9

GL—4

Monday, 30th October, 1882.

Covet resumed. Present and place the same. D. G. McKay, called by Mr. Harris : I have been a resident for some time in this district. I have been buying- and selling land. I am also a runholder, and, conjointly with others, was the purchaser of 400 acres of land from Kate Wyllie. I know the block marked Tapatoho on the plan. I have been through it often during the last seven years. I have valued the land before in sections. The block as a whole was'worth about £8 per acre at the time of sale by the Government. All below the road, and many of the sections above, are good grazing land; it is the best agricultural land in the district. By Mr. Locke : The upset price at Government sale was £4 per acre, if I remember right. As a matter of fact, the Patutahi lands fetched, some of them, three and four (pounds ?) more than the upset price. Mr. Harris (Eurera Harete) hands in telegram from Mr. Sheehan, dated the 29th April, 1878 ; also telegram from Mr. Harris to Mr. Sheehan, same date; also a memorandum of different expenses incurred by him in prosecuting his claim, amounting to £89. Mr. Harris's (Eruera Harete's) case closed. H. T. Claeke, Commissioner.

To the Honourable the Speakee of the House of Eepeesentatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned Native half-caste of Turanga, Gisborne, respectfully showeth : (1.) That your petitioner and his immediate relations are justly entitled, in accordance with Native custom, to a portion of the Patutahi Block, known as Tapatoho, comprising 522 acres and 20 perches. (2.) That the title of the Government to the said Patutahi Block was obtained by a deed of cession from the the Turanga Natives in 1869. (3.) That the said Block Tapatoho was given by one Eapata Whakapuhia to the then Native Minister, J. E. Richmond, Esq., upon his demand, for the purpose of locating the Ngatiporou, who were then the allies of the Government in putting down existing disturbances in that district. (4.) That the said land never belonged to the said Rapata Whakapuhia, as it belonged to the sub-tribe Whanauo Wharepirau, of which your petitioner is one of the principal members. (5.) That in August, 1860, your petitioner wrote to the Government objecting to any of his landed rights being prejudiced by any deed of cession from the Natives of Turanga to the Crown, nor has your petitioner ever signed such deed'-of cession. (6.) That the said Block Tapatoho has never been applied to the purpose indicated in Mr. Richmond's request, and has since been sold by the Government. (7.) Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your honourable House to take his case under your consideration, and compensate him or them for the loss of the said land. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray. E. F. Haebis.

The Hon. Mr. Sheehan to Mr. Habeis, Native Interpreter, Gisborne. Mr. Harris, Native Interpreter, Gisborne. Auckland, 29th April, 1878. I have given fullest consideration to Papatu and Patutahi matters, and carefully perused the evidence taken down in the books of the Court. I do not see how I can interfere ; the sale must go on, and your remedy, if a wrong has been done, will be to petition Parliament. J. Sheehan.

Mr. E. F. Hakeis to the Hon. the Native Ministee, Auckland. The Native Minister, Auckland. Gisborne, 29th April, 1878. Be Patutahi, as requested, I remind you that I am awaiting your reply. E. F. Habeis.

Expenditure incurred by E. F. Habeis re his Patutahi Claims. 1878. £ s. d. April 12. Return-tickets to Auckland, self and Hapi Keniha ... 16 0 0 April 27. Sixteen days' expenditure, inclusive of one week's detention in Auckland by the Hon. the Native Minister, self and Hapi ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 0 Aug. 23. To twelve weeks' expenses to the 13th November, 1878, proceeding to and returning from Wellington re my petition to Parliament about Tapotohotoho ... ... ... 48 0 0 Steamer fare to Wellington and return ... ~, ...1000 £89 0 0

Henaee Tomoana's Claim. Hbnaee Tomoana, oh behalf of himself and relatives, claims to be entitled to a portion of the Patutahi Block, in consideration for military services rendered on the East Coast. Henare Tomoana gives evidence himself. Mr. Locke appears on behalf of the Crown; hands in, in evidence, deed-receipt, dated the 12th November, 1875, and nominal roll of Ngatikahungunu, who served on the East Coast; and calls Captain Porter to give evidence. Henare Tomoana proves clearly the militaryservices rendered by himself and people to the Crown ; the promise of land in Patutahi Block ; the payment of money in lieu thereof to a large majority of Ngatikahungunu; but denies that either he or his relatives, mentioned in his letter of the 6th March, 1879 [produced], received any money, as they declined to receive anything except the land. Mr Locke 2— G. 4.