1.—3
26
5. E mea ana te Komiti ma te Kawanatanga c whiriwhiri mehemea ka maramara i a ratou i te homaitanga o te Pire hei whakatikatika i te ture mo nga Kaunihera, nga tono i roto i nga rarangi 6, 7 hoki mo te marama kotahi kia tukua kia takoto hei utunga o nga takowha, mo te mea hoki kia whakaarohia nga ruruhi nga rawakore me nga pani. John Sheehan, Hepetema 25, 1877. Tumuaki.
Eepoet on Petition of Peteea Pukuatua aud Others. This petition contains numerous suggestions as to the mode of dealing with Native lands, principally with regard to details, and having special reference to the lands of the Arawa tribe, from some of whom the petition comes. I am directed to report as follows : — That the Committee recommend this petition, with its numerous and important practical suggestions, to the careful consideration of the Government, in connection with any new legislation on the subject of Native lands. The Committee specially call attention to and recommend that portion of the petition which asks that all lauds at Eotorua and surrounding districts (well known as the sito of most of the natural wonders of the Lake country) should be made absolutely inalienable. John Sheehan, 25th September, 1877. Chairman.
[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo eunga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Peteea te Pukuatua ma. He maha nga kupu tohutohu i roto i tenei pukapuka-inoi mo te whakahaere i nga tikanga o nga hoko whenua Maori, engari ko te tino taunga o aua kupu mo nga whenua o te Arawa no etahi hoki o taua iwi te pukapuka-inoi. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare .- — E mea ana te Komiti ma te Kawanatanga c ata whiriwhiri nga kupu nunui kupu whaitikanga hoki o tenei pukapuka-inoi ana whakatakotoria he ture hou mo nga Whenua Maori. E mea ana te Komiti kia tino tirohia kia whakamana tera wahi o te pukapuka-inoi c tono ana kia herea mo ake tonu atu nga whenua katoa kei te takiwa o Eotorua (ara te takiwa o nga roto o era mea ataahua whakamiharo katoa). John Sheehan, Hepetema 25, 1877. Tumuaki.
Eeport on Petition of Henaee Potae. Petitioner makes a variety of suggestions which, in his opinion, would render investigations by the Native Laud Court more satisfactory. I am directed to report as follows: — That the petition be referred to the Government for consideration, in connection with any new legislation which they may intend dealing with on the questions of investigation of Native land titles. John Sheehan, 25th September, 1877. Chairman.
[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Henare Potae. E whakaatu mai ana te kai-ino i etahi whakaaro ana c marama ai ki tana mahara te whakawa a te Kooti whakawa whenua Maori. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: — Me tuku tenei pukapuka-inoi kite Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiria c ratou ana hanga c ratou he ture hei whakawa i nga Take Whenua Maori. John Sheehan, Hepetema 25, 1877. Tumuaki.
Eeport on Petition of Hotereni Taipari and Another. Petitioners allege that at the opening of the Thames Gold Fields they gave up an acre of land in the Township of Shortland, then the centre of the gold-mining district, to the Government as a site for Courthouses and other public buildings to be established there permanently. They further state that all the Courts have now been removed to another locality, and that they consider that the land given by them for a purpose which has ceased to be carried out should revert to them, and they ask accordingly for a return of the land. I am directed to report as follows : — That the laud referred to by the petitioners was given for certain public purposes under a verbal arrangement between the Natives and Mr. Mackay, upon certain conditions, which conditions have partially fallen into abeyance. Under all the circumstances of the case, the Committee are of opinion that a fair solution of the difficulty would be to pay the Native owners the fair value of the land, exclusive of buildings and improvements, on condition of the Crown becoming legally entitled to the land with the tenements erected thereupon. John Sheehan, sth October, 1877. Chairman.