I.—2b

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF, ON PETITION OF SARAH CUNNINGHAM AND MARY HEANY, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE).

Brought up 12th December, 1879, and ordered to be printed. RE POUT. No. 23, Session I.—Petition of Sarah Cunningham and Maet Heany. The petitioners, who are half-castes, state that they had interest in certain lands in Poverty Bay, which were identical with those of Mrs. Wyllie, who received 400 acres at Waimate therefor. They allege that they never received notice of the sitting of any Court to inquire into the title of the lands in question ; and they pray, as they are now too late for every other appeal, that the House will afford them relief. I am directed to report as follows :— That the Committee regret that the time at their disposal has not been sufficient to enable them to complete the inquiry into this petition. 12th December, 1879, E. Hamlin, Chairman. [Translation.] No. 23, Session I.—Te Pitihana a Heea Kaninamu me Mere Hini. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana, he hawhekaihe, i whai take raua ki etahi whenua i Turanga pena tonu me Keita AVaere i riro na c 400 eka iaia i roto i Waimate. No reira c mea ana raua kaore i tae he panui ki a raua o tetahi Kooti c whakawa ana i aua whenua, a c inoi ana raua i te mea kua tv reiti raua i naianei mo te whakawa tuarua kia hoatu he oranga ki a raua c te Whare. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— E pouri ana te Komiti mo te poto o te takiwa i a ratou c taea ai te whakaoti te whiriwhiri i tenei pitihana. 12 Tihema, 1879.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. "Wednesday, 6th August, 1879. T. W. Lewis, Esq., sworn and examined. 1. The Chairman (Mr. Bryce).] Can you give any information to the Committee in reference to the petition ? —All the information that I can give to the Committee is that Mr. Cunningham, the husband of one of the petitioners, has written three or four letters to the Government respecting his wife's claims. In one letter he states that from time to time he has heard of sittings of the Native Land Court taking place, in which his wife was interested, but was too busy to attend. [Letter read.] The position therefore seems to be this: that Mr. Cunningham, according to his own showing, had apparently neglected his wife's interests, and allowed her claim to lapse. I have not been able to ascertain definitely the nature of her claims. 2. Mr. Hamlin.] Are these two petitioners sisters of Mrs. Kate Wyllie, as stated in the petition ? —I am not aware except from the statement made in the petition. In a letter from Mr. Cunningham it is also stated that his wife is a sister of Mrs. Wyllie. Correspondence has taken place on the matter. I have a letter here from Mr. Cunningham. I will read it if the Committee desire.