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6. Draft Order in Council under the New Zealand Settlements Amendment Act, 1864. Whereas by the New Zealand Settlements Amendment Act, 1804, it is enacted that in any case in which, under the New Zealand Settlements Act, 1803, tho Compensation Court shall have refused to award compensation, or shall have awarded less compensation than may have been claimed, or in any other case if the Governor in Council shall be of opinion that the circumstances of the case would render it expedient that compensation, or increased compensation, should be awarded, it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to award and direct that compensation, or increased compensation, shall be paid to any person or persons who, in the judgment of the Governor in Council, shall be reasonably entitled thereto : Now, therefore, His Excellency the Governor, in exercise of the above-recited power, doth hereby, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the, colony, award unto persons of the several hapus of tribes named in the schedule hereto, being absentees to whom the Compensation Court has refused to award compensation, land within the several districts lately occupied by members of the said hapus or tribes respectively, to the extent set opposite the name of the said hapus or tribes severally, to be held jointly by such persons in each hapu or tribe respectively, subject to such supervision as they may hereafter agree upon : Provided that the land in the case of each hapu or tribe may be in one or in several lots, as the Colonial Secretary may determine : Provided further that the Governor may hereafter make grants of the said land to such person or persons on behalf of the several hapus, or in their own right, as may be agreed upon by the persons entitled under this Order, being not more than ten grantees in one grant. SCHEDULE. Acres. Ngatimutunga Ngatirahiri Ngatitana Ngatiawa Puketapu .. .. .. .. .. .. . . Taranaki [Note. —The amounts do not, appear in the draft Order.] 7. Minute of tho Hon. Native Minister. The Attorney-General is requested to settle this Order (in Council). 20th July, 1867. J. C. Richmond. 8. Minute of the Attorney-General. Hon. Minister for Native Affairs. I doubt whether the Governor has authority, by Order in Council, to do anything but award an amount in money, to be paid to an individual person or to persons. Ido not think that the Act contemplates claims from tribes and hapus. If the claimants agree to take land before the award is made by the Governor, lam disposed to think that such award might be satisfied in land, if the Colonial Secretary thought fit. 2nd August, 1867. J. Prendergast. 9. Minute of the Undeb-Secbetaby. Hon. Mr. Richmond. If this cannot bo done in this way, 1 presume it will be competent to incorporate the proposal in the Bill which will be brought in for the giving of reserves to rebels. Bth August, 1807. W. Rolleston. 10. Minutes by the Under-Secretary after the passing of the Confiscated Lands Act, 1807. The Attorney-General should be requested to revise this Order under the Act of 1867. W. Rolleston. Referred to the Assistant. Law Offioer. By command. 30th October, 1807. W. Rolleston. 11. Precis from Notes of the Meeting of Native Absentee Claimants, oth July, 1867. At a meeting of the absentee claimants held outside the Native Office, at Wellington, 6th July, 1867, — Mr. Richmond explained that, although the Compensation Court declined to recognize the claims of those long absent from the country, Parliament was petitioned to recognize those claims. A committee was accordingly appointed to inquire into the. ease of petitioners. The committee, not wishing to reverse, the decision of tho Court, asked the Governor to extend his kindness to the people interested, he having discretionary power to give more compensation than was allowed by law, if he saw lit. Mr. Richmond said that, as another Court had allowed land to some Ngatiruanui absentees, the Government would do as much for tho Taranaki absentees ; and therefore pains had been taken to ascertain the number of claimants, and the hapus to which they belonged. The amount of land to be given to the five principal hapus— Ngatitama, Ngatimutunga, Ngatiawa, Puketapu, and Taranaki —was road, and a promise given that it would be laid off in blocks to suit their convenience. Bush land was to be given to all except the Taranaki, who were to get land partly bush and. partly open. The parties interested were to be allowed to subdivide their land as they pleased without Government interference. For special services and other reasons, grants were promised to the following chiefs : Te Puni, Wi Tako, Hohi Ngaponga, and Hemi Parai ; and Mr. Richmond concluded by saying that the statement, and promises made them by him would be printed and distributed, so that, the Natives might remember them. Hemi Parai said he would not allow the Court to meddle with any land south of Hangatah.ua, and said they proposed that all foreigners should be turned off. Mr. Richmond said the Government could not go beyond what he had just said. The land had gone, and tho Governor had not the, power to give it back. The meeting was not one to upset tho decision of the Court, but merely that he might, say how far the Governor would extend his kindness. A discussion then arose as to the cause of the war, the Natives saying it was partly the fault of the Europeans, who would not leave Wi Kingi alone. They also said 100 acres each was not enough. Mr. Richmond said he had watched the progress of events, and considered it idle to discuss the, origin of the war; but pointed out that, as the Queen's officers had a right to go everywhere, Wi Kingi had no right to use force to them when they were sent up to ascertain the facts of a matter in dispute. Mohi Ngaponga declined the 100 acres "so that the Government might be ashamed of their kindness.",

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