PETITIONS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1867 Session I, G-01

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PETITIONS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

SESSION 1867.

WELLINGTON.

1867.

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PETITION OF THE SETTLERS AT RAGLAN, AUCKLAND. To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, The humble Petition of the undersigned Settlers of Raglan, in the Province of Auckland, Shewkth, — That your petitioners have for the last twelve years endeavoured to obtain a fair share of the Provincial Revenue for the purpose of opening up the district by means of roads, but find it so useless appealing to the Auckland Provincial Council for assistance that they have in despair abandoned the practice. That your petitioners limit themselves to representing to your Honourable House the monetary injuries they have received at the hands of the Auckland Provincial Council; but the system of giving away a considerable portion of the land in the district to absentees, and many acts of hasty and unsuitable legislation, are also injuries inflicted on the country districts by the Auckland residents, who, almost without exception, form the Provincial Council, —the honorarium formerly paid to country members having been abolished, obviously with the view of preventing country residents being members of the Council. Many thousands of pounds have been realized from the sale of town and country lands in this district within the last few years, of which, only a very small sum has been expended in opening up the country by means of roads ; consequently, the land is inaccessible to purchasers, and the whole of the revenue derived from this district within the last three years, on account of Customs, Land Sales, and Publicans' Licenses, has been expended in the City of Auckland. That your petitioners believe the present system of the legislation of the Auckland Provincial Council to be injurious to the interests of the Colony, expensive in its working, and its legislation limited to the City of Auckland or within a few miles of it. As an illustration, the following statement of the expenditure of the £500,000 loan to the Province of Auckland is submitted to your Honourable House:— £ s. d. Immigration ... ... ... ... ... 45,000 0 0 Surveys ... ... ... ... ... 7,500 0 0 Native Land Purchase ... ... ... ... 20,000 0 0 General Expenditure ... ... ... £72,500 0 0 Tamalu Bridge ... ... ... ... ... 17,000 0 0 Extinction of Provincial Debentures, Auckland ... ... 45,000 0 0 New Lunatic Asylum „ ... ... 25,000 0 0 Improvement of Stockade „ ... ... 5,000 0 0 Government House „ ... ... 25,000 0 0 Old Supreme Court House site „ ... ... 25,000 0 0 Post Office and Custom House „ ... ... 20,000 0 0 City Lock-up „ ... ... 3,000 0 0 Auckland Water Works „ ... ... 0,000 0 0 Auckland and Drury Railway „ ... ... 117,000 0 0 Works contracted for „ ... ... 9,000 0 0 Excess of Expenditure „ ... ... 8,100 0 0 Contingencies „ ... ... 1,400 0 0 Loan to Auckland Harbour Trust „ ... ... 73,000 0 0 Loan to City of Auckland „ ... ... 28,000 0 0 Expended in Auckland and Suburbs ... ... £407,500 0 0 Mangawai Harbour (loan) ... ... ... ... £500 0 0 Expended in Country Districts ... ... £500 0 0 only. This expenditure shows that the country districts are unrepresented in the Auckland Provincial Council, and do not receive their share of the revenue raised in the Province. That your petitioners see with dismay that the liabilities of the Auckland Province for the ensuing year are greatly in excess of its revenue, and they fear that such reckless expenditure must inevitably end in the bankruptcy and disgrace of the Province. That your petitioners would humbly submit that a practical illustration of the successful working of Municipalities is shown in the adjoining Colony of Victoria, where they have been in existence for the last twelve years, working economically and beneficially under the superintendence of one Central Government.

PETITIONS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

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PETITIONS.

Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will take into consideration ■whether the time has not yet arrived for the abolition of provincial institutions and the formation of Municipalities under the superintendence of the General Government. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. [Here follow twenty-seven signatures.]

No. 2. PETITION OE THE REY. F. C. SIMMONS, M.A. To the Honourable the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, The humble Petition of Frank Churchill Simmons, Master of Arts of the University of Oxford, Sheweth,— 1. That your petitioner is Rector or Head Master of the High School of Otago. 2. That your petitioner has observed amongst a very considerable portion of the Parents of Boys attending the said school a great indifference to higher branches of education, and that through this cause, and on account of the high price which the labour of even a half-instructed boy commands, pupils are usually withdrawn from the said school at an age when it is impossible for them to have received a liberal education ; and further, that, from what your petitioner has heard and seen, he has reason to believe that tho same causes are operating in the same manner throughout tho Colony of New Zealand, as he learns by the reports of Schoolmasters in other Colonies they are in operation in Colonial society elsewhere. 3. That he is convinced that it is for the interest of the whole of the community of this Colony, that some members of it, and if possible those members of it, irrespective of the means of their parents, who are best endowed by nature with ability, should receive the same thorough education which members of the learned professions, and other persons whose means enable them and who are intended to occupy responsible positions, receive in the Mother Country. 4. That he sees small prospect of this desirable end being effected without some encouragement from the State. 5. That although your petitioner hopes to see a University established in New Zealand, yet he is convinced that the time is not yet arrived for founding a University in this Colony, because the moral effect of a University depends to a large extent on the number of the students, and the variety of stations in life, and in some measure of places, from which its students are drawn. 0. That, accordingly, your petitioner believes that a small portion of the Public Funds would bo well employed in maintaining, at one or more of the Universities in the Mother Country, such limited number of the young men of this Colony as should be proved by examination most worthy of becoming the recipients of the public liberality. 7. That your petitioner is convinced that tho benefits accruing to the community would be by no means limited to the improved education of the limited number who might be actually the recipients of the public bouuty; but that many young men would be kept longer at their studies than they now are, or are likely to be, partly through the force of example, partly through the hope of obtaining such an honourable distinction as to be selected from among the youth of the Colony to represent it, as it ■were, in the Universities of the Mother Country; and that it is more than probable that many of those who may be unsuccessful in obtaining these distinctions would, through the spirit of emulation, and the necessities of competition, be also sent home by their friends for the same purpose. 8. That your petitioner feels sure that the cause of learning, and therefore of good government, would be greatly promoted by your Honourable House taking such steps as you may in your wisdom think expedient, for instituting Scholarships, to be open to all young men resident within the Colony of New Zealand, to be obtained by public competition, and tenable during good conduct, at one of the Universities of the United Kingdom. 9. That the ordinary course of an English University is of four years' duration. 10. That as Classics and Mathematics are acknowledged to the best instruments of a liberal education by most of the competent authorities in education, your petitioner is convinced that these branches of study ought to be made the test of excellence by which it should be decided who should be the recipients of the public bounty. Tour petitioner therefore prays that your Honourable House will make such provision as you may see fit for founding Scholarships for the purpose of maintaining young men of this Colony at a University in the United Kingdom. And your petitioner further prays, that he and the other Head Masters of Public Schools in the Colony may be examined by your Honourable House as to tho subjects and limitations of the competition for the said Scholarships. And your petitioner will, as in duty bound, ever pray, &c. Feank Ciiukciiill Simmons, M.A., Oxon., Rector of the High School of Otago.

