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If further evidence be required to establish Petitioner's right to the land recently disputed, he may mention that when the late Colonel Wakefield arrived at Hokianga, in the ship " Tory," as agent for the Xew Zealand Company, with the deeds of Petitioner, that he, Colonel Wakefield, was put in possession of Petitioner's land by the natives without a murmur. This fact is attested in Colonel Wakefield's despatch to the New Zealand Company, a printed copy of which your Petitioner holds. The deeds of your Petitioner had formerly been transferred to the New Zealand Company on stipulated conditions The Company failed to perform their agreement, and the deeds were returned to Petitioner through Mr. W. S. (irahame, of Auckland. In conclusion, your Petitioner respectfully but confidently appeals to your Honourable House for a calm and dispassionate consideration of his ease—the decision of which will materially influence the fortunes of a large family. On public, as well as individual grounds, Petitioner feels that he has some, and not small claims for the favourable consideration of his prayer; but he waives this plea, and is content to rely upon his right to participate in the privileges and protection granted to the humblest class of Her Majesty's subjects at Hokianga. Your Petitioner begs leave to state a few out of the many grievances under which he has suffered loss. A number of spars, sufficient to have loaded three large ships, —reserved as the last remnant of his property for the benefit of his children, —were felled and taken from Motu Karaka by the Popa-hudi-hea and his people, at the "instigation of unprincipled Europeans ; the spars were for contract purposes, and would have realized, at Admiralty prices, about £15,000. The Popa-hudi-hea was the principal instigator in promoting the Heke war. Extensive encroachments have been, and still continue to be, made on the Motu Karaka property, for which a Crown grant was given, on Petitioner's application for it, on behalf of his children (nine); and with reference to the land contiguous to his homestead (Te Horihe), the deed of which Petitioner holds, encroachments on a similar scale as those committed at Motu Karaka are made from time to time by the natives. A chief, Te Whare-pupa, on the plea that the ground belonged to him, hewed down a strong poridi post-and-railing fence, inconsequence of which a valuable collection of trees, shrubs, and plants were destroyed by the cattle, and the gardens of Petitioner laid waste. To render the work of destruction more vexatious, the chief alluded to selected three Sabbaths in succession to gratify his malicious propensities. It would occupy too much of the Honorable Members' time to enter into further details of the galling grievances that your Petitioner has been subject to. He deferentially suggests that the Government should take his claims into its own hands, and give Petitioner, who individually is powerless to struggle against the difficulties so likely to be created by the natives, a fair equivalent, either of land, or right of selection by scrip, elsewhere, within the limits of Crown territory. Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays that your Honorable House will take the subject of this his petition into your consideration ; and after enquiry made, in such manner as to you may seem best, that your Honorable House will recommend to his Excellency the Governor to grant to your Petitioner such satisfaction as you may deem your Petitioner, in equity and justice, to be entitled to. And your Petitioner will ever pray, &c. (Signed) THOMAS iM'DONNELL, Commander R.N.
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