1.—2.

part owners; that, upon Kukupa's recovery, he and others repeatedly asked for a rehearing of the case, and that the Chief Judge persistently refused it. Petitioners pray that a rehearing be now granted. I am directed to report as follows : — That, on the 29th August, 1881, the Committee reported as follows upon a similar petition: "Prom the evidence adduced, the Committee considers there is ground for careful inquiry into the case, and recommends the Government to act accordingly, with a view to bring it to the attention of the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court." The Committee again calls the attention of the Government to this case, and particularly to the evidence given by Mr. Mitchelson and Mr. Mohi Tawhai. The whole circumstances of the case as detailed to the Committee, and particularly to the peculiar position of this land, seem to point to the tribe of the late Tirarau Kukupa as sole owners. The Committee has been informed that legislation is to take place upon some cases where a rehearing is desirable, and it would suggest that it might be possible to include this one. The practice of inserting in Crown grants or memorials of ownership the name of a single representative of a tribe without expressing trusteeship is likely to lead to serious injustice in future dealings with land. 2nd August, 1883.

[Teanslation.] No. 26. —Pukapuka-inoi a Taueau Kukupa me etahi atu c 20. £1 ki ana nga kai pitihana no te Iwi o Parawau ratou, a i tv te Kooti Whenua Maori i a Akuhata, 1880, i Kaihu i te takiwa o Kaipara, ko te Bokena te Tiati na Tirarau Kukupa, kua mate nei, i whakahaere nga take o te Iwi o Parawau a no te mea i te mate ia kihai i ahei c ia te tino whakahaere i a ratou take kite whenua, a no runga i tenei mate ona ka uru etahi tangata i raro i nga tikanga Maori kihai nei i whai take kite whenua c karangatia nei ko Whangaimokopuna. Ano te oranga ake o Kukupa he maha ana tononga me etahi atu kia whakawakia tuaruatia tenei keehi, kihai rawa te Tumuaki i whakaae. E inoi ana nga kai pitihana kia whakaaetia inaianei hewhakawa tuarua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— No te 29 Akuhata, 1881, ka penei te repoata a te Komiti i runga i tetahi pitihana penei ano. No nga korero i whakaputaina c whakaaro ana te Komiti tera ano tetahi take c tika ana kia ata pataia mariretia i roto i tenei keehi. E whakahau ana ite Kawanatanga kia whai tikanga hei whakaatu kite Tumuaki oto Kooti Whenua Maori. E whakahau ana ano te Komiti ite Kawanatanga kia tirohia tenei keehi, te tino mea ia, ko nga korero ate Mitirihana me Mohi Tawhai.' I roto inga take katoa o tenei keehi i korerotia nei kite Komiti ko"te mea nui ko te ahua o te takoto o tenei whenua, c whakaatu ana mehemea nei no ratou ake no te Iwi o Tirarau Kukupa. Kua rongo te Komiti ka whakaturia tetahi whakawa i runga i etahi keehi c hiahiatia ana kia whakawakia tuaruatia, a c whakaaro ana tera ano pea c whakauruhia tenei keehi. Erangi ko te tikanga whakauru i te ingoa o te tangata kotahi ki roto kite karati kite pukapuka whai take ranei o te Iwi, me te kore kaore c whakaatu he kai Tiaki kau ia no te Iwi, tera c puta tetahi tikanga kino rawa me ka whakahaeretia enei whenua amua ake nei. 2 Akuhata, 1883.

No. 308.—Petition of John N. Pegleb and 42 Others. Petitionebs are settlers in the Baglan District. They say that the only way of reaching the township is through a Native reserve, and that the Natives are willing to permit a road to be made upon receiving compensation. They pray that the needful land may be secured, and a sum of public money be applied to forming the roads. I am directed to report as follows :— That this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 2nd August, 1883.

[Translation.] No. 308.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hone N. Pekara me etahi atu c 42. Ko nga kai-pitihana he hunga c noho ana kite takiwa o Whaingaroa. E mea ana ratou heoi te huarahi c tae ai ratou kite Taone ma runga i nga whenua o nga Maori, a c whakaae ana nga Maori kia hanga he rori ma runga ito ratou whenua mehemea ka utua. A c inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia kokona taua wahi whenua ki nga moni a te tokomaha hei roei. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Ko tenei pitihana me tuku kite Kawanatanga kio whakaorohia. 2 Akuhata, 1883.

No. 45.—Petition of Wahanui, Taonui, Eewi Maniapoto, and 412 Others. [Petition printed, see Parliamentary Paper, J.-l.] I am directed to report as follows : — That the Committee has not thought it necessary to summon any of the petitioners to give evidence on this petition ; but a considerable amount of evidence has been given on other petitions bearing incidentally upon its allegations. After careful consideration the Committee has arrived at an opinion that the complaints and fears expressed are too well-founded, and that the apparent desires of the petitioners are reasonable. The Committee therefore recommends the petition to the favourable consideration of the House when the Native Committees Bill and the Native Land Sales Bill are before it. Of course, the Committee cannot pronounce upon the allegations respecting boundaries or tribal rights. 3rd August, 1883. 2—l. 2.

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