No. 3. PETITION OF THE MAYOR AND CORPORATION OE QUEENSTOWN. To the Honourable the Speaker and the Honourable the Members of the House of Assembly of the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the Corporation of Queenstoivn, Lake WaJcatipu, Province of Otago,

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Respectfully Sheweth, — 1. That your Memorialists did, in August last, 1860, succeed to office, as Municipal Councillors in lieu of an irresponsible but duly elected Town Committee. 2. That the said Town Committee represented the feelings and views of the population of the Wakatip District at large, and their actions and proceedings were approved of by public meetings. 3. That in August, 1864, before Municipal Government was established in Otago, tho following resolution relating to the establishment of extended country Municipalities was passed : —" That this Committee desire to impress both upon the Colonial Government and the Provincial Council the desirability of endowing up-country Municipalities with either a grant of ground or power to lease the Waste Lands of the Crown for the purpose of obtaining a fixed revenue from the said lands, to bo subject to the control of the Provincial Council." 4. That iu November, 1865, a resolution, in another duly elected Committee, was proposed, as follows :—" That this Committee address the Speaker of the Otago Provincial Council, and express in said Address a hope that at the ensuing session of the Council a resolution will be forwarded passed by that Honorable Council, for transmission to the General Government, approving of the formation of District Councils, endowed with a grant in aid from the territorial revenue, and supplemented with Provincial funds for central trunk lines of "road: The Address to refer to the Borough and Shire Council system at present in operation in the Colony of Victoria. 5. That by another new r Committee the preceding resolutions were further endorsed, and steps ordered to be taken to establish Shire Councils, namely, on the 4th January, 1866. 6. That since the period of January, 1866, up to the election of members of this Council in August of the same year, tho subject has been continually brought forward publicly. 7. That your Memorialists can testify that the said matter has been duly placed in the hands of James Benn Bradshaw, Esquire, member of your Honourable House, to urge upon your attention ; and can further testify that the said James Benn Bradshaw, Esquire, was a member of the said Town Committee, when aforesaid resolutions were passed. 8. That your Memorialists can also testify to the fact that Charles Edward Haughton, Esquire, member of your Honourable House, was duly requested to lay before you the wishes and requirements of this district as above detailed. 9. That they have the greatest confidence that the abovenamed gentlemen can afford your Honourable House every information as to earnest desire of said population to obtain local self-government, in the form of a Shire Council Bill or measure. 10. That your Memorialists have recently pressed upon His Excellency the Governor the value of local self-government; and upon the Honourable Major Richardson, and the Honourable J. C. Richmond, the wishes and requirements of that immense district known as the Wakatip, in this matter. 11. That your Memorialists pray that any District or Shire Council established here may include the area contained and shown on the map hereunto annexed, together with that portion of tho Province including the Nokomai Diggings, bounded by the Mataura River, and running thence to the Von River and so on to Lake Wakatipu,—these areas being the natural boundaries of a district of which Queenstown is the chief centre. 12. That your Memorialists continue to urge as hitherto, that the support of such Shire Councils should be derived from the following sources : — Ist. By a land endowment. 2nd. By revenue received from Crown Lands sales. 3rd. By a system of grants in aid, based upon local taxation. 4th. By revenue received for the letting of Waste Lands. sth. By the letting of lands for depasturing purposes. 6th. By the balance received from Gold Fields revenue, after payment of salaries and administration of justice. 7th. By licenses and fees. 13. That your Memorialists do not ask your Honourable House to pass any pecuniary vote, but press upon your Honourable House the above endowment system. 14. That your Memorialists hope that the Legislature will pass a measure full and clear in its nature, during its present sittings, and thus secure such a district as this from the hurtful effects of a one-sided administration of affairs at the hands of the Government of Dunedin. And as in duty bound your Petitioners will ever pray, &c. J. W. Robeeton, Mayor. ( M. J. Malagham, r ~, j Beudix Hallensteot, councillors < Datid Weaves, ") By procuration, V. John Tuenee, j H. Mandees, Town Clerk.

No. 4. PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF MOUNT BENGER AND MANUHERIKIA DISTRICTS. To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the Inhabitants of Mount Benger and Manuherikia Districts, Humbly Sheweth, — That there is a strong desire on the part of the inhabitants of the above districts to settle therein permanently, provided sufficient facilities were afforded them to do so, by throwing open large quantities of land with that object. 2

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That as at present situated, they are entirely at the mercy of the runholders, one of whom is now imposing a charge of twenty-four (24) shillings per head of cattle per annum for the privilege of grazing, and at the same time restricting the number of beasts to be depastured by any one party to four (4), which your petitioners consider unjust, extortionate, and equal to a prohibitory tax upon industry. That owing to the scattered nature of the Gold Fields population, "The Gold Fields Act, 1866," in making no provision for commonage, and in restricting the quantity of land to be taken up on any one run to five thousand (5000) acres, is totally inadequate to the requirements of your petitioners, chiefly for the following reasons : — That under present regulations your petitioners are permitted to occupy only the limited area of fifty (50) acres for both agricultural and grazing purposes, aud no provision being made in giving facilities for depasturing cattle. That your petitioners earnestly desire to impress upon your Honourable House the urgent necessity there exists for affording the utmost facility for depasturing cattle in combination with agricultural pursuits ; in support of which they would point out the invaluable benefits conferred upon the early settlers of the Province by the system of hundreds. That with the view of encouraging such settlement, your petitioners deem the repeal of the thirty-third and thirty-fourth clauses of "The Gold Fields Act, 1866," absolutely necessary, and in lieu thereof respectfully suggest that the principle of hundreds bo extended to the said district. Tour petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Honourable House will be pleased to take the foregoing facts into its earnest consideration, and adopt such course, with the view of redressing the above grievance, as to it may seem best. And your petitioners will ever pray. [Here follow 576 signatures.]

