G.—2

2

And for the better enabling you the said Commission to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these -presents at such times and places as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn From time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise such person or persons as you think capable of affording information in these premises. And you are also empowered to call for and examine all such books, maps, or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subjectnatter of the inquiry hereby directed to be made. And, using all diligence, you are required to report to me under your hand within forty days from the date of these presents the result of your inquiry, with any recommendations you may think fit to make in the premises. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House at Wellington, this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifteen. W. F. Massey, Minister of Lands. Issued in Executive Council. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council.

REPOET. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency, - Acting under the authority of the Commission issued by Your Excellency on the 6th day of October, 1915, empowering us to hold an inquiry regarding a claim made by certain Natives to an area of land situated on the west bank of the Waiau River, in Alton Survey District, in the Southland Land District, we have the honour to report, for Your Excellency's information, that such inquiry was duly held, and to submit herewith the result thereof. Evidence was taken at sittings of the Commission held at Invereargill on the 21st and 22nd days of October last, and at Wellington on the 29th day of October. Mr. McAllister, of Invereargill, appeared for the Lands Department, and Mr. Wilford for the Native claimants. The case set up by the latter was to the effect that not only were they entitled to the Tautuku Native Reserve of about 1,021 acres in the Otago Land District, but also to an area of land situated on the west bank of the Waiau River, in the Southland Land District. They based their claim to the Waiau land on entries in the Native Land Court South Island Minute-book la, at pages 50, 57, and 59, copies whereof are set out in Schedule A attached hereto ["not printed]. These entries, they contend, show an award in favour of the Natives there mentioned of 1,000 acres at the Waiau River.