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Dr. Buck.] What power has the Committee Marae ? What by-laws have they got ?—They administer the regulations of the Maori Council and any regulations that we enforce. But the Arawa Maori Council ceased to have jurisdiction over these villages some years ago when they were put directly under the administration of the Tourist Department. Village Committees were then set up by the Tourist Department to carry on what had been previously done by the Maori Council Marae Committees. What Maori Council and what regulations do you now allude to ? Mr. McLean : Perhaps I could answer that question later. Dr. Buck.] Very well. [To witness] With regard to the type of building, could you give the Commission a little more detail about your ideas on the subject ?—The old Maori style of elevation is the best. You think that that type of building would improve the general appearance of the villages ?— Yes, it would improve the appearance of the Maori villages considerably. I take it that you want the Maori style still. As far as practicable. Have you any ideas about roofing-material that would get as near as possible to the old Maori form of thatch ? —No ; but corrugated iron is very unsatisfactory in appearance. Mr. Hammond.'] You have stated that on account of existing conditions the Natives might not agree to any change. Do you think that if the Maoris realize that change would be of benefit to them they would agree to reconstruction ?—Well, if you can get permission ; but you are up against a personal element there, and it is a big stumbling-block. Some certain grounds within the villages are sacred, and no one is allowed to live there. Tf it were possible to make arrangements with the Maoris, would it then be possible to carry out the scheme suggested by you ?—Would it mean the wiping-out of the whole village in reconstruction ? We have in mind only those houses in a dilapidated state. Have any valuations been made ?— I have never heard of any valuations being put on any of the sections. How do you fix your rates ? — [ Witness, after consultation with the Town Clerk] Each one is valued, so the Town Clerk informs me. The Town Clerk could give you more detail in these matters. Mr. McLean, Town Clerk, Rotorua Borough Council, examined. Witness: The villages of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa are under the control of the Borough Council as a Maori Council under a section of the Rotorua Borough Act, 1922, under which the borough was constituted. Since the Borough Council came into operation in March, 1923, no rates have been collected from either of these villages, but the valuations have now come to hand from the Valuation Department. These valuations show that at Ohinemutu the total value of lands and buildings in Native occupation is £20,119 ; at Whakarewarewa the value is £1,944. If rates are struck on the basis of Id. in the pound on the capital value, the amount for Ohinemutu is £83 16s. 7d., and £8 2s. for Whakarewarewa. I take that at a Id. in the pound because that is about what borough rates have been. The expenditure by the Borough Council during the last three years has been £308 at Whakarewarewa, and £497 at Ohinemutu for the period of three years. For 1923-24, Whakarewarewa £101 16s. 2d., Ohinemutu £145 4s. sd. ; for 1924-25, Whakarewarewa £74 9s. 2d., Ohinemutu £154 4s. 9d. ; for 1925-26, Whakarewarewa, £131 18s. 7d., Ohinemutu £197 12s. Id. The Chairman.] What does all that expense consist of ?—Wages for caretakers, repairs to culverts, streets, &c. There is a refuse-removal twice a week by our own carts. Ohinemutu has the same services as the rest of the town as regards dry-pan system. The Committee Marae of Ohinemutu suggested a decrease in the fees. The Council agreed to rebate as much as 75 per cent, in some cases. These are not included in the figures above quoted. At Whakarewarewa, of course, it has been found impossible to institute the pan system. There was a public convenience in vogue at the back of Paul Thomas's, but the material discharged directly into a hot pool without passing through a septic tank. It was not considered healthy, and the Council had it pulled down. To take its place we erected a communal latrine on the town side of the bridge. As you have no doubt seen, the ground at Whakarewarewa will not carry traffic. A big heavy lorry will cause trouble, and in some places the lorry could not get through. It was thus impossible to establish a pan system for Whakarewarewa. The position with regard to by-laws is that up to perhaps six months ago we, as we thought, could work with the by-laws of the Arawa District Maori Council; but on investigation we found that they have not been adopted or used by the Borough Council as a Maori Council, and we are at the present time going into that matter and drawing up a set of by-laws for the villages. I think I asked Mr. Steele if plans of shops are obtained ?—Plans are submitted to the borough before new buildings are erected, but we have no jurisdiction as to the type. We have no control of the number of residents in the houses. Perhaps the Health Act will deal with that. Mr. Mitchell.] Have you at hand the capital value of the sections at Ohinemutu ? —Capital value on lands and buildings, European occupation, at Ohinemutu is £14,370. Dr. Buck.] Under the old by-laws of the Maori Council there was a section to prevent overcrowding : you have no means at present to prevent it ? —No. The borough has not adopted those by-laws. Is the question of by-laws or regulations for the sanitation of the two villages receiving the attention of the Borough Council I—Yes1 —Yes ; we have the matter under consideration. T. C. Bunyard, Engineer, Borough Council, Rotorua, examined. Witness : As a new resident in the district Ido not know much about the Maoris. The thing that attracted me when I went to Whakarewarewa was the Maori architecture. What we want is

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