C—No. 4,

6

SETTLEMENT OF

Tukehu immediately agreed to Te Uhi's boundary, rectifying it slightly, and saying that it might be surveyed at once. I then returned to Whakatane and informed Ngatipukeko, six of whose chiefs, including Kaperiere and Te Uhi, decided to go themselves to Rangitaiki and hear Tukehu give his consent. We arrived at Kokohinau on the 14th instant, and found Tukehu and Tiopira absent at Te Teko, interviewing Captain Preece about some roads and bridges asserted to be on their land. As soon, however, as they returned I convened a meeting, and Tukehu openly confirmed Te Uhi's boundary, as it was read in the presence of the Ngatipukeko chiefs. But before the latter replied, Tiopira, who was surprised at the advanced stage of the business, rose, and objected to the pokanoa of the Government, as he termed it. " They had confiscated the land by pokanoa." He did not, however, gainsay the boundary named; things had gone too far for him to do that; but he did not wish to see it cut; and if the Government cut the line, it would be done without his consent, and would have no effect. On this Ngatipukeko replied that the matter could stand over for a while, as all the tribes were now sitting taurangi upon confiscated lands. Tiopira will have to give way, now that a boundary has been openly named and agreed to, more especially as both parties have consented to include his name in their grants. The case is virtually settled, although I return it as unsettled because of the promise of postponement given by Ngatipukeko to Tiopira. The boundary named is from Manawairihia, on the Government side on the north, to Pariwharariki, Maunurauaruhe, Otaneroa, Te Ahipupu, Te Maeka. All these are running south along the ridge of mountains; thence descending by Te Karaui it passes in a straight line to Te Pahou, where it ascends, and continues on the same bearing over Koheroa Range to the Confiscation boundary. On arriving in the district, I, in accordance with instructions, immediately conferred with Mr. Commissioner Clarke, and, among other things, learned from him that the hapus of the Whakatohea ■ were quarrelling about the possession of their cultivations on the land given to them six years ago at Opape and Waiaua. Mr. Clarke urged the necessity of dividing the land by survey among the hapus ; and I may say that I had recommended the same thing in 1866. I agree with Mr. Clarke, for the land given is now an apple of discord, and the quarrels have sometimes ended with sticks and blows. The numerous Ngatirua hapu claim the whole of the land, in virtue of their ownership before it was confiscated. Te Awanui is the leader of these, and opposed me much at first. But it is settled now that the division shall be made, and Te Awanui has given me himself the names of trustees for the share that will fall to his hapu. This survey will cost £450, and is, I believe, indispensably necessary. Mr. Clarke also informed me that the Ngatiwhare and Patuheuheu hapus of the Urewera had been promised land at Whakatane, and he mentioned the amount and localit}'. This promise has now been made good, I having given them the quantity (forty acres) on the bank of the river at Hawera. But I did not give them land at Te Putere, where they reside at present, because I ascertained that they do not expect any —that they do not wish to remain there; nor was Mr. Clarke aware that any land had been promised to them at that place. The lands in the Lower liangitaiki have all been surveyed for the Ngatirangihouhiri (Te Hura's tribe), Ngatihikakino and Patutatahi Tribes. None of them had been surveyed before, and the Natives did not seem to think they belonged to them, and instead of occupying them lived elsewhere among friendly Natives and among other tribes. Certainly the lands are liable to an occasional flood, but that the Government cannot help ; nor is it any gainer, the whole of the dry lands of these tribes having been given to the hapus of the Arawa, in reward for military service rendered in 1865. They have, however, the islands of Omarupotiki and the Matata not subject to inundation, and these they prize very much. My recent census schedules show that these Awa-o-te-Atua tribes are much dispersed to Tauranga, Hauraki, and other places; but Te Metera Te Ti, Te Hura's brother, is endeavouring to reassemble them. But it is a country of eels, and the people appear to think more highly of them than of other food. I have therefore been fortunate in having it in my power to satisfy them with a number of firstrate eel-weirs, which, by the way, I had to prevent the Arawas from getting, when first they went there. In granting eel-weirs, I have given documents with them, showing to whom and for whom the weir is given, and the conditions, if any, accompanying it. No land passes ; it is only the right to build the weir and catch eels in it that is conceded. I have granted eight eel-weirs on this commission. They are included in the schedule of weirs. The eel-weirs have always been given on the creeks and smaller rivers—the main Tarawera, Kangitaiki, and Orini Rivers being kept free for navigation. This rule has been observed until quite lately, when the Tawera built two weirs across the main Tarawera, and the Patutatahi have expressed their intention to obstruct Orini in the same way. Judging from circumstances, and from words that fell from him at our meeting of the 14th instant, I suspect Tiopira Hukiki of having instigated these breaches, in retaliation for the erection of the bridges on the road to Galatea, that he has several times threatened to destroy. I know that he has a fair share of influence among the tribes in those parts, because he does a good deal of their thinking for them. I have informed Captain Preece of the circumstances, in case he should find himself straitened in his communications, as his force is supplied entirely by river transit. On the other hand, it is gratifying to report that the chief Hemi Kakitu, lately so active a guerilla against us, desires to purchase four or five hundred acres at Waiotahi, which land belonged to him before it was confiscated. I have arranged to have it surveyed to him as soon as the money is paid to the Receiver of Land Revenue in Auckland. The money is due to Hemi Katiku and his tribe for military service in pursuit of Te Kooti. I have settled the Ohiwa Natives, who reverted to rebellion and again surrendered, on the land previously given to them at Hiwarau and Hokianga. Hemi Kakitu and followers have been included in this arrangement. Tiwai has got a grievance, hardly worth mentioning, and is trying to make all he can out of it. It