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1.—3

I am directed to report that the Committee, having fully inquired into this petition, is of opinion that any claims the petitioner may have should be against the trustees of the estate of the late Benata Kawepo ; therefore it has no recommendation to make. Bth August, 1900.

[Teanslation.] No. 297, 1898.—Pitihana a Whaieiei Benata. E ki ana te kai-pitihana i raro i te wira o Benata Kawepo i kiia me whakawhiwhi ia kite £100 i te tau, ko aua moni me puta atu ki a ia i roto i nga moni me nga taonga o te tupapaku, otira i runga i te mahi a te Kooti Whenua Maori kua tangohia atu taua moni i a ia, a c inoi ana ia kia whakaarohia a kia whakaorangia tona mate. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, i te mea kua tino whiriwhiria tenei pitihana, kite whakaaro o te Komiti, mehemea he kereeme ta te kai-pitihana mo taua moni, me ahu atu tana tono ki nga kai-tiaki o te wira o Benata Kawepo ; na reira kaore kau he kupu ke atu ma te Komiti. 8 o Akuhata, 1900.

No. 434, 1899. —Petition of Benata Bopiha and 3 Others. Petitionees protest against a block of land called Eparaima East, near Porangahau being taken, as they allege, by Europeans, and pray for restitution. I am directed to report that, as the land has been sold to Europeans, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth August, 1900.

[Teanslation.] No. 434, 1899.—Pitihana a Benata Bopiha me etahi atu tokotoru. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana kua tangohia c etahi Pakeha tetahi whenua, ko Eparaima Bawhiti te ingoa, c tata ana ki Porangahau, a c whakahe ana ratou, a c inoi ana kia whakahokia atu taua whenua ki a ratou. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, i te mea kua hokona taua whenua ki nga Pakeha, kaore kau a te Komiti kupu. 8 o Akuhata, 1900.

No. 410, 1899.—Petition of Mmi Kaeaha. Petitionee prays for a rehearing as to succession to certain shares or interests of Akenihi Keukeu (deceased) in Whangara G and X Blocks. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition.

Bth August, 1900. [Teanslation.] No. 410, 1899.—Pitihana a Mmi Kaeaha. E inoi ana te kai-pitihana kia whakawakia tuaruatia te riiwhitanga o nga hea me nga paanga o Akenihi Keukeu (kua mate) ki Whangara G me X Poraka. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, kaore kau a te Komiti kupu mo runga i tenei pitihana. 8 o Akuhata, 1900.

No. 96, 1899.—Petition of Hieini Nui and 7 Others. Petitionees protest against a certain piece of land being taken as a school-site near Nuhaka. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that the Government should appoint some qualified person to meet the Natives with a view to adjusting -the difference regarding the school-site in question.

Bth August, 1900. —— [Teanslation.] No. 96, 1899.—Pitihana a Hieini Nui me etahi atu tokowhitu. E whakahe ana nga kai-pitihana mo te tangohanga o tetahi piihi whenua c tata ana ki Nuhaka hei tuunga kura. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei, kite whakaaro o te Komiti me whakatu c te Kawanatanga tetahi tangata mohio kia haere atu kia kite i nga Maori kite whakariterite i nga mea c tautohetohetia ana mo taua wahi c meatia nei hei tuunga kura. 8 o Akuhata, 1900.

Nos. 130 (1898), 131 (1898), 300 (1898), and 475 (1899).—Petitions of Peea Kati and 151 Others; Te Aeea and 129 Others; Ngatete Kaeaka and Another; Hemi Kuti and Another. Petitionees pray for the return of certain lands which were given to the Church of England on the strength of promises made by the representatives of that body to establish schools, &c, for the benefit of the Maoris, which promises have never been fulfilled. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the petitioners have a [just grievance, for it appears certain that the conditions under which the land was given have never been carried into effect. The Committee recommend that the Government should introduce legislation for the purpose of setting aside the Crown grants issued in favour of the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and of declaring the land " papatupu," or Native land, and restoring the same to the Native donors, or their successors, along with all the rents accrued thereon. Bth August, 1900. 2—l. 3.