1.—3

28

Nos. 467, 677, 707, 708, 727, 728, 741, 749, 751, 766, 767, 768, 769, and 781, 1904—Petitions of Wiri Herangi and 42 Others, Niniwa Kiterangi and 1,779 Others, Hemi te Rauoterangi and 75 Others, Whatitihi and 38 Others, Tauhou Tana and 135 Others, Hone Teri Paerata and 149 Others, Te Heuheu Tukino aud 128 Others, Tuiri Takiwa and 36 Others, Maku Rangitupoki and 35 Others, Tupu Taingakawa and 1,548 Others, Para Haimona and 1,767 Others, Te Marae and 126 Others, Pepene Eketone aud 388 Others, and Taituha Hingaia and 47 Others. Petitioners pray that the Maoris may be placed on the same footing as Europeans with regard to dealing with their lands. I am directed to report that, as these petitions refer to a question of policy, the Committee offers no opinion as to their merits, but recommends that they be referred to the Government for consideration. 14th October, 1904. (Note. —This report was not ordered to lie on table. Debate interrupted by 5.30 p.m. adjournment.)

[Translation.] Nos. 467, 677, 707, 708, 727, 728, 741, 749, 751, 766, 767, 768, 769, me 781, 1904—Pitihana a Wiri Herangi me etahi atu c wha tekau ma rua, Niniwa kite Rangi me etahi atu kotahi mano c whitu rave whitu tekau ma iwa, Hemi te Rau o te Rangi me etahi atu c whitu tekau ma rima, Whatitihi me etahi atu c toru tekau ma waru, Tauhou Tana me etahi atu kotahi rave toru tekau ma rima, Hone Teri Paerata me etahi atu kotahi rave wha tekau ma iwa, Te Heuheu Tukino me etahi atu kotahi rave rua tekau ma waru, Tuiri Takiwa me etahi atu c toru tekau ma ono, Maku Rangitupoki me etahi atu c toru tekau ma rima, Tupu Taingakawa me etahi atu kotahi mano c rima rave wha tekau ma waru, Para Haimona me etahi atu kotahi mano c whitu rave ono tekau ma whitu, Te Marae me etahi atu kotahi rave rua tekau ma ono, Pepene Eketone me etahi atu c toru rave waru tekau ma warn, me Taituha Hingaia me etahi atu c wha tekau ma whitu. E inoi ana kia whakaturia tahitia nga Maori ki runga kite turanga kotahi me nga Pakeha mo runga mo nga whakahaere tanga o o ratou whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, i runga i te mea c pa ana enei pitihana ki runga kite tikanga porihi, no reira kaore kau a te Komiti kupu mo te tika mo te pewhea ranei o aua pitihana, engari c mea ana me tuku atu kite Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiria. 14 o Oketopa, 1904. (Kupu whakamarama. —Kaore tenei ripoata i whakahaua kia takoto i runga i te tepu, i haukotia nga whaikorero c te hikitanga o te Whare i te hawhe paahi o te rima i te ahiahi.)

No. 689, 1903. —Petition of Ateraira Nopera and Another. Petitioners pray that their claims to Whakapuaka Block, Nelson District, may be heard. I am directed to report that the Committee, having exhaustively dealt with the petitioner's case in 1896, has no further recommendation to make. 18th October, 1904.

[Translation.] No. 689, 1903. —Pitihana a Ateraira Nopera me tetahi atu. E inoi ana kia whakawakia o ratou kereme ki Whakapuaka Poraka, kei te Takiwa o Nerihana. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, i te mea kua kaha rawa te whiriwhiri a te Komiti i te keehi a te kai-pitihana i te tau 1898, no reira kaore kau he kupu ke atu a te Komiti i naianei 18 o Oketopa, 1904.

No. 791, 1904.—Petition of Heni Matene and 11 Others. Petitioners pray for inquiry into reserves set aside for them at Cloudy Bay. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 19th October, 1904.

[Translation.] No. 791, 1904. —Pitihana a Heni Matene me etahi atu tekau ma tahi. E inoi ana kia tv he uiuinga mo nga wahi rahui i wehea mo ratou i Karauri Pei. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, kaore kau he kupu a te Komiti mo runga i tenei pitihana 19 o Oketopa, 1904.

No. 889, 1904.—Petition of Thomas Cook and 2 Others. Petitioners pray for consideration as landless Natives. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the question of dealing with landless Natives is one of a general character, and for the Government to deal with ; in this special case the Committee has no recommendation to make. 19th October, 1904,