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they object for various reasons set forth in the petition. They therefore pray that the cases of the petitioners and other Maoris may be heard before some other Judge of the Supreme Court. I am directed to report that, the Native Lawsuits Bill having been considered by the House, the Committee do not think it necessary to make any recommendation on the subject-matter of these petitions. 25th October, 1878.

[Translation.] Te Pukapuka-inoi a Henare Matua me ona Hoa c 919 o Ahuriri. Te Pukapuka-inoi a Hueu te Hiaeo me ona Hoa c 241 o Ahuriri, o Turanga hoki. Te Pukapuka-inoi a Wiremu Pere me ona Hoa o 410 o Turanga. Te Pukapuka-inoi a Noatuere Tawhirimatea Tawhao me ona Hoa o 189 o Wairarapa. Te Pukapuka-inoi a Te Poihipi Tukairangi me ona Hoa o 832 o Taupo. E ki ana nga kai-inoi c whai tikanga aua ratou ki etahi mahi whakawa ritenga nui i etahi pakeha, a pouri ana ratou notemea ko Te Ritimona te Kai-whakawa i aua mea a c whakaatu ana ratou i nga take i whakahe ai ratou, koia ratou i tono ai kia whakawakia aua mea i te aroaro o tetahi atu Kai-whakawa o te Hupirimi Kooti. Kua whakahaua ahua kia ki penei atu kite Whare: — Ko te Ture mo nga Whakawa Maori kua ata whakaarohia c te Whare, a kahore te Komiti i whakaaro he mea tika kia whai kupu ratou mo nga putake o enei pukapuka-inoi. Oketopa 25,1878.

No. 276. —Petition of R. Cochrane and Others. (No. 1.) The petitioners, who are residents of Mongonui and the Bay of Islands, express regret that any persons should seek to deprive Maoris of electoral rights which they ought to possess under the Treaty of Waitangi. They state that the Natives of the locality in which the petitioners reside have always been loyal to Her Majesty, and have rendered important services in support of the Queen's authority. They are of opinion that any attempt to interfere with or totally deny the privileges of Maoris as British subjects may lead to trouble; and they pray that the special representation of the Maoris may be withdrawn rather than they should be deprived of the full freedom of the franchise as exercised by Europeans. I ara directed to report that, inasmuch as the Committee has already reported upon similar of the matters referred to in this petition, upon tho petition of Heremaia te Ara and others, and recommended an inquiry by Commission, these petitions, and the evidence taken thereon, be referred to the Government as being in connection therewith. The Committee does not consider it necessary to express any opinion upon the judicial questions raised as to the Maori franchise. 26th October, 1878.

[Translation.] Te Pukapuka-inoi a Rapata Kakarana ma. No Mangonui no Pewhairangi nga kai-inoi c ki ana ratou c pouri ana ratou kite whakaaro a te tangata c mea ana kite whakakore i nga mana o te Maori c tika ana kia mau ki a ratou i runga i te Tiriti o AVaitangi; eki ana ratou he tangata piri pono ki to Kuini nga Maori oto ratou takiwa ahe nui a ratou mahi kite hapai ito mana ote Kuini. E ki ana ratou tera pea c puta he he mehemea ka whakararurarutia ka whakakorea ranei nga mana o nga Maori i tau ki a ratou i runga i te mana o te Kuini, a c ki ana nga kai-inoi pai atu te whakakore o te pooti a te Maori kite Maori ano i te whakakore i te mana pooti c rite tahi ai ratou ko te Pakeha. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki to Whare: — Notemea kua whai kupu te Komiti mo etahi mea penei me tenei kua whakahuatia nei i roto i tenei pukapuka-inoi i runga i te kupu mo te pukapuka-inoi a Heremaia te Ara ma, kua puta hoki ta ratou whakaatu i ta ratou whakaaro kia tv tetahi Komihana kite kimi, me tuku atu enei pukapuka-inoi me nga korero i puta i te aroaro o te Komiti kite Kawanatanga, notemea c tau ana ki nga tikanga i kiia ai taua Komihana kia tv no reira c kore te Komiti c whakapuaki kupu mo nga kupu i whakaaria mai mo te pooti a te iwi Maori. Oketopa 26, 1878.

No. 282.—Petition of E. Cocheane and Others. (No. 2.) Petitioners state (1) that Mr. Williams, M.H.8., caused a petition to be circulated throughout the Mongonui and Bay of Islands Districts contrary to the interests of a majority of the people of those districts ; (2) that the late Returning Officer of those districts took advantage of his position to favour his friends; and (3) that the Revising Court may be held at a more central place than at present. I am directed to report that, inasmuch as the Committee has already reported upon similar of the matters referred to in this petition, upon the petition of Heremaia te Ara, and others and recommended an inquiry by Commission, these petitions and the evidence taken thereon be referred to the Government as being in connection therewith. The Committee does not consider it necessary to express any opinion upon the judicial questions raised as to the Maori franchise. 26th October, 1878.