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question of the survey of the reserve on the line of the Mountain Eoad. If the extent of that reserve is fixed at the 10,000 acres awarded by tho Civil Commissioner, the deduction to be made from the above total will be 4,000 acres, and tho total of reserves between Waingongoro and Patea will really be about 44,500 acres. 1167. Will you supply detailed schedules of these reserves ? —I produce them. [See Appendix.] 1168. The reserves named in your first class comprise the larger ones, with the exception of the one whose area has still to be adjusted? —Tes. It includes the Whareroa, of 10,500 acres ; the Mokoia, of 4,800 acres ; the Otoia, of 1,200 acres ; and the Taumaha, of 2,800 acres ; as well as smaller sections which are the sites of old kaingas, and other spots of special value to the Natives. 1169. How wero the reserves made which you include in your second class? —On the 31st January, 1873, the late Sir Donald McLean met the Patea Natives at Wanganui, and informed them of the arrangements he proposed for the settlement of the confiscated territory between Waitotara and Waingongoro, in order that all doubts should be cleared up, and that the owners of the land in that part of the district, whether European or Maori, should occupy their respective portions without fear of future misunderstanding. Sir D. McLean, on that occasion, confirmed to the Pakakohe, who had suffered imprisonment at Dunedin, the tribal reserves which had been set apart for them before the rebellion, and gave them permission to return and occupy these. He also then, and subsequently, set apart additional tribal reserves for the Pakakohe, the Ngarauru, the Ahitahi, and the Ngatitupaea, to the amount of about 11,320 acres. 1170. What are the reserves in your third class ?—They consist of lands awarded to individual Natives, amounting to 999 acres. One award to the chief Ngahina is doubtful, the land having been set apart for him conditionally for services which, I understand, have not been performed. I understood Ngahina not to press his claims before the Commissioners. 1171. What reserves do you put in your fourth class ? —They are reserves which have been under the administration of the Native Eeserves Commissioner, Major Heaphy, V.C. They were made for general Native purposes, and contain about 505 acres. They are all leased to Europeans for a term of 21 years from Ist October, 1874. 1172. Tour last class includes reserves made since 1873 ? —Tes. Of these there are six small reserves, as described in the schedule I have produced, amounting to about 313 acres. Next, there is a reserve of 1,500 acres at Waitotara, consisting of 1,200 acres over which the confiscation was abandoned by Gazette notice, and 300 acres added by the Civil Commissioner. Then there are 1,500 acres given to Tapa te Waero under "The Special Contracts Act, 1878:" this reserve is inalienable by sale, gift, or mortgage, and can only be leased for a term not exceeding 21 years, and with the consent of the Governor. The last is the reserve of 10,000 acres north of Ketemarae. 1173. Tou are speaking of the one made by Major Brown at the Mountain Eoad ? —Tes. I am informed by Major Brown that tho boundaries are not finally surveyed, and I have merely indicated its approximate position on the key map I have produced. Though I. call it 10,000 acres, there will, as I have said, be only 6,000 acres additional, as 4,000 acres merge in it which are included in the second class, among the reserves set apart by Sir Donald McLean in 1873. The reserve also includes a claim for 10 acres to be granted to Heke Pakeke absolutely, being a piece of land sold by that chief to Mr. P. McGuire in 1876 with the sanction of the Government. 1174. Is there not some unsettled question about the Pukorokoro Eeserve of 1,000 acres ? —lt was set apart for Komene and his people at the place called "New Taranaki," between the Patea and Whenuakura Eivers. Komene has leased land adjoining and impinging upon the University Eeserve, and the consequence is that his reserve will either have to be shifted into the bush where he has taken it, or about 500 acres will have to be added to it in order to enable the tribe to have the open land about New Taranaki, which was originally intended for them, as shown on the key map. 1175. Is there any suggestion you desire to make about these reserves? —It will be seen that very large blocks have in some cases been reserved for the Natives, and I would like to take this opportunity of making a few remarks thereon. A good deal has been said about the necessity of issuing Crown grants for these lands ; but I think it is obvious that such a course is inexpedient so far as the large reserves (especially the Whareroa, of 10,500 acres, and the other 10,000 acres adjoining) are concerned. Such an extensive area as 20,000 acres, in one block, should not be allowed to remain a bar to settlement in the midst of a district every acre of which is suitable for settlement. I would therefore strongly advocate that these reserves should be administered by the Government on behalf of the Natives, and leased to Europeans for long periods on favourable terms, thus securing the settlement of the district, which would otherwise be retarded if such lands are unconditionally granted to the Natives. 1176. Will you now turn to the awards of the Compensation Court ?—These awards were made by Judge Smith at a sitting of the Court at Wanganui in December, 1876. 40 claimants were awarded 400 acres each, and 79 claimants received 16 acres each ; making a total of 17,264 acres. 1177. Was there not a small addition made to this total afterwards ? —Tes; it was found, before the final sitting of the Court in 1874, that a Native named Teretiu had been inadvertently left out at the first sitting, and 16 acres were awarded to him. 1178. Then what is the true total for this part of the coast ? —17,280 acres. 1179. What was done to allocate the awards ? —Mr. W. S. Atkinson was appointed Crown Agent to carry them out, and he, with the consent of the Natives, selected three blocks for the allocation : Ist. A block on the north-west bank of the Waitotara, containing 8,352 acres, for 42 awardees, 20 being owners of 400 acres, and 22 of 16 acres each ; 2nd. A block on the north-west bank of the Whenuakura, containing 912 acres, for 2 owners of 400-acre awrards, and 7of 16-acre awards; 3rd. A block of 600 acres, near the Kakaramea Township, for 5 awardees, to the extent of 120 acres each; leaving the balance of 280 acres each, or 7,400 acres, to be given in bush land at the back of Kakaramea. 1180. Were those arrangements completed ?—No. The disturbed state of the district and other causes prevented Mr. Atkinson's arrangements being completed, and no survey of either of the three blocks was made. The business was left in an unsettled state until the beginning of 1872, when Mr, G. B. Worgan was appointed to .settle outstanding questions on the West Coast.