No. 5. PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE DUNSTAN DISTRICT. To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, The Memorial of the 504 undersigned Landowners, and Householders in the District of the Dunstan, Humbly Peayeth,—■ That a Bill be introduced into your Honourable House for the purpose of providing a means whereby Landowners and Householders may be enabled to obtain the formation of Shire Councils and Municipalities in the outlying districts of the Province of Otago ; and that for the purpose of carrying out the principles of local self-government, provision to be made in such manner as may seem to your Honourable House wise and just for the endowment of such local bodies either from the General Revenues of the Colony, or by vesting in them all funds accruing from the Waste Lands in the several districts to be hereafter proclaimed. Your Memorialists would respectfully urge upon your Honourable House the urgent necessity which exists for giving speedy effect to such a measure. And your Memorialists will ever pray. [Hero follow 504 signatures.]

No. 6. PETITION OF JOHN TOPI PATUKI, CHIEF OF THE NGAITAHU AND NGATIMAMOE. To the Honourable House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, The Petition of John Topi Patuki, of Ruapuke, in the said Colony, Chief of the Ngaitahu and Ngatimamoe, Humbly Sheweth,— That in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, with the sanction of Her Majesty, the Government of this Colony directed negotiations to be entered into with the representative Chiefs of the Ngaitahu and Ngatimamoe Tribes for the sale to the New Zealand Company of a portion of their hereditary possessions, since known as the Otago Block, and containing four hundred thousand acres, for the consideration of two thousand four hundred pounds. That from the lands comprised within the general boundaries of that block, certain portions at Otokau, at Taieri, and at Karoro, were withheld from sale by those Chiefs as dwelling places and possessions for themselves and their descendants. That the said Chiefs further demanded that there should be made at that time and guaranteed to them certain small reserves, including two at Otepoti, now known as Dunedin, namely, —one near the stream which crosses Princes Street, near Rattray Street, and the other fronting a small sandy cove to the eastward of the site afterwards occupied by the nianse, and the land adjoining.

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That on the refusal of the agent of the New Zealand Company and of the agent representing Her Majesty's Government, the said Chiefs declined to proceed further in the matter and departed ; but after the lapse of some days, on being assured that the above reserves would be made for them, the said Chiefs returned and tho purchase was concluded. That during the existence of the New Zealand Company, your petitioner and his tribe were not molested in such occupation as they desired of the above spots; but on the demise of that body, unable to find written record of the making of anv special town reserves for them, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, at the request of the Chiefs aforesaid, laid their application before the Governor of the Colony, who thereupon set apart for your petitioner and his tribe, a reserve in the town of Dunedin, and one in that of Port Chalmers, from lands which your Petitioner is advised were freely at the disposal of the Crown for that purpose. That it must be borne in mind that your petitioner and his tribe were, at tho time of the above sale, a people little accustomed to scrutinize narrowly such deeds as might be submitted to them for signature, and ready to regard as equally sacred and binding parole promises or assurances which an officer of Government might make to them in the name of Her Majesty. That your petitioner was also entitled under the arrangements then existing between Her Majesty's Government and the said Company, to one-eleventh of the sections into which their lands might after their cession be divided ; and that although at the request of the agent of the said Company the officer acting for the Government made no express stipulation to that effect, it yet appears from later correspondence of the said agent, that your petitioner's claim to that extent was not repudiated by the New Zealand Company. That your petitioner is not aware that at any subsequent period this claim was waived, and is confident that such waiving of this claim was never assented to by those for whose interest it existed. That it was set aside, as he trusts by inadvertence, in the grant of the Otago Block to the New Zealand Company in 1846, your petitioner is aware, but that grant having subsequently reverted to the Crown can no longer, he submits, prejudice the equity of claims ignored therein. That in the year 1862, tho Government of the Colony permitted the said reserve to be let for occupation, and that the rents accruing therefrom were paid into a separate fund, and by successive Ministries regarded as funds to be expended for the benefit of your petitioner's tribe. That in the year 1865 the Governor in Council again formally recognized the ownership of the Dunedin Native Reserves as still vesting in your Petitioner's tribe. That notwithstanding the previous action of the Governor in Council, and the Order in Council aforesaid not having been revoked or cancelled, the Governor did, on the eleventh day of January, 1866, sign in Council a grant purporting to convey the said reserve to the Superintendent of Otago. That it appears that of the rents accruing as above, there was in the hands of the Colonial Treasurer, at the time of the signature of the said grant, a sum exceeding six thousand pounds. That doubts having naturally arisen as to the validity of the said grant, your petitioner, urged thereto by the Government of the Colony, encouraged by the promise that every facility would be afforded to him to assert in Her Majesty's Supremo Court the claim of his tribe to the above reserve, in tho manner which he is advised is that provided by the laws of the Realm for the fair investigation and remedy of such wrongs as that which he suffers under, relying upon the good faith and honour of Her Majesty's Government in this Colony, and believing that the abovenamed ample funds were fairly available for covering the costs of litigation, has, by petition to Her Majesty's Representative, and by himself giving a bond for costs to a very large amount, obtained the issue of a writ of Scire facias with a view to the repeal of the said grant to the Superintendent of Otago. That your petitioner learns that a Bill is now before the General Assembly of New Zealand whoso effect, if it become law, would be to deprive his tribe of the funds which have accrued from the letting of their said reserve in Dunedin, and probably to render nugatory any effort which he on their behalf is now making, or may hereafter make, in the Supreme Court of the Colony or elsewhere to recover possession of the land itself. Your humble petitioner further sheweth, — That your petitioner's tribe has ever been loyal and faithful to Her Majesty. That by the Treaty of Waitangi Her Majesty entered into certain honourable engagements with the Maori Race, which he humbly submits were of a nature not safely to be devolved upon any body of Her Majesty's subjects, without strict reservation to Her Majesty of sufficient power to enforce their fulfilment. That, however, in the Legislature of this Colony your petitioner's race have no representative, and their interests are thereby subjected to the control of a popularly elected body, not only not representing their interests, but in many respects having interests altogether opposed to theirs; whose deliberations are conducted in a language of which very few Maoris have any knowledge, and whose laws, affecting as they do all races of Her Majesty's subjects in the Colony, are rarely published in the only language known to the Maori. That therefore your petitioner submits that in all cases where interests or supposed interests of the Native race are at stake, those interests should be treated with scrupulous honour and justice, and that questions affecting their rights should upon no account be submitted to a political body wherein they are not represented, but on the contrary, referred to and left to the decision of Her Majesty's Courts of Law and Equity. That in consideration of the constant loyalty of his tribe,' —of the immense possessions which they have peaceably ceded to Her Majesty for most trifling payments, and on the faith of promises to them of benefits not even yet fulfilled ; —of the deprivation now probably past recovery of that proportion of their lands sold which the New Zealand Company was at the time bound to reserve for them, —and of the doubt which may reasonably exist whether any legislative body, especially one in which one party to the cause is unrepresented, can, however high its character and pure its motives, deal so impartially and conclusively with a contested claim to property as a judicial tribunal:

