G.—6b

1920. NE W Z E ALAN D,

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1918. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION NO. 168/1915, RELATIVE TO REHEARING OF SUCCESSION TO INTERESTS OF WIREMU TINI WAITAPU (DECEASED), IN PALMERSTON NORTH NATIVE RESERVE.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 5 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1918.

Chief Judge's Office, Wellington, 20th January, 1920. In the matter of Petition No. 168 of 1915, in re Succession to Wiremu Tini Waitapu (deceased). Pursuant to section 5 of the Native Laud Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1918, I make the following recommendation : — That the order complained of, dated the 28th day of February, 1888, be declared void and of no effect, with the object of having the whole matter reheard as if such order had not been made. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge.

lie Succession to Wiremu Tini Waitapu in Palmerston North Sections. Report upon Petition No. 168 of 1915, pursuant to Section 5 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1918. An inquiry into this matter was held by me at Wellington on the 12th instant, there being present Takurangi Hapimana (child of the petitioner), Mohi Karena Hamuera te Punga (child of Ripeka Karena), and Pirihira Epiha (child of Apiaka Renata, deceased). Mr. Myers appeared in support of the petition. The allegations in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the petition were not disputed, and may be assumed to be correct. They are as follows: — 1, That in the year 1867 His Excellency Sir George Grey, then Governor of New Zealand, sold certain lands in the Lowry Bay District, in the Provincial District of Wellington, and invested the proceeds of the said sale in the purchase of land in Palmerston North, described m the schedule hereto, and hereinafter referred to as "the Palmerston North lands." 2. That on the 24th day of October, 1887, Sir George Grey conveyed the said Palmerston North lands to the Public Trustee, and contemporaneously with such conveyance the Public Trustee signed a deed of trust dated the 24th day of October, 1887, declaring that the "Public Trustee, his successors and assigns, doth and shall and will hold and administer the said several parcels of land under and in pursuance of and subject in all things to the provisions of the Native Reserves Act, 1882, and any other Act that may have been or be passed in amendment thereof or