I—lo

1889. NEW ZEALAND.

MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE CLAIMS (REPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEE ON), TOGETHER WITH EPITOMES OF THE MURIHIKU AND OTAKOU CASES, AND MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Brought up 10th September, 1880, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Wednesday, the _6th Day of June, 1889. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, to consist of nine members, to consider and report upon the Middle Island Native claims question. The Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records, and also to sit with any Committee which may be appointed by the House of Representatives for a similar purpose, and to report within one month. The Committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Buckley, the Hon. Mr. Miller, the Hon. Mr. Pharazvn, the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, the Hon. Mr. Shcphard, the Hon. Mr. Swanson, the Hon. Mr. Williams, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Stevens.)

Wednesday, the 24th Day of Juey, ISS9. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Select Committee upon the Middle Island Native claims be extended for fourteen days."—(Hon. Mr. Stevens.)

Friday, the 9th Day op August, 1889. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Select Committee upon the Middle Island Native claims be extended for fourteen days."—(Hon. Mr. Stevens.)

Wednesday, the -Ist Day of August, 1889. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Select Committee upon the Middle Island Native claims be further extended for fourteen days."—(Hon. Mr. Stevens.)

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 25th Day of June, 1889. Ordered, " That a Committee, consisting of nine members, be appointed, with power to confer with any similar Committee of the Legislative Council, to consider and report upon the claims of the Middle Island Natives on account of unfulfilled promises, and the recommendations made by Mr. Commissioner Mackay thereon on the sth May, 1887 (G.-l, 1888). The Committee to consist of the Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Carroll, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. Monk, Mr. Ormond, Captain Russell, Mr. Samuel, and the mover; three to form a quorum."—(Hon. Mr. MITCHELSON.)

REPORT. The Joint Committee appointed to consider and report upon the Middle Island Native land claims have the honour to report that they have taken up the inquiry into the four cases referred —namely, Ngaitahu, Akaroa, Otakou, and Murihiku, and have brought together all the evidence obtainable. In the case of Ngaitahu, the Legislature was last session placed in possession of an epitome of the case, and of the evidence on which it was founded, and the whole was supplied to honourable members during the recess, in a separate form, as recommended by the Committee of last session. The present Committee have completed the case, by obtaining all available information as to the provision that has been made from time to time up to the end of the last financial year on account of schools, hospitals, and other asistance to the Ngaitahu Natives. Eeturns showing the expenditure are appended to this report. The Ngaitahu inquiry ha! necessarily taken the form of an examination of the facts and evidence with a view to ascertain whether the promises made to the Natives at the time of the jjurchase by Mr. Kemp, and shortly afterwards by Mr. Mantell, have been fulfilled. These promises may be taken as amounting to an undertaking that, as respects the reserves to be set aside for occupation by the Natives, "liberal provision would be made for their present and future wants, and due regard shown to secure their interests and meet their wishes." I—l. 10.