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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

MR. ALLEY'S CHARGES AGAINST OFFICERS IN NATIVE DEPARTMENT. (REPORT BY HON. COLONEL HAULTAIN UPON.)

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

No. 1. Petition of H. Alley to tho Honorable the House of Kepbesentatives. To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, The humble Petition" op Henby Alley, late op Napier, Hawke's Bay, but now uesidino at Hikutaia, Thames, in the Province of Auckland, showeth, — That in the year 1872 your petitioner resided at Napier, Hawke's Bay, engaged in agricultural pursuits, also in cattle and sheep farming. In 1872, being desirous of moving from Hawke's Bay and settling in the Province of Auckland, your petitioner entered into negotiations with the Native owners for the lease of a block of land called the Waiharakeke Block, in the Upper Thames Valley, near Ohinemuri. The land had passed through the Native Land Court eighteen months before negotiations commenced, and had been awarded to two tribes or hapus of Natives jointly, the Ngaiterangi and Ngatihaua. The result of the negotiations was that a lease was granted to your petitioner, the same being agreed to and signed by persons of both tribes, who received payment in money on account of granting the said lease. In April, 1873, possession was taken of this block in pursuance of the lease, and IG7 head of cattle were driven overland from Hawke's Bay. On taking possession your petitioner received notice from two Native Commissioners or Agents, namely, Messrs. Clarke of Tauranga, and Puckey of Shortland, to remove his cattle from the leased block, under threat of expulsion by the Natives. That 167 head of cattle were driven off the block by a party of armed Natives; and your petitioner has not been able to obtain the use of his leased land, and has suffered severe losses from the action taken by the Natives. Your petitioner has also strong reason to believe that the action taken by the Natives in the driving off of cattle and the repudiation of engagements was instigated directly by the Government through their officers stationed in the district. Being fully aware of the gravity of the charge now made against the Government of the colony having control of so important a department as the Native Office, your petitioner wishes that a strict investigation should be made into these matters by persons unconnected with the Native Department. Not having succeeded in taking peaceable possession of the leased block of land, your petitioner purchased, from a firm of high commercial position in the city of Auckland, 3,700 acres of freehold land at Hikutaia, Thames, when the Natives again drove off workmen and cattle, under pretext that they never had received the purchase money, although the Crown grant for the land had been issued for a considerable time. Application for redress was then made to the Government through the Hon. Dr. Pollen, but no relief has been granted to your petitioner. The losses sustained have, as shown by the foregoing statement, been very serious. Tour petitioner therefore prays that a full investigation may be made and that he may be reinstated in possession of the leasehold at Waiharakeke and his freehold at Hikutaia, and such other consideration awarded him for losses in time, money, and cattle, as your honorable House may deem fit. And your petitioner will ever pray, &c. Heney Alley.