10

1.—2

[Translation.] No 314, Sess. II.; No. 360, Sess. II.; No. 248, Sess. II.; No. 249, Sess. II.; No. 263, Sess. II.; No. 247, Sess. II.; No. 379, Sess. II.; No. 134, Sess. II.; No. 169, Sess. II; No. 170, Sess. II.; and No. 426, Sess, 11. —Nga Pukapuka-inoi a Maihaee Tamatamaarani ; Aea'ma Mokonuiarangi and Others; Whiti Patato (No. 2) ; Rei Parewhanake and Others; Reperia Ngataieparino ; Te Whiti Patato (No. 1); Hoepa Hikutaia ; W. P. Kakakura and Others; Baniera Erihana and Others (No. 1); Banieea Erihana and Others (No. 2); and Tamati Tarawhata and Others. E inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia whakakorea te Ture Reiti i runga i o ratou whenua kahore ano i karatitia. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Ko nga kai-pitihana katoa emea ana kia whakakorea nga reiti Whenua Maori kahore nei ano i karatitia me tuku kite Kawanatanga ki whakaarohia ma reira pea c hanga ai he Ture mo runga i enei reiti. 20 Oketopa, 1884.

No. 177, Sess. ll.—Petition of Wilson and Frere and Others (No. 1). Petitioners state they are leaseholders of Native reserves on the West Coast confiscated territory. Their leases were confirmed by His Excellency the Governor, under " The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, .1881," and the Amendment Act of 1883, subject to the conditions contained in the leases. They pray that, in addition, they may be allowed valuation for improvements, and, so far as possible, their leases may contain the same conditions as those granted by the Public Trustee. I am directed to report as follows : — That the question of renewal of the leases mentioned in this petition is of peculiar difficulty ; but the Committee considers that it might be disposed of to the advantage of both the lessees and the Natives by the surrender of. such existing leases as were made prior to 1879, and giving in exchange new leases under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Acts, at rents to be computed upon the present improved value of the land. This would give the Natives at once the full yearly value of the land, and would leave the lessees free to continue to improve the freehold. In any renewal to be made under this recommendation the West Coast Commissioner should be most careful to observe the conditions of clause 8 pf " The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881" in reference to acting in concert with the Native owners. 21st October, 1884.

[Translation.] No. 177, Sess. ll.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wirihana me Periri me etahi atu (No. 1). E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he kai riihi ratou no etahi whenua i te Tai Hauauru Takiwa rau patuI whakamana aua riihi c te Kawana i raro o " Te Ture Whakatau Rahui ote Ta,i Hauauru, 1881," me te Ture Whakatikatika, 1883, i raro ano i nga tikanga c mau ana i roto i te riihi. E inoi ana hoki ratou kia utua ta ratou whakapainga i te whenua a kia whakaurua hoki ki roto i ta ratou riihi nga tikanga pera me era i whakaritea c te kai tiaki o te tokomaha. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Ko te take whakahou i nga riihi i whakahuatia i roto i tenei pitihana c ahua uaua ana otira c whakaaro ana te Komiti c ahei ano te whakarite hei painga mo nga kai riihi mo nga Maori hoki i runga i te whakakore o nga riihi c mau nei i hanga i mua o te tau 1879 me hoatu hei tapiri mo era, he riihi hou i raro o te Ture Whakatau Rahui o te Tai Hauauru ; ko nga utu o te reti me whakarite ano i runga i tona ahua ano o te whenua c takoto nei ma tenei c riro ai i nga Maori nga utu tika mo te whenua i ia tau, i ia tau a ka waiho raruraru kore nga kai riihi kite whakapai i te whenua. I roto i nga whakahoutanga katoa c whakahaere ana i raro i tenei tikanga me tino tupato nga Komihana o te Tai Hauauru kite titiro i nga tikanga o te rarangi tuawaru o " Te Ture Whakatau Rahui o te Tai Hauauru, 1881," i runga i te whakahaere tahi me nga Maori whai take. 21 Oketopa, 1884.

No. 178, Sess. ll.—Petition of Wilson and Frere and Others (No. 2). Petitioners state that they are leaseholders of Native reserves on the West Coast confiscated territory, whose leases were not recommended to the Governor for confirmation by the West Coast Commissioner through having been entered into after the date of the passing of " The Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners Trials Acts, 1879." They pray, first, that their leases may be validated; and, secondly, that new leases may be granted to them by 'the Public Trustee, subject to the conditions contained in their existing leases. I am directed to report as follows : — That the Committee recommends that Government should causae inquiry to be made into the equities of these leases, aud,"if they are satisfied that the rents and other conditions are fair and just, should cause .the leases to be confirmed, with such alterations as may be necessary, to protect the interest of the Native owners; but, as the lessees are not without blame in their negotiations, they ought not to have improvement clauses or the right of renewal at the expiration of existing 21st October, 1884.