A.—l.

Native Land Bill : Bead first time, 23rd May, 1888; read second time, 11th July, 1888; referred to Native Bills Committee, 13th July, 1888 ; Committee reported on Bill, 20th July, 1888; before Committee of the whole House, 25th July, 1888; report of Committee of the whole House, 9th August.'lSSS ; third reading, loth August, 1888; Bill returned from Legislative Council, 27th August, 1888. Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill: Bead first time, 23rd May, 1888; read second time, 11th July, 1888; referred to Native Bills Committee, 13th July, 1888: Committee reported on Bill, 24th July, 1888 ; before Committee of the whole House, Bth August, 1888 ; report of Committee of the whole House, 13th August, 1888; third reading, 13th August, 1888 ; Bill returned from Legislative Council, 27th August, 1888. Native Land Court Act Amendment Bill: Bead first time, 23rd May, 1888; read second time, 13th July, 1888; referred to Native Bills Committee, 13th July, 1888; Committee reported on Bill, 24th July, 1888; before Committee of the whole House, 25th July, 1888; report of Committee of the whole House, 14th August, 1888; third reading, 14th August, 1888; Bill returned from Legislative Council, 27th August, 1888.

Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor

The absence from Wellington of the Premier and Native Minister has delayed the reply to His Excellency's minute of the Bth instant, requesting the observations of Government on a petition to the Queen forwarded to the Governor by Mr. Taiwhanga, M.H.R. Ministers have already prepared and submitted, in accordance with His Excellency's request, upon a memorial requesting the Governor to withhold his assent to the Bills, their remarks at length upon the Native legislation of the past session, and upon the attitude taken by Mr. Taiwhanga and the Natives who signed memorial and petition. It is not necessary to repeat what has already been stated on the subject, as the remarks made by Ministers upon the memorial apply to the present petition, except again to say what was therein pointed out, that the persons signing the petition can in no way be taken as representing the body of the Maori people, or favourable to their interests. Your Excellency has had an opportunity of forming an opinion on this point, and is aware how entirely groundless are the allegations of grievance set forth in the petition. It may be stated that the Maoris as a whole are in better circumstances than perhaps any other mixed community, and could have been, and might still be, possessed of great wealth, if they exercised ordinary industry or practised provident habits. Ministers would further remark that, although the petition purports to be from the Maori chiefs of New Zealand, only very few of the persons whose names are attached would be recognised by leading chiefs as having any pretensions to that rank. Several of the signatures are in the handwriting of Mr. Taiwhanga, and some names are undoubtedly those of his children, two of whom, George Grey Taiwhanga, aged nine years, and Sydney Taiwhanga, aged seven years, are inmates of an industrial school on the application of their father, who is indebted to date £95 for their maintenance. This example will show that the petition can hardly be regarded as worthy of serious notice. A leading chief, Major Keepa te Rangihiwinui, has to-day expressed to the Native .Minister his indignation at the allegations and presumption of the petition, which, when presented to him, he refused to sign. Major Kemp has made a request that His Excellency w 7ould be good enough to grant him an interview on Tuesday next on the subject. Wellington, 22nd September, 1888. H. A. Atkinson, Premier.

Memorandum of Interview granted by His Excellency the Governor to Major Keepa Rangihiwinui on Tuesday, 25th September, 1888. After the usual greeting His Excellency said to Major Keepa that he understood Major Keepa desired to see him with regard to a petition addressed to the Queen and signed by certain Natives. Major Keepa, in reply, stated he had been requested to sign the petition, but had refused, and he did not think that the Governor should forward it. He only recognised one of the Natives who signed—viz., Paul Tuhaere —as a leading chief. Many of the others were children and persons of no rank, and it was an act of great presumption to have sent the petition at all and make the assertion that they did so on behalf of the Natives of New Zealand. He objected altogether to the petition. A conversation then ensued between the Governor and Major Keepa as to the interest held by him (Keepa) in the Native lands that have not passed through the Court. Keepa said what he desired was that the law should permit the Natives to deal with their own lands. The Governor replied that this was the evident intention and effect of the recent legislation. His Excellency further added that he quite understood that the petition could not in any way be taken as representing the views of the Natives, and that, in fact, he had already had an opportunity of forming a very good opinion upon the subject from his previous interviews with Keepa and other chiefs. Major Keepa thanked the Governor for granting him this interview, which then terminated. Mr. Davies, translator to the Native Department, acted as interpreter. T. W. Lewis, Native Office, Wellington, 25th September, 1888. Under-Secretary, Native Affairs.

(New Zealand, No. 57.) Sir, — Downing Street, 26th November, 1888. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 98, the 28th September, with the enclosures.

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