E—No. 1

ACTS AND DECISIONS OF THE What is best to be done under the circumstances is another question, and a difficult one. I might however, suggest that ample provision of land should be made for the resident Natives, not in sections chosen by lottery, but in blocks of 5000 acres in the different directions now occupied by them; and if presents be made they should be made to the Waikato Chiefs, and not to the Taranaki Natives: this would allay the jealousy of Waikato, would not injure the resident Natives of Taranaki, and would thus tend to promote peace and order. [In Pari. Pap., Bth April, 1846, No. 203, p. 72 ]

governors' decisions.

VIII.—EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF PROTECTOR CLARKE, DATEO 20th JUNE, 1814. In order to enable you fully to comprehend the nature of the obstacles to the amicable settlement of this branch of the question, I feel it necessary to refer to circumstances which occurred nearly 14 years ago, when Te Rauparaha persuaded a large force of the Ngatiawa and other tribes to assist him in his wars with the original inhabitants of the northern and southern shores of Cook's Straits. The Waikato Natives, taking advantage of their absence, suddenly invaded the Taranaki district, and took Pukerangiora, a large pah on the Waitara River, capturing or destroying nearly 2,000 of the inhabitants; they then attacked Ngamotu, near the present settlement of New Plymouth, but without success, and were compelled to return to their own country. They afterwards cultivated a small portion of land formerly occupied by the Ngatimutunga, to the north of the Waitara River ; but, if the accounts of the Natives now resident at New Plymouth are to be credited, they never cultivated any other part of the district. I believe a small party of them attempted to occupy land on the Waitara, but met with so much opposition from the original claimants that they were compelled to retire. On these circumstances the Waikato Natives formed their claims, but I believe they never took possession of, or exercised acts of ownership upon, the land generally. * * * After the introduction of Christianity into the district of Waikato, many of the Natives who had been taken prisoners at Taranaki, and reduced to slavery, were released by their masters, and permitted to return to their own country. These freed men first arrived there some months after the date of the purchase, and took possession of the spots they had formerly occupied and cultivated. Ever since which, parties of the tribe in Cook's Straits have been and are still daily returning, and resuming possession of the lands they respectively occupied before their migration to the southward. On the other band, that portion of the Waikato tribes who are not more immediately under the influence of Te Whero Whero, and particularly the Natives of Mokau and the adjacent country, have expressed their determination to renew the contest with the Taranaki tribes, if they persist in a general re-occupation of the district, or accept of any payment from the Europeans. Feeling that much of the future prospects of the Colony depends upon the view which the Government may be pleased to take of the state of the land question, I have endeavoured faithfully to lay before you the circumstances of each case as advanced by the Natives, with their sentiments thereon; and, as their official protector, I feei that I should not discharge my whole duty without, in conclusion, respectfully, but urgently, calling the attention of the Government to the evidence, as taken before Mr. Spain, and the immediate necessity of a final settlement of the grounds of dispute between the two races. [Sess. Pap. Gen. Assembly, 1860, E. No. 2.]

Report of Pro-tector Clarke.

IX.—EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF MR. FORSUTH, 10th JULY, 1844. 10th July, 1844. On the 17th May we left Wanganui, and travelling on through Waitotara, Otihoe, Manawapou, Waimate, Kaupokonui, Otumatua, Waiaua, Warea, and Hauranga to New Plymouth, at which place we arrived on the 29th. The following day Mr. Clarke and myself visited tho different settlements as far as Waitara, to request the attendance of the Natives at the Commissioner's Court. On the 31st the Court opened, and the investigation was continued without any material interruption until the 6th June. On the Bth the Court again opened, when the Commissioner notified the nature of his decision upon the case, which was an award in favour of the Company, of all the land described in the chart which was exhibited, excepting some reserves which were specified, lying between Ngamotu on the South and Te Taniwha on the North. When I interpreted Mr. Spain's decision, considerable excitement was at first manifested among the Natives, who strongly objected to it: but this ebullition of feeling subsided, and they refrained from all further expressions of discontent, except signifying their intention of appealing to His Excellency. On the 21st the " Victoria" arrived, and Mr. Spain (accompanied by Colonel Wakefield and Mr. Protector Clarke) embarked, and about 4 p.m. the brig again made sail. I (according to orders received by the brig) resumed my journey Northward, and arrived at Auckland on the Bth instant, having left New Plymouth on the 24th ultimo. [Not before published.]

T. S. Forsaith, Esq., 10 July, 1844.