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Your petitioner humbly prays,— That your Honourable House will refrain from passing a Bill relative to the Dunedin Princes Street Reserve or its rents, now or presently to be submitted to the General Assembly of New Zealand, or any other law of similar principle and tendency. And your petitioner will ever pray. John Topi.

No. 7. PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF TIMARU AND GLADSTONE. To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Districts of Timaru and Gladstone, Humbly Sheweth, — That a Bill be introduced in your Honourable House for the purpose of providing a means whereby land owners and householders may be enabled to obtain tho formation of Shire Councils and Municipalities in the outlying districts of the Province of Canterbury; and that for the purpose of carrying out the principle of Local Self-government, provision bo made in such a manner as may seem to your Honourable House wise and just, for the endowment of such local bodies, either from the General Revenue of the Colony, or by vesting in them all funds accruing from the Waste Lands in the several districts to be hereafter proclaimed. Your petitioners would strongly urge that no powers be granted to the Superintendent or Provincial Council whereby a check may be placed on the operation of any measure to be passed for the provision of Local Self-government by your Honourable House. Your petitioners would respectfully urge upon your Honorable House the urgent necessity which exists for giving speedy effect to their appeal. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. [Here follow 271 signatures.]

No. 8. PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF TIMRU AND GLADSTONE. To the Honourable Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Electoral Districts of Timaru and Gladstone, Humbly Sheweth, — That your petitioners wish to draw the attention of your Honourable House to the many grievances they have for some time suffered, and are still suffering under, from the mal-administration of the Provincial Government of Canterbury: in that the aforesaid Government has absorbed revenues both territorial and ordinary, derived from the aforesaid districts, for expenditure in Public "Works, from which these districts have not derived any benefit. That the revenues referred to amounted from the thirtieth day of June, 1866, to the first day of July, 1867, to the sum of sixty-eight thousand one hundred and twenty-nine pounds, made up by the following items, namely : sale of Waste Lands, forty-four thousand nine hundred and thirty pounds; rents of runs, about twelve thousand pounds; Provincial three-eighths of Customs revenue, four thousand three hundred and ninety pounds ; receipts from the Timaru Landing Service, four thousand five hundred and nine pounds; and from miscellaneous sources, about two thousand three hundred pounds. That out of this sum of sixty-eight thousand one hundred and twenty-nine pounds, a sum of eight thousand eight hundred and fifty pounds has been devoted to the use of Road Boards and the Timaru Municipal Council, beyond the ordinary expenditure in the aforesaid districts for Surveys and Police, and also for the Timaru Landing Service, a sum of three thousand two hundred and thirteen pounds. That the land sold in the aforesaid districts since their settlement has amounted to one hundred and fifty-two thousand and fifty-three acres. That the entire extent of the districts contains six thousand five hundred and seventeen square miles. That the number of sheep depasturing in the districts are eight hundred and seventy-three thousand two hundred and ninety-seven. That the value of imports for the year last past ending June 30th, 1867, was about two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. That the value of exports for the same period was about one hundred and seventy thousand pounds. That in addition to the revenues derived from the aforesaid districts from June 30th, 1866, to July Ist, 1867, there were no less than seven thousand one hundred and twenty-six acres sold during the month of July, 1867, realizing fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-two pounds. That although the revenues derived from the aforesaid districts have been absorbed as above stated, like acts of injustice on the part of the Canterbury Government have been perpetrated from

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the first settlement of the said districts, as in each year nothing like a just proportion of the revenue derived from the aforesaid districts has been expended. Your petitioners would wish to point out that, owing to the great embarrassments of the Provincial Government of Canterbury, whose account is at this present time overdrawn at the Bank of New Zealand to the amount of nearly one hundred thousand pounds, no Public Works are likely to be undertaken in the aforesaid districts, and even the formation of the public highways must be done by rates levied by the different Road Boards. The maximum rates that can be legally levied are far from sufficient for the purpose. That your petitioners appeal to your Honourable House to afford these districts protection, and to provide against the recurrence and permanency of the evils under which they are now labouring. And your petitioners pray that your Honourable House will give its most favourable consideration to any Bill having for its object the establishment in their districts of such a form of government, and with such powers, as will harmonise with existing institutions. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c, &c. [Signed "by T. AV. Hail, J.P., and 599 others.]

