G.—2.

[Kate Euatoretu and Teira verified the name of the claimant's mother as having belonged to the Ngamahunga tribe, and Teira also stated that she belonged to the Ngatihumea hapu, at Opunake.] 365. Paiura te Bangikatitu said : When the war began at Taranaki, Mr. James Mackay came to Kawatiri that we might sign a paper pointing out our lands which had been confiscated by the Government. Our names were written down on the paper, which was sent onto New Plymouth to Mr. Parris. After this the Compensation Court sat in the year 1866. Colonel Eussell was Native Minister; Mr. Monro was one of the Judges of the Court. All the Natives assembled from Taitapu and Nelson. We were all excluded by the Court. About a month afterwards the Court sat again at New Plymouth. I received notice to appear before the Court, as the Poutamu Block was to be considered. I saw Mr. Parris then, at Nelson. I saw him on the steamer, and he said, " Where are you going to?" I said, "I am going to New Plymouth, to the Court." He replied, "Do not go; stay here; you will only be confusing the Court." I replied, "If you were paying my passage, then you might tell me to stop ;" and I came to New Plymouth. The Court was then opened, and Mr. Eenton and Mr. Eogan were the Judges. The Poutamu Block came before the Court. These were the claimants to the block: Te Kepa Ngapa, Hinerao, and Hakaraia te Parua. The boundary line on the north of that block w ras Waipingao, and the southern boundary was Otukaka. My name was called by the Court. I did not know that my name was on the list. I was asked by the Court if I knew the boundary of my land, and .I said, " Yes ;it is Waruatangata." I said that the northern boundary was at Waipingao. The land between these boundaries was occupied by military settlers. My two nieces, Pirihira Kokiti and Miriama Tarewa, were acknowledged by the Court after I had spoken for them. 366. The Commissioners : There are, first, the awards made by the Compensation Court of lands between Waipingao and Titoki, including the names mentioned by the claimant, and, secondly, there are the lands wbich were awarded by Mr. Eichmond, when Native Minister, for those absentees who had been excluded by the Court. You will come in to receive your share when the allocation is made. 367. Hori Pataka said: lam bringing forward a claim of Hera Hinerae. She was my sister, and is now dead. 368. The Commissioners: That is quite right. The name of Hera Hinerae is down for 250 acres, and that will be allocated to her heirs, together with a town section to which she was entitled. 369. Hori Pataka: Hera being dead, I wish the grant to be made out in my name. 370. The Commissioners : The succession order will bave to be passed through the Native Laud Court, and, if you are the next surviving relative according to Native custom, you will be sure to receive the succession order. 371. Wirihana said: The land I wish to speak about is between Urenui and Mimi. Ido not know where my land is; the Government have never pointed it out. Wo believed that the Court would allocate the land to the individual claimants to whom awards were made, but it has not been done. 372. The Commissioners .- That is exactly the work the Commission has to do : to find out the quantity of land awarded by the Court, and to see that it is marked out for the right owners. 373. Matapiri Kawhia and Rehara Ilami came forward and made similar claims. That of the former was declared to be correct; and the latter was informed that, if she was the only child, she would get the succession order, and be entitled to 200 acres. 374. The Commissioners: The land has first to be set apart and marked out. Then those who had grants made to them by the Court, and who have survived, will get their Crown grants. In the case of those who are dead, their successors will appear before the Native Land Court and establish their claims, as is done in all other cases. 375. Mangu said : I want some of the land returned to me that now belongs to the Government, because I have no land inherited from my father, who was a Ngatiapa. Our place is Manukoriki, on the other side of the Waitara. I have asked you to give me Government land, but they have none here, excepting what they obtained by confiscation. I want to know if there is any of the balance of tho compensation monejr still payable. 376. Major Brown: Mangu and his people came to me to offer a block of laud, which I found, eventually, was within the confiscated boundary, and the Government did not propose to deal with it then. I therefore told them that, when the Government did deal with it, I would give them takoha in respect of it, but that for the present the Government did not intend to deal with it. 377. The Commissioners : The Government have promised that when they deal with the land they will pay you some of the takoha; but with that we have nothing to do, it is a matter for the Government alone. 378. Te Tuiti said: I wish to speak about the land at Taranaki which was awarded to me by the Compensation Court. My name was put down as entitled to the land, but it was never stated where the land was. When you ascertain that this award of the Court was given fairly, then give me the Crown grant. 379. The Commissioners.] Did you get the printed award ? —I bave got the scrip at home for 50 acres. 380. Bona Minerapa said : I made an application to the Government for land at Waiongona. I received an answer from the Government that I should have some land at Materikoriko, which I do not approve of. 381. Tanira Bangimohuta said : Neither my children nor my relatives, nor any of my hapu, have ever received any land or compensation. My hapu is the Ngatirahiri. All I received from the Government was a piece of paper, which I now produce. [Letter produced from Mr. Monro, Judge of the Native Land Court, dated 7th July, 1865, acknowledging the receipt of Tanira's letter of the 14th June relative to some land at Mangonaia.] Mangonaia is a stream. I went and drank the water : that is all the land I have yet got. 382. The Commissioners.] Did you go before the Court after that ?—Yes; when I received this letter I went to the Court. 383. You will come in for the land which has been reserved for the Ngatirahiri Tribe. You were informed yesterday that that land was lying quiet. And, with respect to the claim you had at Puke-

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