39   G.—1.

bank. He (Raika) referred the matter to the Chief Judge, who requested him to send a copy of the deposit-receipt of the bank, which he will have received by this tune. He (Raika) thinks it would be well if the money were forthcoming, in order that lie can pay for this house for the children. The house is finished, and the carpenter has been good enough not to press him very much for money. He has applied to the carpenter for the bill, but has net been able to pay it.

Himipura said he wished to speak about the money that he should get out of Te Aroha Block. Previous to the investigation of this block by the Court it was arranged that he was to have this money, but before he got paid the money the land passed the Court, and he was absent, having received no notice that the land was to be put through the Court. When the land went through the Court, all his claims on it wont with the land, extending up to a portion of the block called Manawaru, which was given by the Government to some other Natives than the owner. The way that land was put through the Court had the appearance of robbing the Natives. He would like to know whether his name was to the original deed of cession of the Aroha I Block; he is waiting to know if he is to go to get the money; he wishes that the Government should pay hint now in satisfaction of his claims that were lost to him by that investigation, of which lie did not receive any notice.

Parata te Mohu spoke in connection with the gold field at Manaia, which is owned by them: it is land that has not yet been passed through the Court or surveyed. When the Hauraki gold field was put through the Court there were no surveys then, and the money was paid to Taipari and some others. He does not want, to have that block surveyed; and if there is any money to be paid on account of that gold field he wishes it to be paid to himself for the people. The only surveys on it are the surveys of men for their claims. He has no money to pay for the surveys.

W. H. Taipari complained that they were to be rated on account of the road for a distance of forty or fifty miles from Tararu right to To Aroha. lie referred to the county road. These are people of whom it was said they were not to be charged any rates. What Matiu said with regard to the matter is right, and also his statement about the fish. He (Taipari) has seen his lawyers about it, and asked them to summons the men who get the fish; the lawyer said that the best way would be to send a petition to Parliament about it.

Mr. Ballance: Taipari has made a very good proposal—that the grievances which have not now been dealt with should be held over till I return again. I think, however, that you have brought, forward a pretty good list of grievances, and if you get them answered you ought to be pretty well satisfied. I can conceive no grievance which you have not introduced to-day. You have referred to so many that you have introduced the same thing over and over again. I will begin by referring to the grievances brought forward by Hoani Nahe. I can hardly call them grievances, because they are reasonable requests. I am sorry that the Volunteer corps has not been maintained in this district; but I am glad to hear that, although you are not still enrolled, you are acting the part of Volunteers. I would like to say more upon this question of volunteeri rig, but I have not time. Hoani has asked that two guns, which were paid for, should be allowed to be retained by the Volunteers of Hauraki. I think that is a very proper request. I am quite willing they should retain them; in fact, since they have paid for them, they may be considered their own. As to the request for a target, that also I shall grant. Hoani has referred to the land leased by the Europeans; that matter I shall look into. He wishes to have the Native Land Court as quickly as possible, but thinks that no land should be brought before it which is in dispute. I do not know what he alludes to; because after all most land that is brought before the Native Land Court is in dispute. I have said that the Native Committee may materially assist in settling these disputes, so that, when the land does come before the Court, there will be little difficulty. Pepene has referred to some land at Te Aroha, and be thinks that the Government should not stop the hearing; he shows great confidence in the Land Court, and is willing that the Land Court should settle the dispute between himself and the Government. He also refers to another block of land called Tiepa, and is willing that the Land Court should also there decide. It is a very fair challenge on his part, and I accept the challenge: the matter will not be stopped, but will be allowed to be settled by the Land Court. If the Land Court awards the land to the Natives, well and good. Then, he referred to the hot springs at Te Aroha, and thinks that the agreement has been broken, on the ground that a small charge is made to the Natives for admission to the springs, but the charge only applies to some of the springs; the others are free to all. Then, in the case where the charge is made, no distinction is made between the Europeans and the Natives. The charge is a very trifling one, and has been put on simply to pay the cost of the improvements which have been made. The springs have been enclosed and made private for those who use and enjoy thorn. Why should the Natives therefore refuse to pay a small sum when the Europeans are willing? I hope they will look at this matter in a reasonable light, and see that what has been done is a. very reasonable and fair thing. I do not agree with him that the agreement has been broken. They are open for everybody. The charge that has been made is only to recoup the cost which has been incurred in improving the springs which attract people to the district, and really enhance the value of the land which belongs to the Natives. Now, Tamati has alluded to the county road, and thinks there should be no rates upon the land. I am aware that there are no rates now imposed on it, but the law requires that, when the titles of Natives are individualized, then rates may be charged, and the reason is this: that the road improves the value of the land, whether it belong to Europeans or to Natives. If the Native lands derive benefit from the roads, why should they not contribute to maintain them? But it was said that au agreement was made that no rates should be charged when the land was first handed over. I cannot understand that such an agreement should have been made, because no private person has a right to say that the law shall not be enforced. I think, therefore, it is only reasonable that, when the Native obtains his title to the land, he should stand in exactly the same position as the European. Wherever I have gone the Natives have made that one request invariably—that there should be no distinction made between them and the Europeans. With regard to the land that has not been passca through the Court, or which is held by a great number of people and cannot be used, that is a different