7

G.—6i

SCHEDULE A. . WEST COAST COMMISSION.—APPENDIX C. Papees bespecttng Compensation to Absentees : Decision op the Government in 1867. 1. Minute of the Native Minister for His Excellency Governor Sir G. Gkkv. The substance of the (annexed) statement was made to a meeting of the absentee claimants, in the grounds of the Native Office, this morning. If His Excellency approves, it will be printed in Maori for circulation, and the promise embodied in an Order in Council. 6th July, 1807. J. O. Richmond. 2. Minute by Hon. J. 0. Richmond, Native Minister. The following is a statement of the decision of the Government as to the claims of Maoris which were rejected by the Compensation Court at Taranaki in consequence of the long absence of the claimants from the country : — These claimants, or some of them, have petitioned the General Assembly to reconsider their claims, and the law allows the, Governor, if he thinks fit, to give compensation when none is awarded by the Court. The members of a Committee of the Parliament recommended that this power should be exercised by the Governor in the case of these petitioners ; and the Government have advised His Excellency, without reversing the decision of the Court, to extend his kindness to these men. The Governor has decided to give to the absentee claimants in the Ngatiawa and Taranaki districts land in the same proportion as was awarded to the absentee claimants in the Ngatiruanui district, at a sitting of the Court at Whanganui. The Government has taken pains to ascertain the number of claimants, and tho hapu to which they belong. Five principal hapus are concerned, and land will be given the absentees in each of them in accordance with the following scale : —

These lands will hereafter be laid off in such blocks as may be convenient. The, division of them will rest with the people to whom, they are given. It will not be for the Government to settle the subdivision, but for the persons interested. The land will be bush land, except in the case of the Taranaki Tribe. This tribe will receive partly bush land and partly open land. Besides the land given as above, the Government will grant, by His Excellency's desire, — 200 acres to Te Puni, on account of the special claim which his loyalty and long and faithful services give him to the consideration of the Government: 100 acres to Wi Take, on account of the services which he, has recently rendered to the Government: 100 acres to Mohi Ngaponga, because, in the opinion, of the Judge of the Court, he established a better claim than the rest of those who were rejected : 100 acres to Hemi Parai, because the Government recognize his greater claim to consideration from his having remained in Wellington at the instance of the Government when he might have returned to Taranaki. J. C. Richmond. 3. Minute of His Excellency Governor Sir George Gkey. The Governor has received the memorandum of his Responsible Advisers on the subject of the claims of Natives to lands at Taranaki, which were rejected by the, Compensation Court in consequence of the long absence of the claimants from that place. On this subject the Governor wishes to state that, many years ago, when William King and his followers were returning to Taranaki to take possession of the, lands on the Waitara River, the Governor became exceedingly anxious at the large influx of Natives which appeared likely to be poured into that district, and used all the influence in his power to prevent the well-disposed Natives from returning there.. Many influential Natives then objected that if they did not return to Taranaki to take possession of their lands they would, in any settlement of the land question which might be made in that district, be very probably regarded as having forfeited their claims. Thereupon the Governor assured them that those, who obeyed his orders and did not proceed to Taranaki should, in any future settlement of the land question at that place, have their claims adjusted upon at least as favourable a footing as those who, by proceeding to Taranaki, have greatly increased the, embarrassments and difficulties of the Government. Tiie Governor will acquiesce in any arrangement made by his Responsible Advisers for the settlement of this question, if he understands from them that they have considered and made allowance for the promise thus given by the Governor. Bth July, 18(57. G. Gbey. 4. Minute of Hon. J. ('. Richmond upon His Excellency's Minute. The great bulk of the claimants present in Wellington, and at the meeting of (ith July, appear satisfied with the provision proposed. I see no end to the difficulties that would follow a reopening of the matter, as the shares of loyal residents in some of the districts have been but small, anil to reopen the absentee claims would necessitate reopening the others. 9th July, 1807. J. C. RICHMOND, 5. Minute for the Cabinet by Hon. J. 0. Richmond. I think, for the reasons mentioned in His Excellency's memorandum attached, that the promise made at the meeting of 6th July should be effectuated by Order in Council. 9th July, 1807. J. C. Richmond.

Tribe. District to which Claim refers. Amount of Lund to be given. Amount of Lund to he given. fgatitama fgatimutunga Jgatiawa .. 'uketapu .. 'aranaki .. Parininihi to Titoki Titoki to Te Rau-o-te-Huia Titirangi to Onatiki Onatiki to Waitaha Okurukuru to Omuturangi Total Acres. 1,300 3,000 2,700 2,100 3,100 12,200