1.—3

28

Nos. 656 and 665, 1891, Sess. 11. — Petitions of Thomas Birrell and 4G Others, Hirini Nei and Another. Petitioners pray that a competent tribunal may be constituted for the purpose of settling the numerous disputes and difficulties which surround all dealings with Native lands. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that these petitions should be referred to the Government.

17th September, 1891. [Translation.] Nos. 656 and 665, 1891, Sess. II. —Pukapuka-inoi a Thomas Birrel me etahi atu c 46 me Hirini Nei me etahi atu. B inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia whakaturia etahi kaiwhakawa liei whakawa i nga tini raruraru me nga tautohe i runga i nga whenua Maori. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E whakaaro ana tenei Komiti me tuku tenei pitihana ki te Kawanatanga kia uiuia nga tikanga. 17 o Hepetema, 1891.

No. 486, 1889.—Petition of Kipa te Whatanui. Petitioner prays for a fresh investigation in the matter of Tekaroro, No. 2 F., in order that his claim to the portion called Te Waka may be recognised. I am directed to report as follows : That the petitioner through the action of the Native Land Court has an undoubted grievance. The facts elicited are as follows—viz.: that on the Ist day of April, 1874, the Ngakaroro Block No. 2 was adjudicated on by the Native Land Court. The petitioner was admitted to be the owner of the portion of the block called Te Waka. He was led to believe that all he had to do was to get a survey made of the said portion, and bring the matter again before the Native Land Court when a title would be conferred on him. On the 22nd April, 1874, the list of owners for the block was handed in for the purpose of being placed on the records of the Court; the name of Kipa te Whatanui was, however, omitted therefrom. Subsequently, the matter was —more than onee —brought before the Court by the petitioner, but, his name not being on the list of owners, his particular case could not be dealt with. All the official correspondence and memoranda on the subject admits the petitioner's case, and, in some instances, redress is promised. Taking these facts into consideration, the Committee is of opinion that the matter should be referred to the Government for inquiry and favourable consideration.

17th September, 1891. [Translation.] No. 486, 1889.—Pukapuka-inoi a Kipa Te Whatanui. E inoi ana te kai-pitihana kia whakawakia ano Te Karoro, No. 2F. Poraka, kia tau tika ai ana take kite wahi c kiia nei ko te Waka te ingoa. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: Kahore i ruarua te whakaaro i tau ano tetahi mate ki runga ite kai-pitihana i runga i nga mahi ate Kooti Whenua Maori. Na ko nga take tenei. No te tahi o nga ra o Aperira, 1874, ka whakawakia te Ngakaroro Poraka No. 2 c te Kooti Whenua Maori a i whakaaetia ano te tika ote take ate kai-pitihana kite Waka. A i runga i tana i rongo ai heoi te mahi mana he whakahau kia ruritia taua wahi a ka mau mai ano i tana keehi kite aroaro o te Kooti kei reira ka whakatuturutia tana take ki aia. No te 2 o nga o Aperira, 1874, ka tukuna te rarangi ingoa o nga tangata whai take kite Poraka kia tuhituhia ki roto i nga pukapuka o te Kooti, heoi mahue ake te ingoa o Kipa te Whatanui i roto i taua rarangi ingoa. I muri iho hemaha nga mauranga mai c te kai-pitihana i tana keehi kite aroaro o te Kooti erangi kihai i whakahaerea etc Kooti no te mea kihai tona ingoa i uru kite rarangi ingoa o nga tangata whai take. Kotahi nei ia te mea c whakaaetia ana te keehi a te kai-pitihana c nga pukapuka o nga tari a kei etahi i whakaaetia kia tukuna tetahi ora ki aia. Akuanei i runga ite whiriwhiringa i enei take katoa etc Komiti c whakaaro ana ratou me tuku tenei pitihana kite Kawanatanga kia uiuia nga tikanga me te ata whiriwhiri hoki c ratou i enei take. 17 o Hepetema, 1891.

No. 274, 1890.—Petition of Hemi Waaka and 30 Others. Petitioners pray that the Government will cause an investigation into their grievances said to have been caused through the actions of Mr. Eees and Wi Pere in connection with the Pakowhai Block and other lands in Muriwai, Gisborne. I am directed to report as follows : The Committee, having gone fully into the particulars of this case, and having taken the evidence of Hemi Waaka ("the principal petitioner), Wi Pere, and W. L. Eees, M.H.E. (the trustees complained of in the petition), and the Hon. Captain Eussell, the Hon. G. F. Eichardson, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond (printed copy attached, Paper 1.-3 a), is of opinion that it is absolutely necessary that the Government, considering the position of affairs, should, in the interests of the Natives and others who have just and equitable rights, step in and take, or assist in taking, some action by which relief can be given to the injured parties. 18th September, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 274, 1890.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hemi Waaka me etahi atu c 30. B inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia whakaturia tetahi whakawa mo a ratou mate c ki ana i puta mai i runga i nga mahi a te Biihi raua ko Wi Pere mo runga i te Pakowhai Poraka me etahi atu whenua i Muriwai i Kihipane,