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and portion of the boundary of the Ahu-o-turanga block on the North, and Kaihinu West Block on the East, being in fact properly a portion of the Kaihinu West Block. Both these blocks are offered for sale. Huru te Hiaro also gave me an application on behalf of Muaupoko for land before mentioned on which they asked for an advance of £200; situate at source of Waingawa and Waiohine rivers in the Wairarapa.

I also obtained an application from Ngatiwhakatere for Kaihinu West.
They said they had already forwarded an application, but I thought it advisable to have another one drawn up.

The Oroua block in this locality, extending North of Manawatu river and East of Oroua river, estimated to contain 20,000 acres, is also offered for sale by Rangitane and Ngatiraukawa at Te Awahuri conjointly.

Mr. Carkeek is at present engaged finishing survey of this block.

On the 14th I returned to Foxton. I was anxious to see Ihakara Tukumaru in reference to his claim South of Kaihinu, but he was absent at Waikawa. I was informed, however, that he intended to sell.

On Friday, 15th, I left Foxton, accompanied by Hoani Meihana to visit the Ngatihuia at Poroutawhao on my return journey. These people, like the other hapus of Ngatiraukawa, expressed their willingness that the law should decide the Horowhenua question and all existing differences and claims to land as between them and the Muaupokos and others of the original inhabitants of the coast. I obtained from them an application to the Court for an investigation of their title to the land in their vicinity, from the sea coast on the west to the boundary of the 70-mile bush purchase on the East, and portion of Ihakara’s claims on the North. They offer the mountains only for sale; but I told them the Government would require a strip of the flat at the base of the hills for location of settlers and for roads. Although they did not fully consent to this, I believe there will be little difficulty in obtaining a portion of the flat for these purposes.

The soil of the lower hills all along the coast is remarkably good and well adapted for cultivation. Our business at this place being concluded, we came on to Horowhenua the same day, at which place we arrived late at night. We could do nothing here with the Muaupokos. They objected as I said before, to send any applications to the Land Court, until they had consulted their friends who were absent at Whanganui. They are in favour of selling the hills, and would sell if the Government would acknowledge their claim, and purchase without requiring their title investigated by the Court.

We slept at this settlement that night, and in the morning (Saturday 16th) we came on to the Ngatiraukawa settlement west of the lake. We found here Watene Tewaewae, Te Roera Hukiki, Nrehana te Paea, Nepia Taratoa, and many others.

These are the people whose houses were burnt by Ngatiapa and others, which act very nearly resulted in bloodshed, and a serious collision of the tribes. These people too, stated their readiness to refer to the Court for adjudication all disputes relative to land claims. I obtained from them an application to the Court for investigation of their claim to land from the coast eastward to the boundary of the Seventy Mile Bush. They offer for sale a portion of the level land as well as the mountains.

We remained at this place all day, and in the evening came to Otaki, accompanied by the greater part of the Natives from Horowhenua and one or two of the Muaupokos, who came to hear the discussions of Ngatiraukawa. On the 18th, 19th and 20th, the Otaki people were engaged in disputing and wrangling amongst themselves about the claims of the respective hapus. Eventually I obtained nine applications from them, comprising claims extending from Kukutauaki, the southern boundary of Tamihana te Ranparaha’s run, Te Horo, as claimed by him, to Kaihinu West block of Ngatiwhakatere on the north, and from the coast eastward to the Seventy Mile Bush purchase.

Matene te Whiwhi and his sister Rakapa Topiora, wife of Karanama te Kapukai, applied for the whole of the above district in one application on behalf of the Ngatiraukawa people generally. In it is included Ihakara’s claim, south of Kaihinu west; they admit Ihakara’s title and say it can be marked off by the Court. The other hapus do not agree to this sweeping investigation, and each has applied to have their claims investigated separately.

In some cases the boundaries of one party infringe on those of another, and in others two applications are sent in by different parties in respect of the same block.

Ihakara had returned to Manawatu whilst I was inland. I did not therefore see him, but I was informed at Otaki by Nepia Taratoa and Kiharoa te Meroati, who claim with him, that he intended to sell to the Government but would reserve his land until all the others had sold. I explained to them the necessity of getting their claims investigated at the next sitting of the Court, and gave them a form of application to get filled up. They went off to Manawatu to see him on the subject, promising to send the application on to me at Wellington.

If I do not receive it shortly I shall write him, as I wish himself to join in the application.

Whilst I was at Otaki, the Ngatitehihi and Ngatiwehiwehi Natives of Waikawa and Ohau sent me a message to visit them at their settlement. I expected they would have come to Otaki, but they objected to do so, fearful of some advantage being gained over them by the others. This feeling of jealousy is prevalent among them all along the whole coast, not only in respect of Rangitane and Ngatiapa tribes, but amongst themselves also. Matene te Whiwhi and Tamihana te Ranuparaha strongly