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Sess. 1L—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

(REPORTS OE). NGA KUPU A TE KOMITI O TE RUNANGA MO NGA MEA MAORI. Me. BRYCE ELECTED CHAIRMAN, OCT. Ist ; Me. HAMLIN ELECTED, OCT. Bth, 1879. Presented to both Houses of the Assembly by Command of His Excellency. No. 23 of 1878.—Petition of Heney Alley. The petitioner, who is a European, states that in the year 1872 he entered into negotiations for the lease of a block of land in the Upper Thames Valley, and subsequently obtained it from the Native owners. That his occupation of the said leasehold was objected to by the Government Agents, Messrs. Clarke and Puckey, and that his cattle were driven off by Natives, at the instigation, as he believes, oi the said Government Agents. Petitioner prays that his statement may be investigated by persons unconnected with the Native Department, and that ho may be reinstated in possession of his leasehold, and that such other relief may be given him as the House may deem fit. I am directed to report as follows : — That the petitioner's case was fully inquired into in 1575 by the Public Petitions Committee, and was reported on as follows: —" That the petitioner has no claim whatever against the Government on account of any loss which he may have sustained in consequence of being unable to obtain possession of the land in question." No fresh evidence having been submitted by the petitioner, the Committee are not of opinion that they would be justified in reviewing the decision of the Public Petitions Committee, and have, therefore, no further recommendation to make on the subject. 3rd October, 1879.

Translation. No. 23 of 1878.—Te Pukapuka-inoi a Henry Alley. He pakeha tenei kai-inoi c ki ana ia i timataria c ia i te tau 1872, tetahi whakariteritenga mo tetahi riihi whenua i roto o Hauraki, muri iho ka tukua taua riihi ki a ia c nga tangata no ratou taua wahi. Ko tana noho ki runga ki taua wabi i whakahengia c nga Apiha o te Kawanatanga, ara, c te Karaka raua ko te Paki, a ko ana kau i panaia c nga Maori i nga kupu akiaki, ki tona whakaaro ia, a aua Apiha o te Kawanatanga. E tono ana te kai-inoi, kia kimihia ana korero c tetahi tangata c hara nei ite Apiha o te Tari Maori, a kia whakanohoia ano ia ki runga kite whenua i riihitia c ia, a kia whakawhiwhia ia kite oranga ngakau c tika ana ki to te Whare whakaaro. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Ko te korero a te kai-inoi kua matua tirotirohia i te tau 1875 c te Komiti mo nga Pitihana a nga tangata katoa, a penei ana te whakatau: —" Kaore rawa atu c whai-tako te kai-inoi kia whakaarohia c te Kawanatanga, i runga i tona mate mo tona kore kaore i ahei kite eke atu ki runga kite whenua c korerotia nei noho ai." Kaore ano he korero hou i whakaputaina mai etc kai-inoi, no reira c whakaaro ana te Komiti c kore c tika ratou kite hold atu ki runga kite whakataunga a te Komiti mo nga Pitihana a nga tangata katoa —mahi tikanga ai. Heoi kaore he kupu tohutohu mo tenei korero. Oketopa 3,1879.

No. 25S of 1878. —Petition of Wata Hangata and Others. The petitioners, who are Natives of the Thames District, state that they have always been loyal to Her Majesty ; but that, nevertheless, land of theirs, called Wairotoroto, has been confiscated. They pray that the land may be returned to them. I am directed to report as follows : — That, in the opinion of the Committee, the subject-matter of this petition should receive the attention of the Government. Bth October, 1879. I—l. 2.