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Mr. Bees.] This is exactly the class of cases which Avould come before the Court which Ave intend to propose should be set up. The Maoris would then bring all such cases before it ?—I wish, then, to speak with respect to deceased persons, and the relations who apply to be successors of the persons deceased. At the adjudication it was found that these people had the right to be so appointed, and the Court issued an order accordingly in their favour. But, although that order was issued,"it has transpired that there is really no land at all. I will explain why it is that the Court says there is no land. These deceased persons had the right to the Maungaroa Block at the time it was adjudicated. The Judge did not give any reason why there was no land there for the Native successors. Horiana : I also wish to offer a word of explanation with reference to this matter. I appeared before you, Mr. Bees, and Jury, about this matter some time ago, seeking AA'hat was the interest of Peti te Owai. She went to Whatahoro (Jury), and went to the Begistry Office, and found the shares all right. We made application to have the case heard. Mr. Bees.] There is a number of cases like that, which I was not able to look after when I went to Gisborne. We are going to propose that a Court shall be set up which shall take all these cases and go right through them from beginning to end and finish them. Then it will go through all these things, sitting in the various places, calling all these people up, examining the deeds and seeing what is right, and making orders about them. If that Court finds that Peti te Owai did not sell, of course she will have to get her share ? —ln the beginning, when these sales were commenced, we, the children at the time, did not understand this selling business. Mr. Bees : The Commission does not want to stop Horiana or anybody else from stating a grievance, but Ave have already made up our minds to ask that for these cases a Court shall be constituted to hear them. So, if a dozen persons were to come before us it does not make any difference. We are already going to do what I have indicated. Then the Maoris will get full notice that the Commission for the purpose is appointed, and they can then bring their cases before the Commission. Henare Matua: I wish to speak with regard to the agents who have appeared before the Commissioners. lam not at all clear that these people should give indications as to AA'hat laws should be made for us. The position is this : that they appear in our cases in Court. We have Captain Blake and others engaged to conduct our cases, and for this reason I do not see that they have a right to state Avhat laws should be made for us. Ido not think it is a matter Avhich concerns them, seeing that it is not a question of the Government passing a law to deal with them. The cases are ours, and it is we who ask Captain Blake to appear for us in the Court. With regard to what Mr. Grace has said, I know him. He belongs to Ngatimaniapoto. Mr. Grace is satisfactory in what he said, but there may be some other reason in it with regard to Ngatimaniapoto than that which appears. Perhaps Grace and the Ngatimaniapoto will make application to the Parliament. That is all I have to say about that. lam now going to make clear to the Commissioners our views with regard to certain questions that were asked. There were eight questions submitted, and the matter was considered last evening by the Committee, and the replies they have to furnish. The replies they Avill have to give will not he from the Committee alone, but from the Avhole of the Committees on the East Coast. That is why the Committee think some little time should be allowed them to consider their replies, so that all the chiefs of Ngatikahungunu can join in and confirm what is agreed to. When the people of this part of the country have assembled, and these things are submitted to them, it can then be knoAvn that this is the opinion of those people. The one portion that they have come to a definite conclusion upon is that the Native Committees should be furnished Avith extended powers, enabling them to adjudicate upon their land : that is because the Natives have had injustice inflicted upon them through the operation of the Native Land Court. And the Natives now think they should have this poAver given them, so that they may deal with their own affairs. The Native Land Court has been in operation for a great number of years, and no good has resulted to the Natives from it : that is the first point that is laid before the Commissioners. But the other questions will be considered when there is a great assemblage of the people of Heretaunga and Wairoa. This is Avhat I rose to explain to the Commissioners. Pene te Ua: I Avish to state that I uphold the two subjects that have been mentioned to the Commissioners to-day. The first thing that we object to is what the Native agents have said in the presence of the Commissioners, because we, the Maoris, do not think all these agents should lay down principles to the Commissioners on which laws should be made. What the agents can talk about is as to their fees—whether they should not be reduced. But the question of the land belongs to the Maoris. That is why I object altogether to the Native agents saying AA'hat sort of laAvs should be passed, and particularly so when this new thing has come before us —that is to say, the Commission AA'hich has been specially appointed to elicit our views. Ido not see why agents or lawyers should appear before the Commission and say what laws should be made. I wish to bring to a close what I have to say upon that subject by stating that a great number of Natives will indorse Avhat I have said. I Avish noAV to speak about what Henare Matua referred to—that is, the matter which is noAV under the consideration of the Committee ; and I support what he mentioned in that connection. There is a great number of chiefs in this district that have not been present. They are absent from this place. That is the reason why I support Avhat Henare Matua said about having the subjects which you submitted to us relegated to a large meeting of the people. The chiefs will sign their replies to the questions that have been submitted to them by the Commissioners. That is all I have to say upon that point. Mohi te Ataihikoia (Chairman of the District Committee): Salutations to the Commissioners! lam very pleased and glad at this new work that has been done by the present Government. The first thing I would like to say would be to ask the Commissioners not to give effect to what the Native agents said here to-day with regard* to having laws made, because what they have recommended to the Commissioners is the very thing that the Natives themselves are complaining about. That is, then, the reason why I think the Commissioners should Avait until they know what