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matter ; and I think we should be very cautions before we ask the Natives to pay rates where they cannot use the lent. So far I agree with them. Tamati has also said that one reason why the Natives should not pay rates is because they have no wealth, but the Natives are really more wealthy than the They may not have more money to spend, but they have more land, and land is the great source of wealth in every country in the world. I hope you will turn your land to such account that you May yourselves to be the wealthiest people in the colony. If you squander your land, von will soon be poor: if von use it properly you will have plenty of money, and be able to become wealthy. Reference has been made to certain blocks of land. I have no particulars or facts regarding this land that you have referred to to-day, but in all those eases I shall refer the matter to Mr. Wilkinson, and ask him to make an inquiry into the facts; and then, if there are any real grievances, I will see that they are redressed. I have placed on record all that you have said with regard to those blocks of land to which you have referred. None of your speeches shall be lost sight of; all that von have said wilt he carefully inquired into, and you will hear further with reference to them. The Rev. William Turipona has referred to a lighthouse on land which he claims as his own. I would like to say, with regard to that, that the fact that a lighthouse is erected upon land does not mean that the land has been taken from the Native owners, and therefore, when he saw the lighthouse, it was no evidence that the land had passed from him, if it at the time really belonged to him; but I ate informed that the land does not belong to him, but really belongs to the Crown ; and if the heel does belong to him, it is for him to prove it. I am only giving him the statement which I have received; and, if the land does really belong to him, I have no doubt he will be able to make good his title. The matter of compensation for land taken for the railway has been referred to by Hakipene, and a Government officer told him that he was not prepared to pay the money, if I understood him. I will inquire into this subject, and see that the money, if it is due, is paid over. The Government compensates the Natives for land taken for railways, and, if the land was taken from any Native, the money will be paid to him which has been awarded as compensation. The same remarks will apply to the water-races which have been referred to; I will inquire into that subject, and see that any money which is due is paid over. Matiu Pono and Taipari have referred to fish, and another Native has referred to oysters. This is a matter of law, whether Europeans have a right to fish on the foreshore. They may have a right, for they have a right to fish in the ocean, I will make inquiry, and find out whether really they have any rights or not. I am inclined to think they have rights—that you cannot prevent them by law from catching either fight or oysters. Then, again, reference has been made to roads over the tapet country. I referred to that before, and told you that the surveyors had received instructions to be very cautions where they took roads. In all these matters, if you bring your complaints before the Government Agent, they will be carefully inquired into. Hohepa has applied for a Government medical officer at Coromandel. At one time a small sum was paid to the medical officer there for attending the Natives, but I am told that the climate was so good, or the Natives so very strong, that the services of a medical matt were not really required, and the doctor hail so little to do that the Government thought it was not worth while to pay him £25 a year for doing next to nothing, I congratulate the Natives 'of Coromandel on their satisfactory condition, and T hope that they are not now in a worse state than when the services of the doctor were not required. I may say generally, with regard to the services of medical men, that where the Government find the Natives require the services of a medical man, they are willing to pay for them, and when representations have been made to us that there has, been sickness amongst the Natives, the services of a medical man has always been called in. If we should find, therefore, at any future time that the Natives of Coromandel require the services of a doctor, we shall see that they are placed at their disposal, Te Raika, has referred to the fact that he is trustee for eight children, and asks that the Government shall see about money that is coming to them. I shall make immediate inquiry into that matter, and hasten the payment of the money, so that the house which has been built for them shall be paid for. With regard to the Manaia gold field, I am told that the money cannot be paid until the owners of the land are ascertained. The money is now in the hands of the Warden awaiting the information which will enable him to pay the money to the rightful owners. I shall, therefore, ask Parata to assist in pushing on the survey. He says he has no money for the survey, and that is the reason why it does not go on; but I think there should be no difficulty in getting the money advanced, or inducing some private surveyor to undertake it, if they know that the money is in the hands of the Warden, and will be paid over to them when the survey is made. They have only to arrange that the money shall be deducted for the cost of the survey out of the first moneys coming to them. I have now gone over most of the questions which have been referred to. I have told you that, in reference to those matters that concern the titles of land, they shall be inquired into. I have not now the information at my disposal which would enable me to give you final answers, but none of those subjects shall be neglected. As I have said, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you at no distant period; it may be before the next session of Parliament in June, but I am not certain; it may be deferred until after the session, but I shall be happy to receive from you at all times any letters asking for information or the redress of grievances. I again recommend you to use your Committee for the purpose of assisting you in inquiring into these matters. It is the desire of the Government to encourage and to strengthen these Native Committees, so that they may assist the Government in the work of administration, and be of use to the Native people. I explained to the Committee this morning the larger powers we propose to confer upon them, and they will explain that to you. I hope we shall get on well in future, and that permanent peace and friendly feeling shall be established between the two races. I can assure you that it is the strong desire of the Parliament to make laws which will be of equal benefit to the two races; and when any of you feel that you have suffered an injury, your best recourse is to the law. The Government is strong to assist the weak; and it is my earnest desire to so administer the Native Department that no one shall be able to say we have acted partially or with favour, but that all shall be treated with equal justice.

Mrs. Dipcka Turepona said that she had put in some claims to the Government for some land