G.—2

39

537. Taurua : I have another matter to mention to the Commission. I will state what passed between myself and Mr. Sheehan and Major Brown. When Mr. Sheehan came here with Major Brown and Ngohi, after returning from Waitara, I asked him for the land which was confiscated by the Government, but where no European houses had been built. I asked for the 70 acres at Kaharoa, Section 94, towards Otautu, and opposite Hukatere. Major Brown and Mr. Williams can tell you whether I asked him or not. I asked him to give me an answer whether he would agree to my request. 538. The Commissioners: We know that you asked Mr. Sheehan, and we think Mr. Sheehan was willing, at that time, for the land to be returned. We will speak to Mr. Sheehan and find out what he said about it. But you will remember that section has been leased, and nothing can be done until the lease is at an end. 539. Taurua: Major Brown told me to tell the tribes of Ahitahi, Ngatitanewai, and Ngatitupaea that there would be 10,000 acres reserved for them at Tirotiromoana. If the block exceeded 10,000 acres it was to be reduced to that amount, and if it was less it was to be made up to 10,000 acres. I hear that since it has been surveyed it turns out that there are 16,000 acres in this block. I believe this is owing to a mistake made through the surveyors going straight on with their survey lines, instead of going round the block which was pointed out. The people did not object to this ; they did not say it was wrong. If they had, I should have told Major Brown so. 540. Wiremu Bokiha Omahuru said : Taurua was taken prisoner from here to Otago. I was taken to Wellington, and the other people were left here. They were taken on account of their having been in rebellion ; but I was only a child when I was taken. I will speak about the land mentioned by Taurua, between Patea and Whenuakura. I saw in the Gazette the appointment of this Commission to inquire into the grievances of the Natives in this district, and to fulfil the promises made by Government, in order that peace should be established between the two races. I have claims myself in this land; it is not that lam speaking solely on account of myself; I am speaking for the whole of my tribe. It is true, as stated by Taurua, that this land was returned by Mr. Eichmond to him and his tribe; that is, as far as I have heard, what was said by Mr. Eichmond, and I believe it to be true. Mr. Eichmond said that no Europeans would be settled on this block of land, and that the Natives were to have half the proceeds of the sale of the sections included in the block extending for one and a half miles back from the sea. 541. The Commissioners -. That is quite true ; we are aware of that; but the second war swept all those promises away. Supposing that the land had all been taken by the Government, and that Taurua had not been allowed to return here from Otago, where would the tribe have been ? 542. Pokiha: Only a portion of the tribe went away. The greater part remained here, and did not go down to Otago with Taurua. 543. The Commissioners: It is because some remained that we deem it right for some consideration to be shown to them. We wish to show kindness and consideration to the tribe, but it is impossible for us to undo that which has been done. We cannot help the fact that the land u was taken after the second insurrection. We cannot take it away from the Europeans who were placed upon it by the Government, and give it back to the tribe. The second wrar swept away all the promises the Government had made previously. Tou must start from a fresh point; from the time they came back again, after the second war; and you know what the Government did then. Sir Donald McLean then gave lands to Taurua ; that was the end of it; but he did not go back to Mr. Bichmond's promises and say, " Tou shall have all the land within a mile of the sea." And, again, when Sir Donald McLean gave those 2,000 acres to Taurua, what did Taurua say ? If he had then said, " I will not have the 2,000 acres," it would have been quite a different thing. But he accepted the 2,000 acres, and has leased the land and obtained money from it. That was what Sir Donald McLean said at that time, " I will not give you more than 2,000 acres." Taurua said, " I cannot consent to that;" but Sir Donald McLean said, " I will not give you any more." We find in the Papers laid before Parliament, that one Government after another has said, "There has been enough given back ;" and it was only when that conversation took place between Sir D. Bell and Sir Donald McLean, and after the talk with Mr. Sheehan a year or two ago, and now when this Commission are sitting here, that we look forward to giving further consideration to Taurua. 543a. Pokiha: I have acted according to the Gazette. Mr. Eichmond's promise to Taurua was not made verbally only ; it was put in writing. 544. The Commissioners: We know that; but the war swept away all promises, written and verbal, to those who joined in it. 545. Naima said: My children and myself are living destitute without any land to reside upon at all. I belong to the Ngarauru. I cannot claim with the tribe, for I have been absent. When I returned the land was all gone. I was absent with the Ngatiraukawa at Otaki. I now live at Kaipo, Waitotara. 546. The Commissioners : We will say to you what we have said to other people in the same position. We will try to find a piece of land on which you can live with your children, but we cannot say exactly where it will be. We shall have to consult with Major Brown, whom we will see if he can find a small place for you.

At Caelyle, Satueday, 27th Maech, 1880. 547. Ngairo said : Putahi, a reserve on the other side of the Whenuakura, belongs to me. There are also these reserves: Oika, Te Hapua, Te Oho, Ohiri, and Okahu. Tbe Herenaua Beserve, which contains 100 acres, has been taken by the Government. I wish that the Crown grauts for these reserves I have mentioned should be given to me. 548. Komene said : I wish to speak about the Putahi Eeserve. There is some dispute about it still. I wish to ask Major Brown about it. Te Hapua is another reserve of ours. This also is unsettled, and the Government have taken a portion of it. Haututu is another reserve of ours. Oika is the name of the kainga there. Some of the acres of this block are missing.