occasions to go carefully through the papers. From them I have gained the knowledge I possess of the case to which this petition relates. 286. Were you in the department when Dr. Pollen was Minister?— Yes. 287. You heard his evidence yesterday?— Yes. When the Hon. Dr. Pollen was Native Minister I was Chief Clerk in the department. Mr. Clarke was Under-Secretary, but the papers passed through my hands. If the Committee wish, I can state generally what I gather from the papers with reference to this claim. The claim of the petitioner and the Natives whom he represents is for £500 and interest accrued thereon at 10 per cent., being rents impounded by Dr. Featherston as due or received from Captain Eobinson for the Himatangi and other land, it being stated that Dr. Featherston, in his purchase of the Bangitikei-Manawatu Block, promised to pay over to the Natives the impounded rents, with interest thereon. It is true that Dr. Featherston took over these leases, and, in respect to the impounded rents, paid the Natives various sums of money. An amount of rent was due from Captain Eobinson of £568 15s. 10d., and a sum of £500 was accepted as a settlement by Dr. Featherston on behalf of the Government. In the early correspondence relating to the Eangitikei-Manawatu Block, of which Himatangi is a portion, I find no reference to impounded rents. There arc several applications for the Himatangi Block to be returned. I find a correspondence with Sir Donald McLean from some Natives belonging to Parakaia, applying for a return of the block to them. There is no distinct evidence of any promise by Sir Donald McLean that Himatangi should be given back, although subsequently to the sitting of the Land Court to which reference has been made, when 5,500 acres were awarded to Parakaia and his people, it was proposed that the balance of the block should be given to the Natives. This proposal was made to the Superintendent in a memorandum from the Native Minister, 'which has been printed. (See Appendices to Journals of House of Representatives, 1872, Gk—4o, No. 24.) No written reply seems to have been made by the Superintendent; but there is other evidence that the Provincial Government did not accede to the proposal. There are several letters subsequently, both from Dr. Buller and the Natives, to Sir Donald McLean with reference to claims to the land. I find a minute dated in 1876, which was shortly before Sir Donald McLean left office. It is a memorandum by Mr. Clarke, the Under-Secretary. It is as follows : — Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. Attached to these papers is the report of the Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives on the longoutstanding Himatangi dispute. The Committee make no recommendation, but refer the question back to the Government. It is very desirable that the question should be settled as speedily as possible. The block to which the Natives lay claim is 11,000 acres. The Native Land Court awarded just half, 5,500 acres. The award lapsed, as the survey was not made in the time specified. The Government do not desire to take advantage of this. As the whole matter has been a source of heartburning to the Natives for years past, I would recommend that every consideration be extended towards them, and that they be allowed 6,000 acres out of the Himatangi Block, which should be divided longitudinally, giving the Natives that portion next the Awaliou Block ; that the part next the railwayline be retained by the Government. The Government to have dividing-line laid off. Natives to sign a release of all claims against the Government in respect of Himatangi. 28th September, 1876. H. T. Claeke, Under-Secretary, Upon this memorandum Sir Donald McLean made the following minute : — Lquite concur in having this arrangement carried into effect as soon as possible. Donald McLean. This was the last minute Sir Donald McLean wrote on the subject. That decision of Sir - Donald McLean was communicated to Dr. Buller, as agent of the Natives, in the following letter :— Sib,— Native Office, Wellington, 30th September, 1876. Referring to your letter of the 19th June last, in which you state you are instructed by your clients to ascertain whether any decision has been come to by the Government on the subject of the Himatangi Block, I have thehonour, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to convey to you for the information of your clients the decision at which, after giving the matter careful consideration, the Government have arrived. As you are aware, your clients presented a petition, setting forth their grievances, to the House of Representatives ; and a report of the Native Affairs Committee has been forwarded to the Government, in which they decline to make any recommendation, As it is desirable that the question should be settled, and the Government wish to extend towards the Natives every consideration consistent with justice, they have therefore decided to give to Hera Pitihira and the other Natives concerned 6,000 acres next the Awahou Block, to be surveyed longitudinally, on condition that the Natives give an assurance in writing that they have no further claim against the Government in respect to the Himatangi Block. The survey to be executed by the Government. I have, &c, W. L. Buller, Esq., &c, Wellington. H. T. Clarke, Under-Secretary. To that letter Pitihira te Kuru and some others, including the petitioner, Eenata Ropiha returned a reply, dated the 19th January, 1877, in which they decline to accept 6,000 acres, and desire to get 11,000 acres. The following is a translation: — To the Government. Poxton, 19th January, 1877. Friends, salutations to you. Dr. Buller has arrived hither and publicly reacWo as the letter of the Government offering to subdivide 6,000 acres oufr^of the Himatangi Block for us. Hearken ! We decline to accept 6,000 acres. What we desire is that all the 11,000 acres be given back to us ; then wo will be satisfied. This is our definite word —that all that 11,000 acres be returned to us. Consider ! You have satisfied all the desires of Ngatikauwhata. Why, then, should you not agree to our application to have all our land returned to us? We, the hapus who were quiet and peaceable, do not have our claims admitted 3