No. 9. PETITION OF NATIVES OF POVERTY BAY. Ki te tino Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni e noho nei i Poneke. Turanga, Hurae 8, 1867. Ko te inoi tenei o o koutou tangata pono o o koutou hoa aroha o nga tangata o Turanga e mea ana. He nui te pouri o matou e noho nei, ko to matou hiahia nui, ko to matou tino whakaaro, ko te noho tuturu i raro ite maru oto tatou Rangatira ote Kuini; ko ia ano hoki to matou matua, heoi ko o matou mate enei ka whakapuakina o matou kia koutou. He inoi tenei na matou ki a koutou, kia tirohia e koutou o matou mate, me nga whakararurarutanga, me nga taumahatanga e whakapurangatia ana kia matou i roto i nga marama katoa kua pahemo nei. Ko enei nga pouri ki a matou ko o matou whenua e tohea tonutia ana e te Kawanatanga kia riro i a ratou, kua rua nei nga tau kua pahemo i muri o te whawhai ki tenei tara wahi o te motu nei, mutu tonu te whawhai ka riro etahi o nga tangata o konei ia a te Kawanatanga te mau atu ki Wharekauri, ko te whenua i waiho marire kihai i puta tetahi kupu kia riro o matou piihi. Kihai i puta mai tetahi panuitanga a to Kawanatanga ki a matou kua riro tenei whenua i te rau o tana patu heoi ka whakaaro matou, heoti tonu te mate mo tenei iwi ko nga tupapaku i hinga, ko nga tangata i riro herehere atu ki Wharekauri; tena ko tenei, kua maroke noatu te toto i roto i nga tau erua kua pahemo nei, katahi ano ka puta mai te kupu a te Kawanatanga ki a matou kia murua o matou whenua, no roto i tenei tau taua kupu, mehemea i puta mai taua kupu i te takiwa o te whawhai kihai i tino kaha to matou pouri, ahakoa kihai matou i uru ki te hara ote Hauhau. Whakarongo mai ra ete Runanga Rangatira, he nui te pouri ki a matou i naianei mo nga mahi a te Kawanatanga ki te tawai tonu i a matou kia whakaaetia e matou kia tukuna atu te wahi raorao katoa o tenei whenua, na matou na nga Rangatira i noho pai to nuinga o te whenua, heoi, ko te utu tenei mo to matou noho pai kia tere matou ki te wai: no te tau kua pahemo nei, i te marama o Hune, ka tae etahi pukapuka a etahi o matou ki te Kooti Whakawa whenua Maori kia whakawakia etahi take whenua a matou, hoki mai ana te kupu a te Kaiwhakawa, aTe Penetana mea ana, " e pai ana, otira me ruri te whenua i te tuatahi aka oti, katahi ka whakawa," no muri iho ka puta mai nga panuitanga ki a matou "ka tu te Kooti Whakawa whenua Maori, a te tekau ma rua o nga ra o Hepetema, 1866," i puta pono mai aua panuitanga ki a matou, otira ko te panuitanga mo te rironga o te whenua o tenei tahatika kihai i puta mai ki a matou, I huihui rawa matou ki Turanganui i te ra i whakaritea ai e Te Penetana, kihai i tu to Kooti, heoi ka whanga marire matou kia rongo i te take, kihai rawa i rongo, kihai hoki tetahi panuitanga i puta mai i taua taima kia riro to whenua, otira i tuarua te panuitanga mo To Kooti, puta mai ana taua panuitanga mea ana, " ka tu te Kooti i te rua te kau ma rima o nga ra o Oketopa, 1866," huihui rawa matou ki reira, kore noa iho, heoi ka kimi matou he aha ranei te take o tenei tikanga e whaka-poraru tonu nei i a matou, ka roa to matou kimihanga, katahi matou ka rongo i te kupu tango i te whenua, ko nga kupu whakaora i te tuatahi, ara, ka tu te Kooti Whakawa Whenua ki konei, muringa iho ko te kupu whakamate, ara, ko te tango whenua. Heoi, ka maha nga marama i whanga marire ai matou kia ora matou i runga ite ture, kore noa iho. I kaha tonu matou ki te tono ite Kooti i aua marama, i kaha tonu hoki aTe Piki ki te tohe i to matou whenua kia whakaaetia, kia tukuna, katahi matou ka whakaae atu ki a ia tetahi pihi whenua, he pihi nui noatu he iti rawa te wahi i mahue atu ki a matou, ko te nuinga o taua whenua na matou, na to taha i te taha Kawanatanga, otira te take i whakaae ai matou he hoha no matou ki tona tawainga i a matou, me te maha o nga kupu whakawehiwehi ate Kawanatanga ki a matou, kihai ia i pai ki ta matou i whakaritc ai, ko tana i pai ai kia riro te raorao katoa i a ia, kia tere matou ki runga i nga maunga; heoi ka mea atu matou me waiho ma te Kooti Whakawa c whakaora i a matou, katahi ka puta mai tana ki ki a matou, ka mauria mai e ia te Kooti Tango whenua, katahi ano matou ka rongo i tenei ingoa mo te Kooti, miharo ana matou, ko wai, ka whanga marire matou ko te Kooti W Thakawa Whenua i whakaritea kia tu i te toru o nga ra o tenei marama, a tae mai ana nga Kai whakawa katahi matou ka whakaaro ko te oranga pea tenei mo matou. Aue ! no hea te oranga, tae rawa mai tutakina tonutanga e Piki, ara, e te Kawanatanga, a i naianei e lei ana, ka rapua ano he tikanga ki a koutou ki te Runanga hei whakahe i a matou ; na reira matou Rangatira ka kimi whakaaro i roto i a koutou kia whakaorangia matou me o matou whenua. Ko nga tangata i huihui ki tenei Kooti ho maha noa atu, i Waiapu mai a puta noa ki te Wairoa, kihai i whakaarohia e Te Kawanatanga to matou huihui huhuakore i era taima e rua, taea noatia tenei, 3

G.—No. 1

10

PETITIONS.

