1.—3

16

[Translation.] Te Pukapuka-inoi a Aeama Karaka ma. E tono ana nga kai-inoi kia whakawakia tuaruatia to ratou tono ki tetahi whenua ko Te Haehaenga to ingoa i whakawakia i mua ake nei i te aroaro o te Kooti Whenua Maori i Maketu a hinga ana ratou. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : — Ko te tono whakawa tuarua a nga kai-inoi kahore i whakaaetia c te Kawanatanga ko te take i tino pau katoa nga tikanga o taua whenua te ata kimi marire. Kahore te Komiti i kite i tetahi take c whakaaro ai ratou ehe ana te kupu whakaotinga ate Kawanatanga; no reira c kore ratou c marama kite tohutohu atu kia whakaarohia paitia c te Whare te tono a nga kai-inoi. Oketopa 14, 1878.

No. 230.—Petition of Chiefs of Ngatitipa, of Waikato. The petitioners state that in the year 1853 they gave six hundred acres for the establishment of a school, which has for many years been discontinued. They pray that, as the object for which they gave the land is disregarded, it may be restored to them. I am directed to report that the Committee, while admitting that this and some other trusts of a like character are not in a satisfactory condition, is not prepared to recommend that the prayer of the petitioners for the return of the land be granted. 17th October, 1878.

[Translation.] Te Pukapuka-inoi a Rangatira o Ngatitipa, Waikato. E ki ana nga kai-inoi i hoatu c ratou, i te tau 1853, c ono rati eka whenua hei whakatu i tetahi kura, a kua maha nga tau i kore ai taua kura. E tono ana ratou kia whakahokia taua whenua ki a ratou notemea kua kore i whakahaerea nga tikanga i runga i te take i hoatu ai. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki atu kite Whare ahakoa kihai i tino marama te tv o tenei whenua mo etahi atu, ekore ratou c marama kite tohutohu atu kia whakaaetia te tono a nga kai-inoi. Oketopa 17,1878.

No. 238.—Petition of Eora Mete Kingi Paetahi and Others. The petitioners state that they are members of the Ngarauru Tribe, and are entitled, by Native custom, to 5,790 acres of land situate between the Rivers Waitotara and Whenuakura. The petitioners admit that about the year 1567 their tribe generally went into rebellion against the Queen, and that the land in question was confiscated iv consequence thereof, but that they, the petitioners, never participated in such rebellion ; and they pray that the said laud, or land equal iv quantity and quality, may be restored to them. I am directed to report that the claims of the petitioners appear to have been fully heard and determined by the Compensation Court which sat at Wanganui iv 1867. The Committee do not feel able to review that decision satisfactorily, and cannot, therefore, recommend the prayer of the petitioners to the favourable consideration of tho Houso. 17th October, 1878.

[Translation.] Te Pukapuka-inoi a Roea Mete Kingi Paetahi ma. E ki ana nga kai-inoi no te iwi Ngarauru ratou, a i runga i te tikanga Maori c whai take ana ratou ki tetahi whenua tona nui c 5,790 eka kei waenganui o Waitotara o Whcnuakura. E whakaae ana ano n^a kai-inoi i uru te nuinga o to ratou iwi kite mahi mau patu kite Kuini, a tangohia ana taua whenua mo taua mahi a ratou, engari kahore nga kai-inoi nei i uru ki taua hara; a c inoi ana ratou kia whakahokia ki a ratou taua whenua tetahi atu whenua ranei c rite ana te pai me te nui ki tera. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : — E kitea ana i ata whakarangona nga korero katoa mo nga tono a nga kai-inoi i te aroaro o te Kooti Whakawa mo nga whenua i tangohia itu nei ki Whanganui ite tau 1867. Kahore te Komiti c marama kite mahi hou ano i taua whakataunga, a ekore hoki ratou c tohutohu atu kia whakaarohia paitia te tono a nga kai-inoi. Oketopa 17,1878.

No. 173. —Petition of Robebt Coopee. Petitionee states that in the month of May, 1877, he purchased from the Maoris certain blocks of laud in the County of Cook, and that the surveys thereof were throughout conducted with the knowledge and consent of the Government. The petitioner further states that he has been unable to complete his title to the land because of a caveat lodged by the Government to the effect that the said lands were included in a Proclamation issued by the Government in accordance with "The Public Works and Immigration Act, 1871," aud prays for relief from losses ho has suffered in consequence. I am directed to report that the Committee havo found the matters raised by this petition, and the circumstances surrounding it, of an exceedingly complex character; and it is only after much patient consideration that they have arrived at what they believe to be a just conception of the case. With regard to a block of land referred to in the petition, comprising Ngatawakawaka, Puremungahua, and Matatuotonga, the Committee find that the land had been proclaimed as being required for public purposes under the 42nd section of "The Public Works and Immigration Act, 1871."