I.—2b

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63. Do you think that you secure that under this Bill ?—I do not think this Bill gives me what I wish for. I wish this Bill to state expressly that the whole administration of the land shall be given to the Committee—to my Committee. 64. Mr. Locke.] Do you mean one Committee to administer the whole of the Native lands?— Mr. Ormond : He means that he wants his land to be administered by his own Committee. Hon. Mr. Ballanoe : The matter which is not clear is, what does Wahanui mean by " my own Committee ? " Wahanui : I speak of Maori Committees and Maori lands. 65. Hon. Mr. Ballance.] Do you refer to the District Committee, of which Mr Ormsby is chairman? —Aye; that is my Committee. 66. Hon. Mr. Bryce.] What land do you wish that Committee to administer ? —lt is known that lam a great owner of land. What I mean is that my own Committee, of which Mr. Ormsby is chairman, should administer my land. 67. Mr. Locke.] Does he mean all the lands included in the Act last year? — Interpreter: I asked him if he were acquainted with the boundaries under the Act, so that I might ask if he wished the Committee to administer the whole of that land. He said that he wished the Native Committee, of which Mr. Ormsby is chairman, to administer the land within those boundaries. 68. Hon. Mr. Bryce.] Does Wahanui intend this Committee to administer the whole of the land of the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe ?—That is the request contained in my petition. 69. Then I wish to ask you whether you want that Committee to manage the land belonging to other tribes besides the Ngatimaniapoto ? —I have not stated that. I wish the Committee which I intend to elect shall administer the whole of my lands. I wish the Government to give it the power to do so. 70. That is what you mean by "my lands " —Ngatimaniapoto lands ?— Yes. 71. Not other lands outside ? —What is meant by " outside " land ? There are no lands remaining. The Europeans have obtained the " outside " lands. I allude to my own land—to the land within the boundaries I have given. 72. Mr Hobos.] We are all glad to see you here. Wo want you to tell us what your views are ; because we do not want you to be crying out and complaining by-and-by after this Bill shall have passed ; therefore, tell us plainly what you consider is the evil in it. I understand you object to the principle of it; if so, tell us what is wrong in it? —I cannot deal with all the clauses seriatim : I cannot deal with them in that way. lam not making any complaints, nor am I crying, because my heart is rejoiced very much by the attention which Mr. Ballance has paid to us. He has listened to our suggestions very fully. 73. Hon. Mr. Ballanoe.] Wahanui has referred to the Governor in Council; but he does not appear to have noticed that, in this Bill, the action of the Governor in Council is to give effect to the " owners of the land." I think this ought to be put clearly, and in this way : " Whether the Governor in his Council should have power to carry out the wishes of the Natives." I will there,fore ask him—Did Wahanui and the chiefs hold a meeting at Kihikihi in reference to the Bill ?— We had not received the Bill at that time, but the resolution arrived at by the Natives at numerous meetings has been this : that the sole power of administering the land must remain with the Natives. A great many complaints and petitions have been received from all parts of the Island, crying out about this Bill. 74. Did you receive a copy of this Bill before you left the Waikato to come to Wellington?— Yes. 75. Did you discuss it with Taonui, Eewi, and other chiefs ? —No. 76. Did you discuss it with John Ormsby ?—No ; because Ormsby was then engaged in roadmaking, and I had not the opportunity of talking with him. 77. Do Mr. Ormsby and yourself generally agree on this question?—On some subjects we agree. 78. Have you seen a letter written by Ormsby with reference to this Bill ? —I have heard that Ormsby wrote a letter to you, but I have not seen the letter. 79. Are you not aware that in that letter it is stated that " Wahanui, Taonui, and Eewi " agree to the Bill ? —I have never heard or seen that statement; but I have a letter myself from John Ormsby, in which he states that we do not agree to this Bill. There are two subjects in that letter. First, from Taonui and others ; the letter contains this request: Will you see Mr. Ballance with regard to this Bill, and ask him to strike out, alter, or amend the objectionable clauses. Second, with regard to rehearing, we want it provided that there should be a rehearing granted in respect of the land in every case that it is asked for ; for, if not granted, we shall not hand over any land to be adjudicated upon. These are the statements in the letter I have received. 80. That refers to another Bill ? —lt refers to the Bill a copy of which was sent to us. 81. Do you think that the owners of a block of land should have the right of managing that block? —I am confused. Wi Pere has explained the matter to me. Ido not know the meaning ofettie question. [The Chairman : Would the interpreter repeat the question?] Wahanui : That is my wish. 82. Hon. Mr. Ballance.] Do you agree that the owners should have the right to elect the Committee which is to manage ? —Yes ; that is my wish—that the owners of a block of land should have the right ig.elect their own Committee. 83. Mr. Hobbs.] Do you know that under clause 25 the owners can sell to the Crown in spite of the Committee? —I know there is such a provision. I object to it. I will never consent to it. 84. Mr. Locke.] ,Do you understand one Committee for the whole of the land ? You seem to speak of a separate Committee for each small block ?—I want a Committee for each block.