me o matou whenua i tukuna ai e matou ki te Kooti, ko etahi o aua whenua kihai i tukuna e to Kawanatanga kia ruritia e matou : ka pekc ra o a matou kupu, ko tenei anake, kua maroke noa atu te toto i era tau e rua kihai i puta to panuitanga tango whenua i taua taima, a heaha te hara o tenei tau i hapainga ai taua whakaaro i naianei ? whiriwhiria marietia to matou inoi, ko koutou hoki nga Rangatira kua whakaritea hei rapu tikanga hei whakatupu i te rangimarie i roto i te motu nei; na reira matou ka inoi tonu ki a koutou. Ko te putake o tenei he na Taranaki, ehara ia matou. Ka huri. Na o koutou hoa aroha i runga i te ture o to to tatou Tino Ranagatira o Te Kuini. [Here follow Signatures ] [translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand in Session at Wellington. This, the Petition of us, your faithful people and friends, the people of Poverty Bay, SiITH AS FOLLOWS, We are dwelling here in great trouble. Our earnest desire and intention is to live for ever beneath the protecting shade of our Sovereign the Queen : for she is our great parent also. These are our troubles, which we now proceed to bring under your notice. Wo pray you to look into our troubles, perplexities, and heavy measures which have been heaped upon us during all these months now past. These are our troubles : Our land, that the Government is constantly trying to take away from us. Two years have now passed away since the fighting took place in this part of the country. Immediately after the cessation of hostilities, some of tho people of this part were transported by the Government to the Chatham Islands, but the land was left untouched, neither was there anything said about taking our pieces of land. We received no notification from the Government to the effect that they had acquired this land by force of arms; and so we inferred the only punishment this people were to suffer was in the dead who had fallen, and those persons sent as prisoners to the Chatham Islands. But in the present case, the blood shed has long since dried, during the two years which have passed; yet the word of the Government, that we are to be deprived of our lands, has only now come forth. This word was heard only during the present year; had it been uttered during the fighting, it would not have caused us so much pain, although we did not participate in the offences of the Hau Haus. Give heed, Assembly of Gentlemen ! We are in great trouble at this present time, by reason of what the Government has done in deceiving us, so that we might consent and cede the whole of the flat land of this district. It has been owing to the influence of us, the Chiefs, that the greater portion of the country has remained quiet; and the reward for our having remained quiet, is, that we are to be washed away by (into) the water. During the past year, in the month of June, some of our people made application to the Native Lands Court, to have title to certain of our lands investigated ; a reply from the (Chief) Judge, Mr. Fenton, was received, saying, it was good, but the lands must first be surveyed; after which, they would be adjudicated upon. After this, we received notices that the Native Lands Court would be holden on tho twelfth day of September, 1866 ; these notices we actually received. But any notification informing us that the lands along this coast were gone from us, we did not receive. We all assembled at Turanganui on the day appointed by Mr. Fenton, but the Court did not sit, and we waited patiently to hear the reason, but we did not hear; nor did any notice at that time reach us, to the effect that the land was gone. But (shortly after) a second notice was received by us that the Native Lauds Court should be holden on tho twenty-fifth day of October, 1866; we all assembled at the place appointed, but there was no Court. We then wondered in our minds as to the reason why we were being perpetually bothered in this manner; and after considering for some time, we heard for the first time a word about the land being taken. The life-giving words came first: namely, the Native Lands Court was to be holden here. These were followed by the death-causing words, namely : the land was taken. But we have waited quietly for many months, hoping to get relief by the law, but in vain. We were urgent in applying to the Court during those months. Captain Biggs was urgent iu asking us to consent to our land being ceded ; then we consented to hand over a piece of land, it was a very large piece, leaving a piece for ourselves much smaller as compared with the other, the greater portion of which piece belonged to ourselves, the Government Natives. But we gave our consent only because we were wearied at his constantly teasing us, and because of the many intimidating words of the Government used towards us ; but he was not satisfied with what wc had agreed to. What he wanted was, to get all the level country, and we might perch ourselves on the mountains. Thereupon we told him it must be left for the Land Court to give us relief; then he replied, he would bring the land-taking Court. This was the first time we had heard such a name for the Court, and we were surprised. Still we waited patiently for the Lands Court, appointed to be holden on the third of this month. The Judge came, and it then occurred to our minds that this, perhaps, would bring us relief. Alas! where was the relief? No sooner came the Court here, than it was adjourned by Biggs, or rather by the Government. And now, he says, some method for the purpose of casting us will be sought from you, from the Assembly. Por which reason our Chiefs seek counsel from you to give us relief, and save our lands. The people who were assembled at this Court were very many, having come from all the country lying between Waiapu and Te Wairoa. The Government had no consideration for our having assembled in vain on the two former occasions, nor upon the present occasion, nor even in the matter of our lands, which we wished to take through the Court. Some of those lands we were not permitted by the Government to survey. We have said all we wished to say, excepting this: the blood had long since become dry, during the two years which had elapsed, but no notice taking away the land appeared during that time. And what evil has been done during the present year, which should give rise to such a measure being carried into effect ?

G.-No. 1,

PETITIONS.

11

Consider carefully our prayer, for you are the gentlemen who have been elected to devise such measures as tend to promote peace in this country ; and that is why we have addressed our petition to you. This evil originated at Taranaki, not with us. From your friends under the law of our Sovereign the Queen. [Here follow 256 signatures.]

No. 10. PETITION OF NATIVES OF THE WAIRARAPA. Ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni, Kei Poneke. Wairarapa, 7 o nga ra o Akuhata, 1867. Tena Koutou, — He enoi tenei na matou nga tangata o Wairarapa ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni me manaaki ta matou inoi. Kua maha nga tau kua pahure oto matou hokonga ite whenua ki ate Kuini, ko nga koha i whakaaetia mai e te Kawanatanga kahoro ano kia homai ki a matou, he maha a matou tono ki te Kawanatanga kia whakaputaia mai aua koha; ko a matou pukapuka kahore e utua mai, ko a matou tono hurihia ketia ana, a heoi ano te ara e kitea ai e matou i naianei, he whakakito atu kia koutou i to matou mate kia tirohia arohatia mai e koutou, kia ata hurihuria aua he a te Kawanatanga. Ko nga Karauna Karaati kua whakaaetia ki a matou c te Kawanatanga i mua mo nga whenua whakahoki mai, ko etahi kua homai, ko etahi kahoro ano kia homai. Ko nga Karauna Karaati hoki mo a matou whenua e whakawakia ana e to Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori hoki kia hohoro ake te whakaputa mai, no te mea e utu ana matou i te wea, me era atu mea i runga i te tohutohunga o te Ture mo nga whenua Maori, kahoro hoki e ahei i a matou te rihi; te hoko, te aha ranei i o matou whenua hei ora mo matou, kia puta mai ra ano nga Karauna Karaati: he ture pai taua ture ki te mea ka pai te whakahaere a te Kawanatanga: ka puta te ora mo te tangata, me te mutu hoki o nga raruraru o tenei motu i runga i nga whakahaere pai o taua ture, heoi, Kia aroha mai ki tenei inoi a matou, ata hurihuria, whakataua hoki te tika. [Na o koutou pononga]. Na te huihui katoa o Wairarapa, o Ngatikahuhunu.

[translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand, "Wellington. Wairarapa, 7th August, 1867. This is a petition from us. the people of Wairarapa, to the General Assembly of New Zealand. Let our petition receive favourable consideration. Several years have now passed since we sold our land to the Queen, but the Government has not yet paid us the per cents, as agreed upon. We have often applied to the Government to pay the per cents, over to us, but our letters arc not replied to, and our requests are turned aside. The only only way of obtaining redress that we can see is, by showing you our grievance. Be kind to us! Let us now recount the wrong doings of the Government. Tho Crown Grants, which were promised us long ago by the Government for those lands which were returned to us, some have been given to us, some have not. The Crown Grants also for those lands of ours which have been adjndicated upon by the Native Lands Court, let them be quickly issued to us ; for we have to pay the surveyors, and the expenses incurred iu carrying out the measures imposed by the Act; but we are unable to lease, sell, or do anything else with our lands to bring any profit to ourselves, until we have received the Crown Grants. That law is a good law, if properly administered by the Government. It would not only benefit people generally, but by the judicious carrying out of its provisions, it would put a stop to the troubles of this country. We pray you to look with favour upon this our petition ; carefully consider it, and cause justice to be done. [Here follow 51 signatures.]

No. 11. PETITION OF TE WHIWHI AND OTHER NATIVES AT OTAKI. , Ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni. Otaki, Hepetema 9, 1867. I tae atu ano te pukapuka a Ngatiraukawa i to tau 1865 ki te Runanga o Poneke, kia whakatuwheratia te ture tutakinga o Ohau atu a puta atu ki Manawatu tae atu ki Rangitikei, kia tukua mai te Kooti Whakawa ki o matou whenua. Ka puta to kupu a te Runanga kia kotahi tau, kia kore tonu e hohoro te mahi a te Petatone e oti pai, katahi ka tuwhera i te Runanga nga Kooti Whakawa ki o matou whenua. Heoti ki ta matou mahara atu kua oti i a koutou i runga i ta koutou kupu iki ai, kia kotahi tau e tatari ana ki ta te Petatone mahi, ka whakarite ai e te Runanga he Kooti Whakawa mo enei whenua tutaki, a kahoro matou i mahara, me tuhi atu ano tetehi pukapuka i te tau 1866, katahi ano ka mohio me tuhituhi atu ano, koia tenei ka tukua atu ki te Runanga kia whakaaetia mai taua kupu kia tuwhera aua whenua ki te Kooti Whakawa whenua Maori. He tono ta matou ki te Runanga, mahara mai to koutou whare ki ta matou tono. Ka mate matou ite ture kore.

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PETITIONS.

12

[translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand. Otaki, 9th September, 1867. In the year 1865 the Ngatiraukawa sent a petition to the Parliament in Session at Wellington, praying that the country lying between Ohau and Rangitikei, including Manawatu, might not be excluded from the operation of the Native Lands Act, but that the Land Court might be allowed to operate in the case of our land claims. The Assembly replied that, if after the expiration of one year Dr. Peatherston's purchase was not near completion, then the Assembly would cause the Lands Court to be open to receive our claims. We thought all had been done in accordance with the terms contained in your reply to us: that one year should be allowed to elapse whilst Dr. Featherston was carrying on his negotiations ; after which, the Assembly would empower the Native Lands Act to operate in the claims to the land excluded. We did not know it would be necessary to make another petition in the year 1866. We have only now become aware that it was necessary to have done so. We therefore now make this our petition to the General Assembly, and pray you to allow the Native Lands Court to have power to act in the case of our land claims. We make this petition to the Assembly: let your Honourable House favourably consider our prayer. We sutler much from want of law. [Here follow five signatures.]

No. 12. PETITION OF NATIVES AT TURANGA. Ki te tino Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni e noho nei ki Poneke. Turanga, Hurae 8, 1867. Ko te inoi tenei o o koutou tangata pono, o o koutou tino hoa, o etahi o nga tangata o Turanga e mea ana, kia tirohia e koutou e te Runanga Rangatira tetahi o o matou pouritanga, ko to matou taonga nui ko to matou whare whakairo kua mauria huhua koretia, e te Kawanatanga, kihai matou i whakaae ; ko nga korero pono enei o te mauranga o taua whare, ara ; i te taenga mai o te Ritimona, ka tono mai kia hoatu e au te whare, kahore au i whakaae, mea atu ana ahau ki a ia, kahore, kei te iwi katoa te ritenga, ka mea mai ia ki au na ratou ranei te whare ? mea atu ana ahau, kahore naku ano te whare erangi ko te mahi na matou tahi. Ko te whakahokinga mai ate Ritimona heoi ano ra, ka mutu taku tohe atu ki a koe : ka haere atu te tima me taua Pakeha, e hia ranei nga ra e ngaro atu ana taua tima ka hoki mai ano ki te tiki mai i te whare, ko Kapene Piki i haere mai, ki te tiki mai i te whare, ka mea mai ia ki au kia hoatu te whare mo te Kaw rana ki Poneke. Ka mea atu au ki a ia, kahore au c pai. Tenei ano etahi o nga kupu a taua Pakeha kei au, heoi ano, haere atu ana taua Pakeha ki te pakaru ite whare, mauria atu ana, heoi ra kahore aku kupu whakaae ki a ia: ka peke ra nga korero. He inoi tenei na matou kia whakaarohia tenei to matou mate, ka inoi tonu matou ki a koutou. Ka huri. Na o koutou hoa aroha i runga i te ture. [translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand in Session at Wellington. Turanga, Bth July, 1867. This petition of your true and faithful friends, some of the people of Turanga, prays that you will look into one of our troubles. Our very valuable carved house has been taken away, without pretext, by the Government: we did not consent to its removal. This is a true account of what took place in reference to the removal of that house: at the time of Mr. Richmond's visit here, he asked me to give up the house ; 1 did not consent, but told him, " No, it is for the whole people to consider." He then asked me if"the house belonged to them all. I answered, " No, the house is mine, but tho work was done by all of us." To this Mr. Richmond replied, " That is all; I will cease to urge you." The steamer left with Mr. Richmond. After having been away a short time, the steamer came back again to take away the house ; Captain Biggs came to fetch away the house. He desired me to give it up for the Governor, to be taken to Wellington. I told him I did not agree to it. He said other things, which 1 have not forgotten. He then w rent to take down the house, and carried it off, but I did not give my sanction to it. This is all I have to say about it. We pray you to consider this our trouble. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. [Here follow eight signatures.]

