H.—No. 9

6

REPORT OE THE COMMITTEE ON

Friday, 18th October, 1872. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. McGlashan, Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Taiaroa. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sheehan, Chairman. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Macandrew handed in a statement, which was read to the Committee evident m°tlon °f EoUestoD ' [t was Mesol^< That the above document be printed with the On the motion of Mr. Rolleston it was Besolved~l. That the evidence taken by the Committee in reference to the claims of the Natives of the Middle Lsland, though far from complete, leads t em to the conclusion that these claims have not hitherto had that consideration which they deserve Proposed by Mr. Rolleston-11. That the evidence in reference to the claim for the Princes Street Reserve convinces the Committee that this case has been hitherto dealt with rather on legal and technical grounds than, as the Committee considers it should have been treated, in the interests of the Natives, with regard to the broader considerations of equity and good faith The Committee divided. ™ t, i y6S- Met. Mr. Rolleston Mr. Macandrew. Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Taiaroa. Mr. McGlashan declined to vote. So it passed in the Affirmative. • Eesol ved >™ the motion of Mr. RoMeston-111. That, in the opinion of the Committee, a further inquiry should be mstiued into the merits of these claims by an impartial Commission, such as hat proposed in The Hawke's Bay Native Lands Alienation Commission Act, now before Parliament winch should act in such inquiry as a Court of equity and good conscience Mr. Macandrew drew the attention of the Committee to the subject of the payment of the Maori witnesses who came from Otago in order to attend on the Committee. The Committee determined to leave the matter in the hands of the Chairman Mr. Taiaroa moved, That the Hon. Mr. Hall's order of reference, and « The Middle Island Land Purchase Validation Act, 1867," be printed. (Lapsed.) adopted!^^' That * rCPOrt by the Chaiman ' in accor«iance with the foregoing resolutions, be The Committee then adjourned.

Thursday, 24th October, 1872. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. Bunny, 1 Mr. Taiaroa. Mr. McGlashan, Mr. Sheehan, Chairman. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed Besolved, That the Chairman be requested to confirm the minutes of this day's proceedings without calling a meeting of the Committee. y l,roceeQln Sa The Committee then adjourned.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Wednesday, 25th September, 1872. The Hon. Mr. Mantell in attendance, and examined. „* + L , Tlf, uniulip.ed Promises as far as lam now aware, are those which affect the Otago Block negotiated by Captain Symonds m 1844, and the Ngaitahu Block purchased by Mr. Kemp in 1848 mHAB/f g °, T Cf ei ? T pearS that at the time of Purchase promises were made to the ?lZ reSr VeS selectel.^er survey of lands in the proportion defined in the New Zealand Company s scheme—viz., one section to every ten sections. The Committee will see, by referring to Captain Symonds's report, that he states that at the request of the principal agent of the New Zealand Company, Colonel Wakefield, he abstained from inserting m the deed of cession any express stipulation with regard to further reserves. I will refer the Committee to Major Richmond's letter, and to those between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor, as showing the determination on the part of the Imperial Government to

Son. Mr.Mantell.

25th Sept., 1872.