I.—2a.

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. (REPORT OF, ON PETITION OF GEORGE DAVIE, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.)

Brought up 10th December, 1879, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from tiie Journals of the Souse of Eepresentatives. Friday, the 26th Day of Septemkeb, 1879. Ordered, " That a Select Committee, to consist of twenty-three members, be appointed to consider all petitions, reports, returns, and other documents relating to affairs specially affecting the Native race that may be brought before the House this session, and from time to time to report thereon to the House ; with power to call for persons and papers; five to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Acton Adams, Mr. Allwright, Mr. Bryee, Hon. Mr. Fisher, Hon. Sir George Grey, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Lundon, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Moss, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Reeves, Mr." Rolleston, Captain Russell, Mr. Seddon, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Tainui, Mr. Tawhai, Major te Wheoro, Mr. Tomoana, Colonel Trimble, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Whitaker, and the Mover."— (Hon, Mr. Sheehan.)

EEPORT. No. 19, Session I. —Petition of George Datie. Petitioner states that he is the executor of Paora Nonoi, now deceased, and was intimately acquainted with him in his lifetime. Petitioner proceeds to give at great length the details of land-purchase transactions on the part of Frederick Sutton and George Buckland Worgan, which he considers improper and fraudulent. It is further alleged that an information for conspiracy was sworn against the above-named persons, but that this action came to nothing owing to certain exceptional circumstances, which the petitioner recites. Petitioner prays the House to recommend that all persons who, on inquiry, may be proved to have been guilty of fraud may be prosecuted, and that Eora Nonoi, the daughter of the deceased Maori chief above named, may be assisted in protecting her remaining interests. I am directed to report as follows: — That, having examined many witnesses, and carefully considered the petition, the Committee cannot recommend the House to take any action on this petition. All the persons called before the Committee to give evidence on the following point agree,— That some time about the end of August, 1870, Worgan presented himself at a pa called Korongata, about eighteen miles from Napier, for the purpose of obtaining the signature of Paora Nonoi to a deed of conveyance, conveying to Mr. Frederick Sutton the whole of Paora Nonoi's interest in the Te Awa-o-te-Atua Block of land. A certified copy of the deed of conveyance was produced before the Committee, which purports to have been signed by Paora Nonoi, by mark, and by his daughter Eora, and witnessed by a Native named Nikera. 10th December, 1879. E. Hamlin, Chairman. [Translation.] No. 19, Session I.—Te pukapuka-inoi a Teoti Teewi. E kj ana te kai-pitihana ko ia te kaiwhakahaere o te wira o Paora Nonoi kua mate kanui tona inohio kia Paora i tona oranga. Na ka nui nga korero ate kai-pitihana mo nga hoko whenua aTe Oti Wakena me Pererika Tatana a c mea ana ia kihai i tika i runga ite ture. A c kiia ana ano i puta i—l. 2a.