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retained as far as possible. The Hindu is not a desirable business man or resident in any way. The average coolie coming from parts of India is. not a desirable business man, and certainly out of place in a Maori village. It would be desirable that businesses of that kind be removed. Dr. Buck.] Would you confine all business premises to the town side of the bridge, and have no shops in the village itself ?—Yes. Would you make an exception to a Maori owner carrying on business in carving and Maori plaiting and weaving ?—Certainly they should be allowed, as they would deal with Maori arts and crafts, and thus maintain the characteristics desired to be encouraged. With regard to the shifting of the village : do you think the site this side of the Post-office is desirable ? —lt, is a little bit distant for the buses leaving to take the passengers back. I mention the Model Pa as being a suitable site because it is visited by tourists. The part behind the Post-office is very desirable, but out of the way of visitors. It seems to me that you cannot remodel the village unless you have a good view of the characteristics of Maori art, and undertake to keep conflicting elements out of the scheme. If it were possible to remodel the pa, get rid of Indian shops, put in some of the characteristics of Maori architecture, and plant trees, would the Village of Whakarewarewa be an asset from a business point of view ? —Yes. The Borough Council being unable to attend at this time, the Commission adjourned to Ohinemutu. Tama-te-Kapua, Ohinemutu, 11.30 a.m. Present: The same. A representative gathering of the Ngati-Whakaue Tribe attended. The Chairman opened the sitting by having the order of reference read in the Maori language. The Chairman: The Commission is here to see what improvements are necessary, and to make recommendations for these improvements, and also to see what is necessary for the future extension of these villages. We have two representatives of your own race on this CommissionMr. H. T. Mitchell and Dr. Buck—who will give us valuable assistance, but we want to hear from yourselves what you consider necessary for the improvement of this settlement. We would now like to hear from your representative. Kiwi Amohau : I regret that Ngati-Whakaue have not had the opportunity of welcoming you according to the ancient custom of this tribe, and extending to you hospitality in keeping witli your exalted position as a Eoyal Commission specially set up to consider the material well-being of the Maori inhabitants of this village, and of our neighbours at Whakarewarewa. However, I now extend to you and your colleagues a hearty welcome to Ohinemutu. I will now speak about our villages. In my opinion we can have nothing to say at present. You have been appointed to view these villages and to suggest improvements. Until your report is available we are not in the position to say what we can do and what we cannot do. In your deliberations it is our earnest hope that you will be merciful to us, the Ngati-Whakaue people of this village. When your report is submitted to the Government, I hope the laws that may be enacted therefrom will be such as will be in our power to carry into effect. Though personally I have no more to say, perhaps the younger generation may have suggestions to offer. Wi Kingi Atetini: lam very pleased that "the Government has appointed such a Commission to carry out the renovating of these villages. I know since you have been here to Ohinemutu you have inspected the village, and I know you will make a report to the Government that will be a benefit to the inhabitants. We are also pleased to see associated with you two members of our race. We feel confident that in Mr. Mitchell we have a good advocate who will look after the interests of Ohinemutu people, because he is a local resident and knows everything about the tribe. We are also pleased to see Dr. Buck on the Commission. knows the need for sanitation, because of the fact that he is a Director of Maori Hygiene. I think it is well that we should make some suggestions to you so that it may help you in framing your report. The Chairman: We are very pleased at that opportunity. Wi Kingi Atetini : We know perfectly well what is needed here as to the houses, roads, fences enclosing the pa. The dilapidated houses, &c., should be demolished and removed, and we are pleased that you are here to improve the conditions of the pa and to abolish the atrocities. In Ohinemutu there are some good houses and some very bad ones ; therefore those houses should be improved so that it would be a credit to the pa and to New Zealand ; and if the houses are improved it is also right that a roading system should be carried out. Another thing is sanitation. Sanitation is bad here. What we desire is a sewerage system installed. Therefore we would ask the Commission to make an effort to see what could be done in this respect. I would like the Commission to view the lakefront, commencing from the Marine Parade to the pa. I would suggest that a road be formed along the lake-front so that it would keep the lake-front clean. The road should run along the lake-front so that no vehicle would pass into the pa. The lake-front road must therefore connect with the other road. I would suggest that motors should not come into this marae, or courtyard, before the house in which we are meeting. At the time of our ancestors it was tapu, and we desire that it should be kept so. The Chairman: Do cars come right here at present ? Wi Kingi Atetini: Yes, there is one out there now. What we want is the old houses demolished and new ones built. We all agree with the object of the Commission, but particularly as regards the houses. Perhaps the Government will give us money to build houses. If the Commission would enlighten us on this point we would be very pleased.

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