1.—3

No. 318.—Petition of Raiha Puaha and 11 Others. Petitioners protest against the passing of the Kapiti Island Public Reserve Bill. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 16th December, 1897.

[Translation.] No. 318.—Pitihana a Raiha Puaha me etahi atu tekau ma tahi. E whakahe ana nga kai-pitihana mo te Pire Rahui i Kapiti Motu mo te Iwi Katoa kia kaua c paahitia. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, kite whakaaro o te Komiti me tuku atu tenei pitihana ki te Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiria. 16 o Tihema, 1897.

Decrees under "The Native Land (Validation of Titles) Act, 1893." I have the honour to report that the Committee have had the various parliamentary papers containing the decrees made by the Validation Court appointed under " The Native Land (Validation of Titles) Act, 1893," before them, and they cannot recommend the House to interfere with any decisions contained therein. 16th December, 1897.

[Translation.] Ripoata mo runga i nga Kupu-whakatau i raro i " Te Tube Whenua Maori (Whakamana • , Take), 1893." E whai honore ana ahau kite ripoata, kua tae mai kite aroaro o te Komiti nga pukapuka maha o te Paremete, mo nga Kupu-whakatau a Te Kooti Whakamana Take i whakaturia nei i raro i " Te Ture Whenua Maori (Whakamana Take), 1893," a kaore te Komiti c whai kupu kia araia c te Whare nga whakatau a te Kooti kua tuhia nei ki roto ki aua pukapuka. 16 o Tihema, 1897.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee held its final meeting of the present session this morning. Eighty petitions were referred for report, some twenty-eight of which were only received during the last week. Time only allowed of twenty-eight being considered and reported on. The fifty-two petitions enumerated in the accompanying list remain undealt with, and will be brought up next session. The following Bills were referred for consideration, viz. : the Native Land Bill (Mr. Wi Pere), the Maori Council Constitution Bill (Mr. Kaihau), the Horowhenua Block Act Amendment Bill, and the Kapiti Jsland Public Eeserve Bill. The last two Bills were duly considered and reported on. In each case evidence was taken, and a transcript of the same will be found in Appendix 1.-3b and 1.-3 c. 16th December, 1897.

Petitions undealt with.

10

No. Petitioner. By whom presented. 27 33 78 139 155 • 161 171 172 173 191 192 206 207 208 231 239 246 258 259 260 262 263 264 265 269 276 271 287 300 301 305 819 Meiha Keepa te Rangihiwinui Eru Toe and another Apiata te Parehuia and 40 others.. Maata Kihirini Kipa te Whatanui Ani Paki Ngawhika Tikitere and 3 others .. Brna Tini Enoka and another Kararaina Kaimoana and 59 others Te Kahui Kararehe Riria Tinirongoa Wi Mahuri Mataitaua.. Wi Patene Torohanga and 45 others Wawa Tuahiahi Maewa Hakirangi and 6 others Tamihana Huata and 51 others Toke Roko Gourlay Tahawera Waipa and 5 others Hone Tuhata (John Damon) Wi Kingi Hori and 5 others Ataneta Wharekiri Hori Herehere and 16 others .. .. .. Topia Turoa Te Kowhai Tarahina and 32 others Thomas Thorns Parahiku Waiporo and 69 others .. T. H. Smith J. Brown and another, for Kauri Timber Company (Limited) Heta Matua and another Emu te Urupa Tiakitai Te Whare Kotua and 19 others Mapu te Amotu and 2 others Hon. Sir H. Stout. Mr. Houston. Mr. Peru. Mr. Kaihau. Mr. Fisher. Mr. Pore. Mr. Kaihau. Mr. Pere. Mr. Parata. Hon. J. Carroll. Hon. G. F. Richardson. Mr. Pere. Mr."Heke. Hon. Sir Maurice O'Rorke. Mr. Hemes. Mr. MoGowan. Mr. Pere. Jlr. Herries. Mr. Kaihau.