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Mr. Bees: It is not for this Commission to do that: it will merely recommend the Government to employ the best men they can get. Captain Blake: In all blocks of land brought before the Native Land Court, not only must the outer boundaries be accurately laid down, but the internal features as well must be correctly shown and fixed by minor triangulation and topographical survey ; the work of surveying the outer boundaries to be a charge against the land, the minor triangulation and topographical survey to be paid for by the Government, and to be a charge against the Survey Department; the Court to have power to order surveys to be made, so that for any land brought forward the Court might order survey required to be done to be made forthwith. The country should be divided into districts, and a Court appointed to each—a Judge, an Assessor, an Interpreter, and a Clerk, the Clerk to act as Begistrar. The Head Office and the Court should be fixed at one suitable place in each district; but the Court might, for special reasons, adjourn the hearing of any particular case to some other place more convenient to the Court and the parties interested. For instance, Oruamatua, at Inland Patea, might be gazetted to be heard at Hastings, but the Court should have power to adjourn to Patea, and have the case heard as near as possible to the land to be dealt with. A map for each district to be made at once, showing all Native land Avithin the said district on a large scale, together with a schedule or a reference-book stating the present condition of each block or allotment. Mr. Bees : Such a map as is now being prepared on the motion proposed by Mr. T. K. Macdonald in the House of last session. Mr. Carroll: Captain Blake means a map for each of these suggested districts. Captain Blake: I do not know whether I should make any suggestion as to my idea of what should constitute the several districts. Mr. Bees : Oh, yes ! ' Captain Blake : I Avould arrange the thing on the basis of the Judges whom Ave have now. These are the districts that I should suggest : (1) Wellington and South Island, (2) Waikato and Thames, (3) Wanganui and Taranaki, (4) HaAvke's Bay and Inland Patea, (5) Gisborne and Wairoa, (6) North or Ngapuhi District, (7) East Coast and Botorua, each District Court to sit continuously, going steadily on with its Avork, settling and determining papatipa, subdivision, individualising, succession and equitable owners' cases; causing the necessary panui (notices) to be issued from time to time as required. The procedure in Court proceedings should be simplified; occupation to be the crucial test in determining NatiA'e title to land. In all papatipu, rehearings and subdivision claims the claimants shall open by stating fully in writing the grounds of their case, and a complete list of the names of those whom they admit to be OAvners. We have often started with an inquiry as to the hapu claiming the land, when, after all, it turned out that the claimants were only two or three men of the hapu, and, in some cases, only one person. Each party of counter-claimants should state fully in Avriting the nature of their claims and the names of those Avhom they seek to be admitted as owners with themselves, such Avriting to be handed in under cover to the presiding Judge. When the claimants' and counter-claimants' statements are so handed into Court, then the said claims and list of names should be read over, after which the same may be amended and rearranged by the Court, so as to consolidate the parties and make each distinct and clear. The Court should have power to arrange these people into parties. In the course of my experience in the Court I have often seen three or four cases set up which really ought to have been formed into one. After the parties have been arranged ample time should be allowed them, so as to afford them an opportunity of coming to terms outside the Court by forming a joint committee from all the parties in the case to discuss terms and make arrangements on behalf of the whole number. Any agreement that might be come to by a majority the Court should have power to accept, so far as those agreeing are concerned, and then the Court could proceed to inquire into and deal with the issues that could not be agreed upon, and give its judgment upon the same, the majority being then in the position of claimants and the objectors in that of counter-claimants, thus leaving only tAA To cases to be fought out. When judgment is given as to who are the oAA'ners of any block, the Court should forthAvith call upon the owners to submit schedules as to hoAV they wish the land divided, and as to how much land each family group or each individual is entitled to, giving them ample time to agree amongst themselves. And, should they fail in coming to a unanimous agreement, then the Court should take the matter in band and settle the questions at issue betAveen them, always providing that if there is a majority one Avay they should be taken as the claimants, the minority consequently being placed in the position of counter-claimants. There should not be separate hearings for the purpose of ascertaining title to Native land, as hitherto has been the case. The procedure should be, a first hearing, then subdivision, and next the individualising of interests. All should bo done at the one hearing, whilst all matters connected with the inquiry are fresh in the mind of the Court. All applications for rehearing ought to be made at once by the party or parties feeling aggrieved by the judgment, and the same should be inquired into immediately, or as soon after as can possibly be arranged by the Chief Judge. There is no reason at all why any one should be alloAved three months to find out that he has a grievance. Behearing cases should be heard by the Chief Judge and a Judge from some other district. Native agents should remain as at present provided for in the rules of the Native Land Court. lam sure that agents are of great assistance to the Court, but, being a conductor myself, I leave this matter to be dealt with by the Native Land Court Judges, as they are the proper persons to give an opinion upon it. Succession cases should be determined in accordance with Maori custom. No Maori ought to be allowed to " will" away to the detriment of his natural heirs his interest in any Native land where his share has not been individualised ami is not held under separate Crown grant or Land Transfer title free of any restrictions. Sections 44 and 48, &c, in the Native Land Court Act of 1886 should be immediately repealed, and never again reA'ived in the statute-book, as under them any sort of document has been recognised as a will,