NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. REPORT ON THE PETITION OF IHAIA TAINUI AND THREE OTHERS. TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1881 Session I, I-02a

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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. REPORT ON THE PETITION OF IHAIA TAINUI AND THREE OTHERS. TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

No. 164 of 1881.—Ihaia Tainui and 3 Others. Petitionees state that, in 1879, Mr. Commissioner Young awarded them certain lands for which Crown grants were to have been issued, and that these grants have not been made, on the grounds that the lands had not been surveyed. The petiiitioners pray for the immediate survey and subdivision preparatory to the issue of the grants. I am directed to report as follows:—■ That, in the opinion of this Committee, the request of the petitioners for the individualization of their titles is one which can be complied with, and ought to be given effect to without further delay; special care being taken to secure the reserved lands, to provide for a fair distribution of rents, aud to protect the rights of anv persons now in occupation. 26th July, 1881.

[Translation ] No. 164 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Ihaia Tainui me etahi atu e 3. E ki ana nga kai-pitihaua no te tau 1879 ka whakataua e Komihana langa etahi whenua ki a ratou, ko uga Karauna karaati kihai i puta, na ko aua Karauna karaati, kaore ano kia hangaia i te mea kaore ano kia ruritia aua whenua. E inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia tere tonu te ruri, a kia wehewehea aua whenua i mua atu i te putanga o nga karaati. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Na, i runga i te whakaaro o teuei Komiti, ko te tono a nga kai-pitihana mo te wehewehe i o ratou paanga he mea tena e taea ana te mahi, a me tere tonu te whakamana ; me ata whakaaro ano kia mau nga whenua rahui, me tuha tika nga moni reti, a me tiaki nga take o nga tangata e noho mai nei i runga i aua wahi. 26 Hurae, 1881.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Thuesday, 21st July, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Bryce, Mr. Hamlin, Hon. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Taiaroa, Mr. Tawhai, Major Te Wheoro, Colonel Trimble (at 12 noon) On the motion of Mr. Taiaroa, Resolved, That Mr. Bryce do take the chair in the absence of Colonel Trimble. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. No. 164.—Petition of Ihaia Taisui and 3 Others. Mr. Alexander Mackay attended the Committee, and gave evidence on the above petition, which was not taken down. (Colonel Trimble here resumed the chair.) Proposed by Mr. Sheehan, "That, in the opinion of this Committee, the request of the petitioner.* for the individualization of their titles is one which can be complied with, and ought to be given effect to without further delay ; special care being taken to secure the reserved lands, to provide for a fair distribution of rents, and to protect the rights of any persons now in occupation."

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Upon which the following amendment was moved by Mr. Bryce: —" That the prayer of the petitioners could only be complied with by the expenditure of a large sum of money in subdivisional surveys, and after an arrangement as to the boundaries of individual holdings had been made among the Native owners. That it is by no means clear that a compliance with the prayer of the petitioners would conduce to the advantage of the reserves, or add to their value. That the equitable rights of the European tenants of a portion of the Greymouth Reserve ought to be fairly provided for before the issue of the grants as prayed for. That the Government should make inquiry as to the cost of the surrey, and the effect the subdivision is likely to have upon the value of the estate, and communicate the result to the owners. Should the petitioners then still desire the subdivision to be made, that the desire ought to be complied with, subject to the preservation of the equitable rights of the tenants." Upon the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, it was resolved in the affirmative. On the motion of Mr. Sheehan, Resolved, That the Chairman be instructed to furnish the House and the Government with a copy of the minutes of this day's proceedings. The Committee then adjourned.

KOMITI MO NGA MEA MAORI.

Taite, 21 Hubae, 1881. I huihui te Komiti i runga i te panui. Ko nga mema i reira: Te Roretana, Te Paraihe, Te Hemara, Te Hiana, Taiaroa, Te Wheoro. Tawhai, me Kanara Timipara. I runga i te motini a Taiaroa, Ko noho a Te Paraihe ki te Tiea i te mea e ngaro ana a Timipara i te tuatahi. Panuitia ana nga korero o tera huinga Komiti whakatikaia ana. No. 164. —Pitihana na Ihaia Tainui me etahi tokotoru panuitia ana. I tae ake a Ariki Make ki te Komiti korero ai mo taua pitihana, kaore i tuhia ona korero (no konei ka tae mai a Kanara Timipara ki te tiea.) Ka motinitia e Te Hiana, "I runga i te whakaaro a tenei Komiti ko te tono a nga kai-pitihana mo te wehewehe i o ratou paanga he mea tena e taea ana te mahi, a me tere tonu te whakamana; me ata whakaaro ano kia mau nga whenua rahui, me tuha tika nga moni reti, a me tiaki nga take o nga tangata e noho mai nei i runga i aua wahi." I runga i tenei motini ka menemanatia eTe Paraihe: —" Ko te inoi a nga kai-pitihana ma te whakapau nui ra ano ite moni ka taea te ruri wehewehe; tetahi, me whakarite ra ano nga rohe o nga wahi oia tangata, oia tangata ; ara, ma nga Maori ano nona te whenua e whakarite aua rohe. Kaore i te marama ma te whakaae i te inoi a nga kai-pitihana e pai ai he tikanga mo nga rahui, e nui atu ai ranei to ratou utu. He mea tika kia tiakina rawa nga take tika o nga pakeha e noho riihi ana i runga i etahi o nga rahui o Kereimauta (Arahura) katahi ka whakaputa i nga karauna karaati e inoitia nei e nga kai-pitihana. Me rapu ete Kawanatanga nga moni era e pau ite ruri, a mehemea kawewehea ka pehea ranei te utu o taua whenua; hei reira ka whakaatu atu ki nga tangata o taua whenua. Na ki te tohe tonu i kona nga kai-pitahana kia wehewehea te whenua heoi me whakaae atu ta ratou tono, erangi me tiaki i te tuatahi nga take tika o nga tangata e noho riihi mai nei." No te tukunga kia pootitia te motini tuatahi tu tonu atu. Katihi ka apititia atu e Te Hiana ki tenei motini, Ma te Tiamana e tuku kape atu ki te Whare nse te Kawanatanga o nga mahinga o tenei ra. Ka nekehia te Komiti.

Authorit j : Giobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBl.