Page image

1.—3.

ki te 600, eka hei turanga kura. Eki ana nga kai-pitihana tokotoru anake o ratou i haina ite pukapuku tuku, a i te noho tonu ratou i runga i taua whenuairungai te huarahi itukunaai taua whenua a kua tukua tetahi atu whenua e tata ana ki tenei hei turanga kura, a kahore tetahi atu whenua i reira hei ngakinga ma ratou. I raro i enei tikanga kua tono te Komiti ki te Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiria e ratou taua take me te whakatau i runga auo i nga tikanga o taua keehi. 20 o Akuhata, 1889.

No. 135, 1889.—Petition of Hoeomona Paatu. Petitioner complains that through the action of Mr. Commissioner Mackay his lands have been awarded to the people who had no right to them. He now prays that a Land Gourt may be held at Eiverton to compel the people holding his land to prove the title. 1 am directed to report as follows: That the Committee wish to call the attention of the Government to the fact that a similar petition was reported upon on the 22nd November, 1887. It seems nothing has been done to satisfy the petitioner. The Committee desire to express regret at this, and again refer the subject to the Government for immediate action. 21st August, 1889. ——

[Translation.] No. 135, 1889.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hoeomona Paatu. E whai kupu ana te kai-pitihana e ki ana kua whakataua ketia ana whenua ki te iwi ke, ki te iwi kihai nei i whai take ki aua whenua, i runga i nga mahi a te Make, a e inoi ana ia inaianei kia whakaturia tetahi Kooti ki Aparima kia whakaatu mai ai nga tangata e noho ana i runga i aua whenua ki a ratou take ki aua whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E hiahia ana te Komiti ki te whakaatu ki te Kawanatanga i tukua ano ta ratou ripoata mo runga i tetahi pitihana penei te ahua i te 22 o nga ra o Nowema, 1887, a whakaarohia ana e te Komiti kahore ano i whakaeangia e te Kawanatanga te mate ote kai-pitihana me to ratou pouri mo tenei. Aka tono ano ite Kawanatanga kia tere te whakarite i tenei take. 21 o Akuhata, 1889.

Nos. 173, 320, 322, 324, 327, 329, 376, 377, 378, 389, 400, and 401, 1889.—Petitions of G. P. Mutu and Others (No. 2), Reone Timoti and Others (No. 1), Rewi Koeuaeua and Others (No. 1), Hoani Koeehe Kahu and Others (No. 1), Kehoma Hokianga and Others (No. 2), Watene Tapiha and Others (No. 2), Eobeet Beown and Others (No. 2), Te Koti Teeato and Others (No. 2), Teone Paina and Others (No. 2), Timoti Kaeetai and Others (No. 2), Jambs Eickees and Others (No. 1), Honi Matiu and Others (No. 1). Petitionees state that they suffer great loss owing to the operation of clause 3 of the Stamp Duties Act. They pray that the operation of the Act may be removed from all their reserves. I am directed to report as follows : That the Committee is opinion that something should be done to remove the grounds of complaint. The Stamp Act is oppressive and a heavy burden upon the Native race, as it is generally stopped out of rents. It should be distributed over the period of the lease by an annual payment. The Committee therefore recommend the the petitioners to the Government for favourable consideration.

21st August, 1889. [Translation.]

Nos. 173, 320, 322, 324, 327, 329, 376, 377, 378, 389, 400, me 401, 1889.—Pukapuka-inoi a G. P. Hutu me etahi atu (No. 2), me Beone Timoti me etahi atu (No. 1), me Eewi Koeuabua me etahi atu (No. 1), me Hoani Korehe Kahu me etahi atu (No. 1), me Kehoma Hokianga me etahi atu (No. 2), me Watene Tapiha me etahi atu (No. 2), me Eobeet Beown me etahi atu (No. 2), me Te Koti Tekato me etahi atu (No. 2), me Teone Paina me etahi atu (No. 2), me Timoti Kaeetai me etahi atu (No. 2), me James Eickees me etahi atu (No. 1), me Honi Matiu me etahi atu (No. 1). E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he nui to ratou mate i runga i nga tikanga o te rarangi 3 o te Ture Pane Kuini. E inoi ana ratou kia unuhia taua Ture i runga i a ratou rahui katoa. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E whakaaro ana te Komiti me whakahaere tetahi tikanga hei whakamutu i enei tono no te mea he taumaha rawa te Ture Pane Kuini ki runga i te iwi Maori no te mea e tangohia ana aua moni i roto i nga rnoni reti. No te mea tika me utuaua moni i roto i ia tau o nga tau ote riihi. No konei ka tukua ete Komiti te pitihana ki te Kawanatanga kia ata whiriwhiria paitia e ratou. 21 o Akuhata, 1889.

No. 257, 1889.—Petition of Mehaka Tokopounamu and 86 Others. Petitionees state that they belong to Te Patuheuheu, a section of the Urewera Tribe; that they are the owners of a block of land called Waiohau No. 1, containing by admeasurement 14,464 acres; that the said block was awarded to them (some 145 in number) by the Native Land Court; that in their list of owners they had, partly out of consideration, admitted a small section of the Ngatimanawa under Harehare; that shortly after H. E. Burt, practising as a licensed interpreter and general land agent in the Bay of Plenty district, entered into negotiations with the Natives for the purchase of the said land; thai contemporary with himself was another purchaser of the same block, a Mr. Preece, who also was a licensed interpreter; that, possibly in consequence of this competition, the purchases made by the said parties were of a very loose and reckless character, no observance being paid to the conditions and formalities necessary in such matters, and prescribed by law ; that in many cases the consideration-money paid was inadequate, in some cases it was not paid at all, and in others it consisted of stores and firearms ; and that many of the signatures were obtained

4