F.—No. 11

outlawry against the Petitioner and his partner Engst, until the said fine of five pounds, inflicted in direct violation of law by his predecessor, was paid into his Court by the Petitioner, and that subsequently he has returned official communications from the Petitioner unopened, and refused to receive them, apparently because the Petitioner, dissatisfied with a long series of wrongs, had applied for redress to the Government. The Committee are unanimously of opinion that so strong a case is made out prima facia against both the former and present Eesident Magistrates, as to require the Government to institute inquiries on the spot with as little delay as possible. J. Ceaceoft Wilson, C.B. 28th September, 18G6. Chairman. No. 48. POIHIPI, TUKAIEANGI, AND OTHEES OF THE AEAWA TRIBE. I am directed by the Committee to report that the Petition is signed by the leading chiefs of the Arawa tribe ; that the Committee has examined at length the Hon. J. C. Eichmond, whose evidence appended to this report proves the good services rendered by the tribe, and establishes the fact that the tribe has received about £1500 in cash, about £250 in gratuities and pensions to the wounded, and nearly £3000 in rations, or £5850 in all. It appears to the Committee that the Arawa tribe has a special claim upon the favorable consideration of Government. A perusal of the detailed account of what passed at the meeting held by Colonel Eussell, the late Native Minister, at Makctu, on the 23rd and 24th of May last, has convinced the Committee that the real wish of the tribe is to obtain the blessings of civilization, and they consider that so favorable an opportunity for effecting so desirable an end should at once be seized by Government. They think that all sums raised by the tribe for the purposes of establishing schools, making roads, &c, &c, throughout their district, should be supplemented by a similar sum on the part of the Government, from the amount devoted to Native purposes, and that an officer, who would devote himself to raising the tribe in the scale of civilization, should bo appointed to reside among them, by whom their differences could be adjusted, and through whom the desired improvements could be carried out to completion. J. Ceaceoft Wilson, C.8., 27th September, 1566. Chairman. Statement on the Petition of Poiiiipi, Tukaieangi, and others of the Arawa tribe. The Honourable J. C. Eichmond attended the Committee, and made the following statement: — The Petitioners assert that their tribe has been engaged on the part of Her Majesty in endeavoring to arrest the murderers of Mr. Fulloon, and that they have received only £1500, which amounts to two pounds five shillings per man for three months labor and fighting. The Arawas have been employed since September, 1863, when they were instructed to prevent the passage through their territory of Ngatiporou, Ngatiawa, and other natives from the Bay of Plenty en route, to Waikato. The tribe had feuds with the neighbouring tribes, and probably were not unwilling to undertake the above task. The Governor promised in return to be a support to the Arawas. They seem to have done their duty in this matter, and thus brought upon themselves the hostility of the Ngatiawa and other tribes. Their position at the time of Mr. Volkner's murder in March, 18G5, is described in Mr. Smith's report to Government, under date 9th March, 1865, (Appendix 1565, E. No. 5, page 7.) He writes thus : " I would take this opportunity of requesting the serious attention of the Government to the state of this district, especially with reference to the position of the Arawa. These tribes have incurred the enmity of their neighbours by espousing the cause of the Pakeha. They are open to attack from several quarters. They are insufficiently armed, and no adequate provision has been made for supplying them with the means of defence in case of attack. There arc only fifty stand of arms now available for distribution in case of emergency. They have been promised that every assistance which it is in the power of the Government to afford shall be given to them. The overland communication may be stopped at any time. I regard the present state of affairs as critical. The Whakatohea (the Opotiki Natives) will probably now feel that they are committed to a final struggle, and if they can succeed in raising the tribes beyond them, may take the initiative against the Arawa. The latter have, I submit, proved themselves faithful and worthy to be trusted. I think that at least arrangements should bo made by the Government to ensure a sufficient supply of arms and ammunition being within reach, in case of their being needed. About 170 stand of Government arms have been supplied to the Arawa, and about the same number would be required iv addition to arm the whole adult population." Arms were distributed to the Arawas and rations were given them, and they were called upon by Mr. Smith to arrest Kereopa and Patara and the other murderers of Mr. Yolkncr. They were very hard pressed, and suffered severe losses in killed and wounded in the attempt to carry out their instructions, and they also lost the season for planting potatoes and other crops. They took some prisoners, but they failed in securing Kereopa and Patara, who were the ringleaders in the murder of Mr. Yolkncr. On the 22nd July, 1865, Mr. Fulloon and the people on board the schooner " Kate" were murdered by the Ngatiawa Natives, at Whakatane, and the Arawas were again called upon by the Government to support a warrant to capture the murderers, and by their assistance a great number of those engaged in the murder of Mr. Fulloon were arrested. Their pervices have been emphaticallyacknowledged by tho two last Ministers, and they have during the period under review received about £2600 in cash, £250 in gratuities and pensions to the wounded, and rations to the value of nearly £3000. No distinct promise was given them, but the late Native Minister, Colonel Eussell, hinted, at a meeting held in May last, at Maketu, that if they wished to have schools, roads, &c, Government would supplement the contribution of the tribe by an expenditure of equal amount. J. C. Eichmond. 4

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ON PUBLIC PETITIONS.