5

1.—2,

partly on account of the state of the law, and partly because of the poverty of the litigants. This is very hard ; but the scandal is not loss. Lawsuits such as this are, it is said, entered upon by the advice or at the instance of parties interested in getting lawyers' fees or the chance of lawcosts, or in hope of levying black-mail upon the European occupiers. Lawsuits of a similar kind have either been entered upon or threatened in several other cases in the same neighbourhood, and insecurity is generally folt in regard to titles. Even success in Court may insure ruin to the unfortunate holders. The Committee thinks that, considering the colonial interests at stake, the Government should get its legal advisers, the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General, to carefully consider the matter in its legal bearings, and should itself consider it in its political and social aspects, with a view to an equitable settlement. The economic value of a cheap and effective determination is incalculable. Expensive and protracted proceedings too often mean a total denial of justice. The Government might further consider how far compensation is due to the petitioners, whether legally or morally. 31st May, 1887.

[Translation .] No. 66. —Pukapuka-inoi a Tamati Kaeaihi me Hone Pene. B mea ana nga kai-pitihana he mii a ratou mom kua pau he nui hoki to raua raruraru i runga i nga mahi ate Kooti Whenua Maori mo runga ite Pukekura poraka. E ki ana no hoki c pera ano to ratou raruraru i runga i tetahi atu poraka c karangatia nei ko Puahoe. E inoi ana ratou mo tetahi ora, kia whakahokia hoki a ratou moni i pau. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: Ko nga korero c mau nei i roto i te pitihana kahoro c tautohea, kahore hoki i ruarua te whakaaro ko nga moni i ngaro c whakahuatia nei i ngaro i runga i nga mahi te Kooti Whenua Maori. Na tenei hoki i tahuri ai nga kai-pitihana kite whakahaere i roto i tetahi Kooti ta ratou take ki nga poraka whenua kua whakaingoatia ara a Pukekura me Puahoe. Eki ana i tae nga utu mo te whakahaerenga o aua poraka i roto i nga Kooti ki nga moni c £6,000. Ko te rahi hoki ote whenua i rihitia i tae kite 8,395 eka mo nga eka 8,612 heoi kihai wiini nga kai-pitihana i te whakahaerenga i a ratou kehi i roto i te Kooti Hupirime i roto hoki i to Kooti Tono o Niutireni, otia kua tukuna tetahi tono whakawa ki Ingarangi a ko nga utu mo taua whakawakanga ekore c taea c te tangata te whakaaro. Na ahakoa i whakataua he utu ki nga kai-pitihana mo te whakawakanga mo ta ratou kehi heoi ekore o taea c ratou te tono i aua utu ki nga Maori notema na te ahua o te ture i te tuatahi i muri iho na te powhara o nga kaipitihana. He mate nui rawa tenei, ko te whakahawea ia kihai iti. E kiia ana ko nga whakawa penei he mea whakahaere i runga i te tono a te hunga c whai ana kia riro he moni ma ratou i runga i te whakahaerenga o nga kehi i roto i te Kooti i runga ranei i te tumanako kia Parakimeratia te hunga c noho ana i runga i aua whenua. Kua tukuna etahi tono whakawa whakawehi ranei mo etahi kehi penei ano i roto ano i taua takiwa a c tv ahua wehi ana nga tangata hoko kite tika 0 a ratou take ki nga whenua. A ahakoa wiini te tangata i roto ite Kooti, ko tona tukunga iho he powhara. A i runga ite whakaaro ote Komiti c raruraru ana nga take a nga tangata ote koroni. Ko te mea tika me whakahau c te Kawanatanga nga roia whai mana o te Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiria aua take i runga i ta te Ture kia hohoro ai te whakaoti tika i aua raruraru he mea nui hoki te whiriwhiri te whakaoti i aua mea i runga ite utu mama. He mea ano hoki i runga i etahi whakahaere nga utu nui c tino takahia ana nga huarahi o te tika. Ko tetahi mea hoki hei whiriwhiri ma te Kawanatanga he pehea te nui o te utu c tika ana kia utua ki nga kai-pitihana ahakoa i runga 1 ta Ture i runga ranei inga whakaaro a te tangata. 31 o Mci, 1887.

No. 32. —Petition of Mary Ann Tandy Thompson. Petitioner who is a half-caste, prays that Government will award her all lands, goods, and chattels that belonged to her stepmother and her mother, as she is the only heir to the said property. I am directed to report as follows : That the Committee has no recommendation to make. 31st May, 1887.

[Translation.] No. 32.—Pukapuka-inoi a Mere Ana Tani Tamjhana. Ko te kai-pitihana c inoi nei he Hawhekaiho a c inoi ana kite Kawanatanga kia whakataua nga whenua me nga taonga a tona auwhaea me nga taonga a tona whaea riofcemea ko ia tonu te tiri tika hei takanga mai mo aua taonga. Kua whakahatia ahau kia ki penei: Kahore he kupu ato Komiti mo runga i tenei tono. 31 o Mci, 1887.

No. 3. —Petition of Hemi Mom and 173 Others. Petitioners pray that inquiry may bo made into the sale of the Tamahere-Tauwhare Block, and if it be found that the petitioners have suffered thereby relief may be afforded them. I am directed to report as follows : That the honourable member in charge of this petition requests that the consideration may be postponed till next session, to give the pstitioners an opportunity of having the action of the Government and the legal bearings of the case explained to them by him, and thus perhaps save them the expense of prosecuting a very slender claim (if any). The Committee recommends this course, Ist June, 1887.