J.—3

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16. But all the Marutuahu disputed with the tribes of "Waikato, those taking the most active part being the Ngatitiaua of Waikato, and the Nga'itumutumu and Ngatimaru of Marutuahu. The Court did not say that the Ngatitamatera, Ngatiwhanaunga, Ngatipaoa, and other hapus of the Hauraki tribes, took an active part as against the Ngatihaua about this land, Te Aroha, to warrant the money of the Government being paid to those other tribes when the Court awarded that land as in the name of our ancestor Marutuahu. 17. Tour petitioners would point out to your honorable House that Ngatihaua made a great many applications to the Court to sit to investigate their title to this land. The first Court was held at Waikato, and the second at Matamata, Waikato. 18. We and our hapus mentioned herein were the only ones who went to those Courts —that is to say, we, the descendants of our ancestor, the persons known by all the tribes of Hauraki to be the sole owners of this land, Te Aroha. 19. The third Court for this land was held at Kapanga, Hauraki, but the statements made to the Court were not clear, owing to the confusion that existed. 20. The last Court for this land was held at Auckland. On this occasion all the Hauraki tribes assembled to state the claims of our ancestors and the occupation by our hapus of Te Aroha, so that the Court might be dear to consider the question of the taking of our land by Waikato. 21. The Hauraki tribea did not appear in Court to assert their own rights to Te Aroha, but to substantiate the title of our ancestors, our hapus, or of ourselves, who are living upon our land. 22. Tour petitioners again pray you to cause action to be taken in the House, or by the Government, that the money paid by their Land Purchase Officer to the tribes of Hauraki may be made a charge upon the lands of those who received it, so that each tribe of Hauraki can pay the money they received. 23. Let not that money be made a charge upon our land in consequence of the statements of the Government and their Land Purchase Officer. 24. We point out that we addressed a letter to Sir Donald McLean, Minister for Native Affairs, on the 3rd December, 1876, showing forth to him all these difficulties which we have related to you. A copy of that letter was published in the Thames Advertiser of 13th January, 1877 ; but we have not received any word from the Government on the matter respecting which we now petition you. 25. Tour petitioners state that certain of the tribes of Hauraki, to whom the Government Land Purchase Officer paid money for our land, have issued a notice stating that they really had no valid claim to Te Aroha, neither they nor the other tribes of Hauraki in the same category as themselves, and not belonging to the Ngatitumutumu or a portion of Ngatimaru. 26. Their notice was published in the Thames Advertiser of the 16th February, 1577, and they state therein that it was that Land Purchase Officer of the Government who urged upon them to take, without cause, Government money for our land, to which they have no title. 27. We would make it clear to your honorable House that Meha te Moananui surveyed certain land within the boundary of Te Aroha for himself and his tribe, the Ngatitamatera. on account of the money paid to them by that Land Purchase Officer of the Government; and the Court has returned that land to your petitioners in accordance with the evidence given before the various Courts which have been held in respect of Te Aroha. 28. It will probably be clear to you that all the tribes of Hauraki have no right whatever to Te Aroha, because they have not yet gone to survey or to point out the places they claim as in consideration of the Government money paid to them ; and by this you will probably be made aware that they have been backed up by that Land Purchase Officer, Mr. Mackay. 29. We will ever pray to you both now and in the future to regard with favour your petitioners it is yet day, for the night cometh wherein no man can work. We therefore send our petition to you for your favourable consideration. And your petitioners will ever pray that God's blessing may rest upon us all—both you and us. Sufficient. From all of us. Tour friends, Rkha. Aperahama. And 47 Others.

By Authority: Q-koeob Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB77. Price 3d.]