Investigation of Title.

After the application a preliminary inquiry should be made by the Judge on the spot, not in a formal manner, but by his visiting every neighbouring settlement. At this preliminary inquiry he should make an abstract of the title of parties interested. He should also record names of tribe or tribes and of hapus, and the names of as many as possible of the persons of each hapu, including heads of families interested. This would form the basis of a register of all the Natives of the district which he might obtain, in due time, as a natural consequence of his land investigations. He would thus do all the work which is now being done by agents paid by Natives, and he would do it much better; for, instead of fomenting jealousies of opponents as is now done by different agents, backed by the money of speculators, he might facilitate friendly compromise, at the same time that a great saving of expense would be effected.

If, after preliminary inquiry, the Court thought fit to proceed, a survey of the land should be made, after which a day should be named for more formal trial at a place the most convenient for all parties interested; and printed notices, naming the boundaries of the land, &c., and time and place of formal trial, should be posted on the land and at the neighbouring settlements, and otherwise freely circulated. At the second inquiry the Judge and Assessors should go into the case thoroughly themselves, no counsel or agent being allowed to take any part in the proceedings. English counsel are useless in a Court not constituted for the administration of English law.