6

1.—3

[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Eenata Kawepo me ona hoa 1,022, i te Pukapuka-inoi Hoki a Watene te Koau me ona hoa c 224. E whakaatu mai ana nga kai-inoi i to ratou whakaaro he maha nga mate mo te iwi Maori kei roto i nga ritenga o Te Ture Kooti Whenua Maori c takoto mai nei i te aroaro o te Whare mehemea ka whakatuturutia hei Ture ; a c whakaatu mai ana ratou i nga raraugi i kitea ai c ratou te tino kino, a c inoi ana ratou kia kaua c kaikatia te whakamana i taua Ture kia kaua hoki c whakamana i te mea kahore c ata whiriwhiria rawatia c te Whare. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare:— Notemea kei te aroaro o te Whare te Ture Kooti Whenua Maori c whakahuatia ana i roto i te pukapuka-inoi c tino whakaaro ana te Komiti ka ata whiriwhiria c te Eunanga nga kupu whakahe me nga kupu tohutohu o te pukapuka-inoi. John Bryce, Akuhata 16, 1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Hone Mohi Tawhai. This petition contains long arguments and objections against the Native Land Court Bill now before the House. The principal objections are to the want of power on the part of the Native Assessors, and to the interference with Native lands by survey, mortgage, or otherwise, before a desire that it should be dealt with has been expressed by a majority of the owners. The petition, however, contains numerous other objections. I am directed to report as follows :— That the Native Land Court Bill referred to in the petition being now before the House, the Committee are satisfied that the objections and suggestions made by the petitioner will receive the consideration of the Legislature. John Bryce, 16th August, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Hone Mohi Tawhai. Ko nga kupu o tenei pukapuka-inoi he kupu tautohe whakahe hoki kite Ture Kooti Whenua Maori c takoto mai nei ite aroaro ote Whare. Ko nga tino whakahe mo te mana kore o nga Ateha Maori mo te pokanoa hoki o nga ruri, o nga mokete me era atu whakahaere ki nga Whenua Maori i te mea kahore ano he kupu hiahia kite pera i whakahuatia c te nuinga o nga tangata no ratou te whenua. Otira, he maha atu nga kupu whakahe kei roto i te pukapuka-inoi. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : — Notemea kei te aroaro o te Whare te Ture Kooti Whenua Maori c whakahuatia ana i roto i te pukapuka-inoi, c tino whakaaro ana te Komiti ka ata whiriwhiria c te Eunanga nga kupu whakahe me nga kupu tohutohu o te pukapuka-inoi. John Bryce, Akuhata 16, 1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Tapa te Whata and Others (No. 1). Petitioners state that, although they reside on the West Coast of this Island, they nevertheless had claims to land in the Waikato, which was confiscated by reason of the rebellion of the Waikato Natives. They allege that they were not concerned in fightiug against the Queen, but that they have had no opportunity of proving their claims, inasmuch as they knew nothing of the sitting of the Compensation Court until after it was over. I have the honor to report that— The Committee is of opinion that the allegation in the petition, that the petitioners had no notice of the sitting of the Compensation Court, is correct. The Committee is not in a position to offer any opinion as to whether the petitioners have any real claims to the lands to which their petition refers, but considers that petitioners are entitled to have an opportunity afforded them of bringing forward their claims. It will most likely be found that a great deal of the lands affected by the petition have been alienated to other persons, and that it would be impossible to give petitioners possession of such portions as should be found to belong to them. The Committee would recommend, however, that iuquiry should be made through the Native Land Court, or other competent tribunal, to ascertain the nature and extent of the claims of the petitioners, and that it should be left to the Government to determine in what manner such claims as they may be able to establish shall be satisfied. John Bryce, 17th August, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Tapa te Whata ma (Nama 1). E ki ana nga kai-inoi ahakoa kei Kapiti to ratou Kainga c whai take ana ano ratou ki etahi whenua kei Waikato i tangohia mo te hara ote Iwi o Waikato kite mau patu ki a te Kuini. Eki ana nga kai-inoi kihai ratou i uru kite whawhai ki a te Kuini, engari kahore ano i watea he huarahi ma ratou hei whakatuturu i to ratou take notemea kahore rawa ratou i mohio kite nohoanga o te Kooti whakawa mo nga whenua kua tangohia ; rongo rawa ake kua mutu. Ko te kupu atu tenei kite Whare —