9

G.— 2

acres known as Eaumatangi. A meeting took place between Kemp and Sir Donald McLean in Wellington, and subsequently Sir Donald McLean met the Ngatiraukawa. The result of these arrangements was that an agreement was come to of which the following copy is set out in Turton's " Book of Deeds " : — Horowhenua Block (Ngatiraukawa Claims), Manawatu District. We the undersigned members of the Ngatihikitanga, Ngatipareraukawa, Ngatiparekowhatu, and Ngatikahoro hapus of Ngatiraukawa Tribe hereby acknowledge to have received from the General Government of New Zealand, by the hands of James Booth, Esquire, on this seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, the sum of one thousand and fifty pounds sterling, in recognition and final extinguishment of all our claims to that portion of the land lying on the west coast of the Province of Wellington. Bounded as follows :On the north by a line commencing at Tauteka's post on the sea-beach at Mahoenui, thence inland to Te Eva o Te Whatanui, thence in a direct line to the Ohau Eiver, which it crosses at Tokaroa, thence along a line bearing eastward ; on the east by the Tararua range to Pukemoremore ; on the south by a direct line from Pukemoremore to the mouth of the Waiwiri Stream ; on the west by the sea-coast from the mouth of the Waiwiri Stream to the commencing point at Mahoenui, as the same is more particularly delineated on the plan drawn hereon and colored red, excepting certain reserves hereafter to be surveyed between the Papaitonga Lake and the sea; these reserves being made with the full consent of Keepa te Eangihiwinui, to whom this block in question, being part of the Horowhenua Block, was awarded by the Native Land Court. We hereby agree not to alienate or mortgage any of the above reserves. Matene te Whiwhi. Aohau Nikitini. Na Keraipe te Puke. Ngawiki Tuainuku x her mark. Horomona Toremai x his mark. Kipihana te Kanaroa. Watene te Waewae. Tamihana te Euaparaha. Nerehana te Paea. Eakapa Topeora x her mark. Eakera Kipihana. Signed by Matene te Whiwhi and others, the word "range" between "Tararua" and "on" in the eleventh line from the top having been previously inserted in the presence of— T. E. Young, Translator and Interpreter, Gen. Govt., Wellington. Eoera Hukiki. Hoani Taipua. I hereby agree to allow the reserves mentioned above to be made for the Ngatiraukawa hapus whose representatives have signed the above receipt, but only for those of them who have been permanent residents on the block in question. Mbiha Keepa te Eangihiwinui. Witness—T. E. Young. 9th February, 1874. I, Keepa te Eangihiwinui, on behalf of myself and the Muaupoko Tribe whose names are registered in the Native Land Courts as being the persons interested in the Horowhenua Block, hereby agree to convey by way of gift to certain of the descendants of Te Whatanui, to be hereafter nominated, a piece of land within the said Horowhenua Block, near the Horowhenua Lake, containing one thousand three hundred acres (1,300) the position and boundaries to be fixed by actual survey. The said piece of land to be conveyed in such a manner as will prevent its alienation by sale or mortgage by the persons to whom it is to be conveyed. Meiha Keepa te Eangihiwinui, Signed by the said Keepa te Eangihiwinui 11th February, 1874. this eleventh day of February, 1874, in the presence of — J. H. H. St. John, Inspect. A.C., J.P., T. E. Young, Translator Native Dept., Wellington. A true copy of the original receipt. H. Hanson Tubton. Wellington, December, 1873. The Ngatiraukawa claimed a strip of country extending from the sea along the southern boundary to the back of the block. Our interpretation of the agreement come to is that the Crown paid £1,050 to extinguish these claims, Kemp agreeing to give 1,300 acres, and to make certain reserves for the Ngatiraukawa between Papaitonga and the sea. It would seem from subsequent events which transpired that either " 1,300 " acres was inserted by mistake for " 1,200," or that the 100 acres at Eaumatangi were to be taken into account. Kemp admits that, in addition to 1,300 acres, reserves were to be made between Papaitonga and the sea ; he will not locate them, but states "he has them in his mind." The consent of the Muaupoko Tribe was never obtained to this arrangement, but they have aquiesced in it so far as the 1,200 acres are concerned, and we have no doubt, although they now allege Kemp 2—G. 2.