7

a.—9

matter of the application of the persons for the investigation of their claims to be interested in the blocks of land named in the first column of the Schedule hereto, it was ordered that a memorial of ownership of the several persons respectively named in the third column of the said Schedule be inscribed on a separate folium of the Court Eolls. Witness the hand of John Eogan, Esquire, and the seal of the Court, the 20th day of December, 1876. J. Eogan, Judge.

These notices are wrong, for, I repeat, no such orders were ever made. Several Maoris made application for the rehearing of the Owhaoko Block. This appears in a petition by Topia Turoa and various others, stating that their land was adjudicated upon at Turanga, orGisborne, that the case was set down for hearing at Napier, and adjourned. As for the hearing at Turanga, they heard nothing of it. The petition is dated the 31st January, 1878; so that it was within a few weeks after the notice in the Kahiti of the adjudication on the Owhaoko Block. The petition was as follows (translated) : — Feiend, — Tapuaeharuru, Taupo, 31st January, 1878. Salutations to you, the parent of the Native people of this Island. This is a petition from us, praying that the case of our land Owhaoko at Ngararoro may be reopened. We have only now heard that that land was adjudicated on at Turanga (Gisborne), the case having been adjourned from Napier. As for this hearing at Gisborne, we heard nothing whatever about it, and did not see a single Kahiti. Therefore we pray that you will be pleased to have that land reopened, because we, the whole tribe of Tuwharetoa, have large interests in that land. From your friends, Topia Turoa. Hohepa Tamamutu. Perenara te Papanui. Eawiri Kahia. Te Eangitahau. Te Eehu te Keka. Te Heuheu. Paurini Karamu. Te Eehu te Keka. To the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of New Zealand. When it was received by His Excellency is not mentioned; but on the 27th May, 1878, it was forwarded for the consideration of Ministers; and was recorded in the Native Land Office on the 28th May, 1878. The petition was referred, by the order of the Acting Native Minister, Mr. Ballance, to the Chief Judge; and he minuted as follows : — Hon. the Native Minister.—There seems to be an absence of positive information about this block ; but that very fact disposes me to think that there should be a rehearing, which I respectfully recommend. On the same paper there is a minute in Judge Eogan's handwriting (it had been referred to him by Judge Fenton to report on the facts), as follows : — This land passed the Land Court at Napier without opposition. I am not able to say whether Topia has a claim or not. I know little or nothing of the boundary or the Natives. Mr. Locke, I believe, sent notices of the sitting of the Court to the applicants. I submit that Mr. Locke's opinion should be taken on this application. He knows the people, and was the District Officer.— J. Eogan, 21/8/78. It was then referred by Judge Fenton to Mr. Locke, who minuted as follows:—

Block. Area. Owners. iwhaoko No. 1 (School Eeserve) Acres. 28,601 Eenata Kawepo, Ihakara te Earo, Eefcl mana te Eango, Noa Huke, Hira te Oke, Karaitiana te Eango. Ditto. iwhaoko No. 2 (Mataipuku) ! A. r. p. 1181 1 16