1.—2.
No. 107. —Petition of Eetieeti Tapihana and Matenga te Wahaeoa (No. 1). Petitionees state that they have been sent to Wellington to represent their hapus, the Ngatiwhahaue and Ngatirangiwewehi. Petitioners say that they have heard that on the Ist May, 1883, a petition. had been drawn up at Cambridge, praying for the repeal of " The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880 ;" they further say that this petition, signed by Eutene te Umanga and others, purports to emanate from Eotorua, whereas it was written at Cambridge; they assert that Umanga and his tribe are not Ara was; that the petition represents the views of certain land companies and lawyers who wish "to make more money by the evil practices which they are now carrying on at Waikato ;" and they pray that " The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880," be not repealed. I am directed to report as follows:— That the evidence in support of this petition was similar to that given last session on the petitition of Petera te Pukuatua (No. 73), and the Committee has to make a similar recommendation, namely, that in any attempt to amend " The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880," careful attention should be accorded by the Government to the evidence then given by Aporo te Tipitipi, and would further recommend for consideration the evidence now given by Eetireti Tapihana. 20th July, 1883.
[Translation.] No. 107.—Pukapuka-inoi a Eetieeti Tapihana me Matenga Te Wahaeoa (Nama 1). E ki ana nga kai-pitihana i tukua mai raua ki Poneke hei whakahere i nga take o to raua hapu o Ngatiwhakaue me Ngatirangiwewehi. Eki ana nga kai-pitihana i rongo raua i tuhia mai tetahi pitihana i Keinureti i te 1 o nga ra o Mci, 1883, .c inoi ana kia whakakorea " Te Ture Ngawha, 1880." Ka ki ano raua ko te pitihana i tuhia c Eutene te Umanga me etahi atu c mea ana no Botorua mai, kaore, i tuhia ke mai i Keinureti: Eki ana raua c hara te Umaugame tona iwi i aTe Arawa: Ko taua pitihana he whakaputa ke i nga whakaaro a etahi Kamupene whenua me etahi roia c hiahia ana "kia whiwhi moni atu ano ratou i runga i nga mahi kino c whakahaerea mai nei c ratou i Waikato." Heoi c inoi ana raua kia kau c whakakorea "Te Ture Ngawha, 1880." Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Ko nga korero tautoko i tenei pitihana c rite ana ki nga korero o tera tau mo te pitihana a Petera te Pukuatua (No. 73) a ka pera ano te kupu a te Komiti, ara, —kite whakatikaia " Te Ture Ngawha, 1880," me matua whakaaro te Kawanatanga ki nga korero a Aporo Tipitipi, o tera tau me a Eetireti Tapihana hoki kua korero mai nei. 20 Hurae, 1883.
No. 70. —Petition of Eutene te Umanga and 204 Others. Petitionees state that" when they consented to the passing of a Springs Act they understood that only about 3,000 acres should be interfered with, whereas the Government Proclamation includes 600,000 acres, which they regard as " a very unjust proceeding." They complain also that Government now proposes that no sale or lease should be permitted to private persons of certain lands which had been under offer, and which the Natives had agreed to sell at 6s. per acre for forest and 7s. per acre for open land. A portion of the pxirchase-money and the whole cost of survey had been paid by Europeans. Petitioners offer to sell the land to the Government on the terms agreed upon with the private purchasers. I am directed to report as follows : — That no evidence has been given in support of this petition, and the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th July, 1883.
[Tbanslation.] No. 70.-—Pukapuka-inoi a Eutene te Umanga me etahi atu c 204. Eki ana nga kai-pitihana i whakaae ratou kite pahitanga ote Ture Ngawha. Xi to ratou inohio c tae pea kite 3,000 anake nga eka c pa ai te Kawanatanga akuanei uru ana te 600,000 eka ki rot.) kite panui ate Kawanatanga c mea ana ratou he mahi he rawa tenei. E mea ana hold ratou kua mea te Kawanatanga inaianei kia kaua c tukuna c hoko he riihi kite pakeha mo nga whenua kua puta nei lie korero hoko mo runga, a kua whakaaetia c nga Maori.kia hokona mo te pno hereni i te eka mo nga whenua ngaherehere' a kia whitu hereni ito oka mo to whenua parae. Ko tstahi wahi ote utu ote whenua, me nga utu'katoa ote ruri, kua utua noa tia ake c te pakeha. E mea ana ano nga kai-pitihana kite hoko i te whenua kite Kawanatanga i runga ano i nga tikanga i whakaaetia ai ki nga pakeha. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Kahore he korero i whakaputauia mai hei tautoko i tenei pitihana. Heoi kahore he kupu ,£& te Komiti. 20 Hurae, 1883.
No. 222.—Petition of Hugh Thomas and 29 Others. Petitioners state that they are tenants on the Native reserve at Arahura; that when they got possession of the land, it was covered with dense bush ; that they have spent £20 to £50 per acre in clearing it, in hope of makin^a permanent home for their children; that "The Native Beserves Act, 1882," makes no provision for the renewal of their leases, though it was well understood that at the expiry of their term there would be a renewal at reasonable rents; and that the passing of the Act named has deprived them of their property in the land. Petitioners pray that they should either receive compensation for their improvements, or should have their leases at the expiry of the present term renewed at present rentals,
5