H.—No. 11,

ORDERED TO BE FEINTED.

On the Petition of— Pa Se 1. 554 Natives of Hawke's Bay, for inquiry into land transactions ... ... ... 3 2. 100 Maoris residing in the District of Wanganui, for alteration of the Native Land Laws... 3 3. Hone Nahe and others, that lawyers and European agents may not practise in Native Lands Court ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 4. Te Hata and others, for payment for military service ... ... ... ... 4 5. Henare Pukuatua and 135 others, on various subjects ... ... ... ... 4 6. Keke (Mrs. Cowell), for restoration of Confiscated Land ... ... ... ... 4 7. Pehimana Tahua and 32 others, for restoration of Confiscated Land ... ... ... 4 8. Eruru te Ngahu and 21 others, relative to the shooting of Pahu by McAskill ... ... 4 9. 513 Natives of Hawke's Bay, for inquiring into working of Native Land Laws ... ... 4 10. Tikawenga and 171 other Natives of Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, that the Native Lands Court be abolished ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 11. 18 Natives of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe, for liberty to deal with their own lands ... ... 5 12. 5 Natives of the Thames District for repeal of section 33 of " The Native Lands Act, 1867 " 5 13. Mokena Kohere and Mohi Ture, that the firearms in the hands of Natives in Waipu District may be collected ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... 5 14. 28 Natives of Wanganui, for restoration of Confiscated Land ... ... ... ... 5 15. Ranohe Rangaika, for restoration of his land formerly sold at Poverty Bay ... ... 5 16. Manihera Rangiakaiwaho, for restoration of land in Castle Point District ... ... 5 17. Henare Tomoana and Renata, for compensation for military service ... ... ... 5

1. On Petition of 554 Natives of Hawke's Bay, for inquiry into land transactions. Your Committee have the honor to report to the House that, after a careful examination of the allegations contained in the above petition, the following resolution was adopted:— That, after examining certified copies of some of the grants referred to in the petition, and hearing the statements of Mr. Takamoana with regard to the allegations therein, the Committee are of opinion that no satisfactory inquiry can be made except at Napier or in the neighbourhood, where alone the greater portion of the necessary evidence, whether documentary or oral, can be obtained ; and therefore recommend to the House that a Commission shall be appointed, composed of some Europeans and some Natives, none of whom shall be in any way interested in the question to be investigated. 16th August, 1872.

2. On Betition of 100 Maoris residing in the District of Wanganui, for alteration of the Native Land Laws. Youe Committee have the honor to report that, on consideration of the above petition, the following resolution was agreed to : — That, with regard to all lands which are tied up under the provisions of " The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1871," the Natives should in the first instance offer the land to the Governor; and in the event of the Governor not requiring the same, a notification should be inserted in the Government Gazette offering tho land for sale, which should be by auction. 19th September, 1872.

3. On the Betition of Hone Nahe and others, that Lawyers and European Agents may not practise in Native Lands Court. Youe Committee have the honor to report that, after careful consideration of the above petition, the following resolutions were agreed to : — 1. That it should be enacted in the Native Lands Act, that no legal practitioner, advocate, or other agent of the European race, should be permitted to take any part in the proceedings of Land Courts, in &nj cause in which such lawyer or agent is directly or indirectly interested, and that a penalty be provided for in such cases. 2. That it is highly desirable that a notification should be forwarded to the Natives, printed in the Maori language, explaining the nature of the Highway Boards Act; also, to inform them that the cause of their having to pay such rates was principally in consequence of their ignorance of the present existing laws in connection with such Act. 3. Your Committee respectfully recommend to the favourable consideration of the House, the advisability of increased Maori representation in the House of Representatives ; and that the subject of

REPORTS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AFFAIRS