G—2.

young Higginson to bring me up to his house that he might bribe me. He gave the boy a big bundle of notes to pay to me if I would give up the Crown grant. The boy, who is a half-caste, came to my place at AVhenuakura with this bundle of notes and said, " Here is what Nicholson has sent you to let him see the Crown grant." I said in reply to him, "I do not want your money ; you had better go back." He then tried to persuade the people to go to the hotel and have some drink. When he succeeded in doing this, I got angry, and said to him, "You had better go back at once ; do not stop here. Although you belong to me you had better go. You have come here to betray me." He then went back to Mr. Nicholson's house. I then waited in expectation of having to attend the Supreme Court, but there was nothing more done up to the present time.

At Caelyle, Monday, 29th Maech, 1880. 590. The Commissioners: AVith regard to what took place at the last sitting about the pa-tuna (eel-weir), Major Brown has seen Mr. Nicholson, and there is a proposal by which a certain piece of land belonging to the Crown shall be given to Air. Nicholson, so tbat the pa-tuna may come back to the Natives. Major Brown will work the matter out and endeavour to get it settled. The Commission will recommend it to be done. 591. Tutange said : I wish to speak about the same piece of land to which I referred the other day. When we came back to Patea with Taurua, we made an arrangement about the different blocks of land that were to be allotted to us, namely, on the Patea Biver and on the Whenuakura. Those at Manutahi were for the Manutahi people, and those at Alokoia for the Mokoia people. When my people remained here at Patea, Moanoroa was at their head, and made all the arrangements on their behalf. After that, Taurua wanted Moanoroa and myself and our people to go and live with him at Hukatere. Moanoroa objected, and said, "No ; I would rather go and live at Otoia." Then we went to Otoia to live. Taurua still wished us to return and stop with him, saying that he and Moanoroa could consult with Sir Donald,McLean as to the place at which we should live. Moanoroa said, "Never mind; we will stay at Otoia." Then Taurua said, " Very well." After we had been staying there some time, Moanoroa went to Wellington and saw Sir Donald McLean, and said to him, " Eriend, give me a block of land for me and my people to live upon." Sir Donald McLean agreed to give him 1,200 acres. The Commissioner of that day knew all about this arrangement. It was then finally arranged that Moanoroa should get the 1,200 acres for himself and his people to live upon. After Sir Donald McLean had given this land to Moanoroa, Sir Donald said he would get some takoha for the balance of the land that was taken. Moanoroa said he would not agree to it until he had seen his people. If the people agreed to take the money, well and good; if not, the land should be left with the people. After that Moanoroa returned here. Then myself and Taurua went to Wellington with Captain Blake. I went on my business, and Taurua went on his business to see Sir Donald McLean. When I got to Wellington, I asked Sir Donald McLean to give me some tahoha for Opaku, and he agreed to do so, and said that when I returned Mr. Barris would give me the money. When I came back here I told the whole of the people. After that they agreed to sell Pukerata. Then Major Brown said, "Tou had better take all the takoha together;" and they all agreed to take it. I then began to wonder how it was the Government was giving takoha for the upper and not for the lower portion of the land taken. After that I spoke to Major Brown about the promise I understood Sir Donald McLean to have made, that takoha should be given for all the land. Major Brown afterwards showed me the line of the Otoia Block. He said he could not give me takoha for the lower block. " Perhaps," he said, " there may be some other Commissioner who may agree to give it you." 592. The Commissioners: There is no reason at all for any takoha being paid. The course Major Brown has taken is perfectly right. That was all settled long ago. And later, when it was proposed that takoha should be paid for the land inland of the sea boundary, then, out of consideration for the people, Major Brown was allowed to give the compensation, which was paid. When we were at Hawera, Major Brown pointed out that he had asked the Government whether he would be allowed to distribute any takolia for the land to seawwd: tbe Government refused, on the ground that the question had been settled before. Eor this reason Major Brown's action was quite right. 593. Tutange : I wish to ask for the Crown grant for Whitikau. I think it is 60 acres. 594. The Commissioners : There is a piece of 15 acres which we find can be laid out for a fishingstation there. 595. Tutange: I wish to have the Crown grant given for it. 596. The Commissioners: We have often said that the time for the issue of the Crown grants has come very near. Tho Government are preparing as many as they can, and there will be no more delay. That is one reason why we are here: to see that the Crown grants go to the right people. With regard to the tribal reserves, certain Natives will have to be chosen among yourselves, in whose names the grants will be made out. That will be for a proper tribunal to decide afterwards. 597. Taurua said :I. wish to speak about what Tutange has said. He is right in stating that I requested the people to live together. Tutange's brother, Moanoroa, desired to live at Otoia. Then Moanoroa collected all his people together. There were two tribes, the Ngatitupito and the Ngatiringi. The Commissioner at that time was Captain Blake. Then Captain Blake, Moanoroa, and myself wrote all the names of the people of those two tribes. After the names had all been written down, they were taken to Wellington. Moanoroa and his people were to live at Otoia on the 1,200 acres. They remained upon that land, but it was not given to any particular Natives. After the 1,200 acres had been settled, Moanoroa let 700 acres to Major Turner. When they first received the rent, Moanoroa and Tutange divided it amongst all their people. Afterwards, Moanoroa never divided the money with the people, nor has Tutange done so since Moanoroa's death. His people were grieved about it, and they brought the matter before Mr. Sheehan, in this building. Then, afterwards, Mere Taurua, when she saw Air. Sheehan on the subject, expressed a wish to have the land divided. I thought Mr. Sheehan would have bad it divided, so that each might have his portion; but the matter was allowed i,o staad as it was, because some of the people objected. That finishes what I have to say on that sub-

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