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CORRESPONDENCE. Ohinemutu, 28th June, 1926. The Chairman of the Royal Commission and your fellow Commissioners, Rotorua : Greetings. We highly appreciate the nature and extent of the Commission which you are entrusted to carry out. We therefore respectfully ask the Chairman to telegraph to the Governor-General and to the Premier the thanks and appreciation of the Natives living here and at Whakarewarewa for the humane and progressive principles covered by the scope of the Commission, which we hope will ultimately result in the betterment of the living-conditions in these villages. In accordance with our request, of which you approved, we met last night, and the following is a summary of the general opinions of the people, which we hope will receive your earnest consideration. The situation was discussed from two points of view—(1) Matters which are of a general or public nature, and (2) matters which are of a personal or individual nature. 1. The public matters are as follows: (1) Roads, (2) sanitation, (3) burial-grounds, (4) public baths, (5) meeting-houses, (6) dining-rooms, (7) fences, (8) lighting, (9) urinals, (10) parking-area, (11) business premises, (12) overseeing, (13) hot springs, (14) roads (subsidiary), (15) water. Roads : We feel that the present roads are sufficient in width and numbers to cope with our requirements, but their condition could be easily improved upon. There are two roads which we desire to be concreted or bitumenized—Huatahi and Taiwhakaea Roads. These two roads are the main arteries leading to Ohinemutu, and incidentally to the hub of the village, Te Papa-i-Ouru. We recommend that carved posts be erected at intervals along these roads leading to the pa; this principle could also be adopted at the Tunohopu and Rorooterangi meeting-houses, either at their approaches or in and around their immediate vicinities. We view with alarm any suggestion leading to the widening of any road in the pa, as it may create a charabanc route for sightseers and involve heavy motor traffic ; should this eventuate there is no doubt that accidents will take toll of elders and children. We feel that a certain amount of privacy is necessary, and would far rather that the village be viewed by pedestrians at their leisure than that it be invaded by motor-loads of " see-all-in-a-short-time " hordes of sightseers. Sanitation : This is a very big proposition, and we feel that it is beyond our technical knowledge to comment upon. We therefore desire to leave the whole question in your more capable hands to deal with, and we will be glad if you could submit a scheme for the removal of the nightsoil, apart from the present pan system. In regard to the effluent from the Lake House septic tank discharging into the Ruapeka Bay, we would ask you to protect from contamination the water in this bay, as it is used by both the Maoris and pakehas for a swimming resort. Burial-grounds : Any proposal which would involve violating the tapu of our cemeteries and sacred grounds will meet with our strong disapproval. We ask you to respect our wishes in this connection. Baths, &c. : This is a matter of no mean importance. We will be glad if you will consider and recommend designs for shelters for three public baths in the village. Meeting-houses and Dining-rooms : We have three meeting-houses, each provided with a diningroom. There is, as far as we are concerned, no recommendation to make in this respect, but we would appreciate any suggestion or design you will submit in regard to enclosing these buildings with suitable fences, in keeping and in harmony with the surroundings. Fences : We recommend rockery as the most attractive kind of fencing for the pa, carved posts to be interspersed at intervals. Lighting : More lights should be provided to light up the pa. The system of " corner lighting " in towns cannot be applied to the pa on account of the irregularity of the roads. On top of this there are too many springs too close to roads to be safe —some are actually on the roads or on public thoroughfares. Urinals: This pa is much frequented by European visitors, and we therefore recommend that public conveniences for males and females be established throughout the pa. Parking-area : We recommend that the present buildings at the end of the Marine Parade, which is the main entrance to the pa, be demolished, and that this spot be levelled and set aside for a parking-area. Business Premises : Strict regulations should be drawn up to discourage shops and business places being erected and conducted in the pa, but these should not apply to the local Maori residents. Over-seeing : Regulations should be framed to provide for efficient and weekly inspection of the village to maintain cleanliness generally and prevent accumulation of rubbish. Hot Springs : These we recommend should be fenced off by neat fences of appropriate designs. This will add to the attractiveness of the village and to the safety of the public. Roads (Subsidiary) : Other than Taiwhakaea and Huatahi, already referred to, we recommend that these be permanently laid down in hard material, and proper water-tables to cope with stormwater, &c. At present many of the roads have deep channels on the sides, which, because of the narrow width, are unsightly and dangerous. Water: Improved line of pipes to replace the present haphazard system. Sufficiency of reticulation and pressure, so as to satisfy reasonable requirements, would be an improvement. Matters of a Personal or Individual Nature.—lt is estimated that there are about twenty houses in the Ohinemutu Pa which should be demolished. The owners are quite agreeable to their demolition if the Commission could submit some comprehensive scheme of rebuilding. We consider that the most effective scheme would be one formulated upon the lines indicated hereunder ;—

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