12

a—2. (Appendix A.)

During the proceedings Te Whiti was informed that we had seen Titokowaru, and that he had requested us to return and see him after our 'interview with Te Whiti. Te Whiti said : That is right. James Mackat. B. T. Blake. I will send another telegram with my opinion of the meeting, also with any suggestions that may occur to me after seeing Mr. Parris. James Mackay.

No. 11. Tbiegbam from Mr. Mackay to Hon. Mr. Sheehan as to Causes of Dissatisfaction among the Natives.

(Confidential.) New Plymouth, 4th April, 1879. I think Native dissatisfaction arises from several causes, namely: — 1. That Crown grants to Natives for lands awarded to them by the Compensation Court have not yet been issued. 2. That the title to lands confiscated by the Crown, and subsequently abandoned, such as the block between the Taungatara and Moutoti Streams, has neither been determined by the Crown, nor have the Natives been allowed to have the title investigated by the Native Land Court (the proper tribunal), the lands having, by abandonment, reverted to the original position of Native lands (vide New Zealand Settlements Act and Amendments). 3. That offers of settlement by the Government have been and are now construed into promises. 4. That by absence of written memoranda of such offers or promises, the Government have unwittingly diverged from previous understandings and arrangements. 5. That Te Whiti views the present survey with a special dissatisfaction, because, if Waimate Plains pass out of Native hands, he thinks that Parihaka will follow. (He and his people have no claim or right to the Waimate District, it being within the Ngatiruanui boundary.) 6. Natives on lands reserved near Patea, have been told by some officers of the Government that the lands in question belong to the Crown, and that they only occupy them on sufferance. These are some of the principal matters that have been brought under my notice by Natives in the country between here and Whanganui. Mr. Parris tells me that ho offered Titokowaru all the land between Waingongoro and Inaha streams as a reserve, and to make others; that it was also understood that money should be paid for land retained by the Government. He says he would give the Government considerable information on the question. I would suggest that the Government should at once appoint a Commission, partly composed of Europeans and partly of Natives, with power to go into the whole question of confiscated lands, commencing at Waitotara and terminating at the southern boundary of the Tataraimaka Block, for the purpose of confirming previous awards, ascertaining proper persons for the Crown grants, taking evidence as to previous offers and promises of the Government or its officers, and making such recommendations as they think fit. I believe Te Whiti and others would come in to this arrangement. His countenance wore a very eager expression when ho asked mo if I had authority from the Government to offer him a part of the land. To Whiti could bo dealt with separately for Parihaka, and Titokowaru for "Waimate Plains. James Mackay.

No. 12. Telegram from Hon. Mr. Sheehas to Mr. Mackay, in reply to the preceding Telegrams (No. 10 and No. 11 ante).

To James Mackat, Esq., New Plymouth. sth April, 1879. Thanks to yourself and [Captain] Blake for the work done. Tour messages did not reach me until late in the evening, especially the latter one. This morning I have been busy discussing their contents with Sir George Grey. He expressed himself gratified at the full nature of the report. I have given only a, precis of it to the papers, as I do not consider full publicity at present judicious. There is evidently, I think, in the speeches made by Te Whiti, a desire to discuss the question and come to some settlement. The ground which he takes up occasionally convinces mo that ho does not feel entirely comfortable : for instance, his reference to the line through various cultivations that had* been settled with Waru himself on the morning of my first day at Parihaka. I gave orders of the most peremptory character to alter the line forthwith. So much for the report. Now for your suggestions. Some of them I entirely agree with, and have already given instructions to act upon; such as defining and settling tho questions of reserves in the blocks which have already been dealt with. I proposed to Cabinet some six months ago that an officer, with powers of a Native Land Court Judge, should bo sent to finally settle all reserve questions. While our own instructions in regard to Waimate have been of the most liberal character, we could not give effect to them until the Natives had pointed out the reserves which they specially require. Hitherto they have declined to do this. We have now done it provisionally for them. Every fishing-place, the mouth of every stream, every burial-place, and all their cultivations, are reserved, besides a large lot of other sections as well. The sale-map is speckled over with reserves. Tho announcement of the sale has not been withdrawn : only a subsidiary announcement as to deferred-payment lands. As to promises said to have been made by Government officers and Sir Donald McLean, I can only say that they have no existence in the official records, and the evidence of the witnesses to the alleged oral promises is totally contradictory each of the other. I stand to my proposals, and am prepared to recommend reserves to the extent of 25 per cent., or even a little more, over the whole area. Money compensation as well will be paid ; only we must do our best to secure the application of the money to the fencing and improving of the reserves. Special