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getting them killed, and I want to knoAv if the Commissioners can give any explanation regarding it. There are rabbits on my place, and the Government employ people to kill these rabbits. 1 want to know Avhere the thing is going to end. The Government may eventually collar the land for killing the rabbits. If I send people to kill the rabbits I want to understand what the consequences Avould be—whether there is any liability to be met hereafter on that account. Mr. Bees : The Commissioners have no power to deal with the question of the rabbits. Hori Patens : 1 Avish to speak about some of the land that was returned by the Government to the loyal Natives in 1863, under the Settlements Act. Some portions of that land were reserved. I do not know what the area was. The CroAvn grant was prepared in the names of two people. The Crown grant set forth that these tAA'O people were to be trustees for two hapus. Then, when the people of these tAvo hapus wished their names to be inserted as owners in respect of that land, the Native Land Court had no power to do so. I sent in an application in regard to some other land under the same Act. The land came under the Native Equitable Owners Act. Under that Act the Native Land Court Avas applied to to act, and I wish, then, that similar provision may be. made with regard to the block I have mentioned —that the Native Land Court may have poAver to include those Avho are entitled to be put in. That is all I have to say about that. With regard to the Native Land Court, the great objection to that Court is as to the fees. One of the Commissioners is a member of Parliament. Can he tell me anything about the new list of Assessors ? Mr. Bees : Members of Parliament do not knoAv that. It is only the Government themselves who have to do with it. Hipirini te Whetu : lam a Native Assessor, and belong to Rotorua. There is a certain block of land near Maketu, called Papamoa. It Avas purchased by the Government in 1887. There was something wrong about the Government purchase. Perhaps the Commissioners are aware that persons who were concerned with that transaction were imprisoned. Some of those who sold to the Government had a small interest in it; some had large interests. The Government now wishes to cut out the portion it purchased, and the Court that sits this month at Tauranga has to deal with the subdivision. Can the Commissioners have anything to do with the sale of that land? Mr. Bees : Impossible. It does not come AAithin our instructions from the Governor. Hemopo Hikarahui: There are three blocks of land in the same difficulties as the one that has just been mentioned. There are, for instance, the OruaAvaihaka Block, and another one. I mention the names of these blocks so that you may mention them to the Government. I also think some Court should deal with these disputes at Taupo. Hokiri: I wish to ask the Commissioners if Avhat has been said could be published and circulated amongst the Natives ? The reason why I ask that it may be published is that the Commissioners are going to the Bay of Islands, then to Otorohanga, and then to Wanganui and Napier. Hoav will the Natives at those places knoAv Avhat subjects they have to consider and speak about, unless the Commissioners publish the purport of Avhat they have explained? A great many of the NatiA'es there may agree to what the Commissioners suggested. We were greatly pleased indeed at what you said last night. It was indeed excellent. I think if it Avere printed and circulated the Natives of the whole country Avould agree to it. Mr. Bees : We will have what Avas said printed and circulated among the Natives. Hokiri : I want it sent to Maketu, Matata, Tauranga, Taupo, Rotorua. One of the members of the Commission represents the Gisborne and PoA7erty Bay side, so presumably he will be able to look after that district, and the Natives will see what is done. As soon as possible after the Commissioners go back to Auckland they could have it done, and if copies were then sent to the Natives they would have them distributed. Some of the people from that part of the country are here noAV, and are most anxious to have it so that they may see AAliat is said by the Commissioners, and they will send the printed copies to their chiefs at Rotorua, Taupo, and other parts. It will be a great mistake if the Commissioners do not have it done. Aperahama Patene : I Avould like to have some of the printed slips for my part of the country. Mr. Bees : It shall be done. Mr. Mackay and myself Avould like to meet the Natives again this evening, so that Ave may have an opportunity of putting questions to them about various things. Hokiri : I wish to assure the Commissioners that if they could go to Rotorua the whole of the Natives there Avould support what they (the Commissioners) have said. I know 7 the ideas of the chiefs there. These matters Avere mentioned at Rotorua by Wi Pere and Mr. Carroll, and the whole of the chiefs there thoroughly indorsed those vieAvs. Of course the people here belong to different tribes from those to which the people there belong. Their thoughts may therefore be different from those of the Arawa people. Mr. Bees : The Arawa people have had time to think over these things, and the people here have not.
The Commissioners (Messrs. W. L. Rees, M.H.R., and Thomas Mackay) met the chiefs of the Ngatituwharetoa Tribe at 7.30 o'clock the same evening in the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, the Public Hall being otherwise engaged. Mr. Bees: The Commissioners desire to meet this evening some of the leading Taupo Natives, who we are glad to see present. Mr. Mackay and myself are obliged to go away to-morrow morning; and, although we may come back to Cambridge some future time, yet it is possible the Taupo people may -then be away. All the matters are of such great importance that Ido not like to lose the opportunity of speaking again before Ave go. The principal matter is about the dealing with the Native lands for the future. A certain part of their own land the Maoris must want for their own occupation. Some of their people may be skilful enough to manage sheep-farms and things of that sort. Lands for such purposes they would, then, keep. But there will still be large blocks of land—some flat land, some hill land,
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