No. 13. immrmTAAT /\-n TTAnmfAAT i tiattta i ±\_j.ii.iuii ur nuivuiviu±>A ruinu. Ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni kei Poneke e hui ana. Poneke, Hurae 30, 1867. He tangi atu tenei naku na Horomona Pohio, he tangata Maori no Niu Tireni. Te take ko taku whenua i hokoa ai e nga tangata o tenei motu ki nga tangata o to Kawanatanga, na Ngatitoa i hoko ki nga tangata o te Kawanatanga, kaore, ko nga utu o taua whenua i tangohia ai e taua iwi, hei utu mo

G.-No'l

PETITIONS.

13

o ratou tupapaku, ehe ana tenei ki au; no te mea na taua iwi i tiki ake i patu oku tangata, o Ngaitahu, no kona hoki matou nga tangata o Ngaitahu i patu ai i o ratou hei utu mo o ku tupapaku; na, kia rongo mai koutou ko taua whenua kei Waiautoa te rohe ki te tonga, te rohe ki te Rawhiti kei te taha o te awa o Wairau, haere tonu ki runga ki ona maunga, haere tonu ki runga o Waiautoa: ko tenei whenua kahore he utu i a hau, ara i nga tangata o Ngaitahu; no te mea noku taua whenua i mua a tae noa ki te takiwa i takohia ai nga utu e taua iwi e Ngatitoa, no te mea i au te Parokura whakamutunga o ta maua mahi whawhai, no konei ahau i mea ai kei au ano toku whenua; na, he tangi atu tenei naku ki a koutou kia kimihia e koutou te tika i whakaritea ai ma Ngatitoa anake e kai nga utu mo to matou whenua, te tukua mai ai ki a matou ano te ritenga mo te hoko i to matou ake whenua. Ka mutu taku tangi atu kia koutou katoa na to koutou hoa aroha. Na Hohomona Pohio. [translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand in Session at WeHington. Wellington, 30th July, 1867. This is the petition of me, Horomona Pohio, an aboriginal Native of New Zealand, which I now make to you, because of my land sold by the Natives of this island to the Government: that is to say, it was sold to the Government by the Ngatitoa, which tribe took tho payment for those lands, as an equivalent for such of them as had been killed by us. To my mind this was wrong: as that tribe went across of their own accord, and attacked my people, the Ngaitahu. Therefore we, the Ngaitahu, had killed some of them by way of reprisal. Now give heed ! The boundary of the land in question on the south is at Waiautoa, toward the east along the course of the Wairau, thence up to its mountains, thence to the mountains above Waiautoa. For this land I, or rather the people of Ngaitahu, have received no payment. That land belonged to me, and was mine up to the time when Ngatitoa received the payment for it. The last battle fought was won by us ; and so I think the land still belonged to us. Now this is my petition, that the whole question be investigated, in order that it may be seen in how far it was right that the Ngatitoa alone should receive payment for land which was our own, and how it was the disposal of our own lands by sale was not left to ourselves. My petition to you ends. Horomona Pohio.

No. 14. PETITION OF THE NGATIKAUWHATA HAPTJ. Ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni. Awahuri, Oroua, Manawatu, Hurae 29, 1867. He kupu inoi tenei, na matou ki to koutou Whare Rangatira kia whakapuaretia te tutaki i Ohau puta noa ki Rangitikei, kia tukua mai te Kooti whakawa whenua Maori ki runga i to matou wdienua ; he kupu kaha rawa tenei na matou ki to koutou Whare Rangatira kia whakapuaretia te whakawa ki to matou whenua, ta to mea e noho mate ana matou i te kore ture e puta ki runga i to matou whenua, na i timata te raruraru o to matou whenua i te tau 1863, tae noa ki tenei wa, na ko tenei Aue ! te mate i a matou, ma wai ra matou e whakaora i te tinana o tenei mate nui ? koia matou ka inoi atu nei ki a koe e te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni kia tukua mai he ora kia matou. Ko nga ingoa o nga tangata o to matou hapu o Ngatikauwhata, ka tuhia ki raro iho nei. [translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand. Awahuri, Oroua, Manawatu, 29th July, 1867. This is a petition from us to your Honourable House, praying that the obstructions excluding the country lying between Oroua and Rangitikei from the operation of the Native Lands Act, be removed, and that the Native Lands Court be permitted to have jurisdiction over our lands. This is a very urgentJappeal of ours to your Honourable House, praying you to cause our land to be open to the action of the Court ; for we are in much trouble, because of there being no law in force over our land.. Now the troubles in respect of our land commenced in the year 1863, and have continued up to this present. And now, as matters exist, alas! what trouble is upon us ! Who will deliver us from the body of this great death ? Therefore do we pray you, the General Assembly of New Zealand, to let us have life. We here subscribe the names of the members of our hapu, the Ngatikauwhata. [Here follow 73 signatures.] 4