3

G.—7

And, in respect of your inquiry under question 1, if you find that the said confiscations or any of them were in fact excessive, having regard to the matters which hereinbefore you are directed to take into consideration, you shall report what compensation in money should in your opinion be made in respect of such excess of confiscation, and shall further report whether the amount of such compensation should be appropriated for the benefit of any special person, tribe, or hapu, or (having regard to the difficulty of present ascertainment of title) should be appropriated in such manner that it may be applied for the benefit of all the Natives of the North Island of New Zealand. And you are hereby further authorized to inquire into the claims and allegations made by the respective petitioners in the petitions referred to in the Schedule hereto so far as such claims and allegations are not covered by the preceding terms of this Commission and to make such recommendation thereon as appear to accord with good conscience and equity in each case. And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you the said Sir William Alexander Sim to be the Chairman of the said Commission. Any you are hereby authorized and required to conduct any inquiry under these presents at such times and places as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise such persons as you think capable of affording you information on any of the matters aforesaid, and to call for and examine all such documents as you deem necessary to afford you the fullest information on any such matters ; and you or any two of you shall and may from time to time proceed to the execution hereof and of any power, matter, or thing herein contained. And using all diligence you are required to report to me under your hands and seals not later than the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven, your opinion on the aforesaid matters. And you are hereby strictly charged and directed that you shall not at any time publish or disclose, save to me in pursuance of these presents, or by my directions, the contents of purport of any report so made or to be made by you. And it is hereby declared that these presents shall continue in full force although your inquiry is not regularly continued from time to time or from place to place. And, lastly, it is hereby further declared that these presents are issued tinder and subject to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908. SCHEDULE. Bay op Plenty District. 1. The prayer of the petition of Te Kapo-o-tc Rangi Keehi and 237 others, for the return of the confiscated land of the Tuhoe Tribe. (Petition No. 324/1920, and file N.D. 1921/528.) 2. The prayer of the petition of Te Hurinui Apanui and 605 others, for inquiry as to the lands in the Whakatane District confiscated by the Government. (Petition No. 142/1922, and file N.D. 1922/408.) 3. The prayer of the petition of Pouawha Meihana and 23 others, that the lands confiscated from them at Whakatane owing to the murder of James Fulloon be returned to them. (Petition No. 169/1922, and file N.D. 1922/409.) 4. The prayer of the petition of Wi Duncan and 42 others, that a grant of land may be made for the use of the Ngamaihi Tribe. (Petition No. 358/1922, and file N.D. 1922/451.) 5. The prayer of the petition of Reweti Rewiri Manuariki, for the return of land taken by the Government when the Ngatiawa lands were confiscated. (Petition No. 45/1924, and file N.D. 1924/398.) 6. The prayer of the petition of Te Naera te Houkotuku and 10 others, for relief in respect of hardships imposed by the confiscation of their lands. (Petition No. 149/1924, and file N.D. 1924/397.) 7. The prayer of the petition of R. te Hura Umukohukohu and 15 others, for inquiry into their positions as landless members of the hapus. (Petition No. 129/1923, and file N.D. 1924/237.) 8. The prayer of the petitions of Mehaka Watene and 168 others, Paku Eruera and 210 others, and Whareora Renata and others with respect to certain confiscated lands claimed by the Whakatohea Tribe. (Petitions Nos. 630/1914, 235/1915, and 336/1917.)