G.—6d

Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1921-22. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 309/1920, OF HARE MARUATA AND OTHERS, RELATIVE TO THE SUCCESSORS APPOINTED TO THE INTERESTS OF MARAEA WHAKAKI IN PUHUNGA BLOCK.

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of the Provisions of Section 35 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1921-22.

Native Department, Wellington, 31st July, 1923. Re Petition 309/1920—Maraea Whakaki (decerned). Enclosed herewith I forward report of the Native Land Court, pursuant to section 35 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1921-22, regarding the succession to Maraea Whakaki (deceased) in the Puhunga Block. I recommend that legislation be passed cancelling the order of the 7th March, 1917, with the object of having the matter fully heard by the Court. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge.

The Native Land Act, 1909, and the Native Land Amendment and Native Tjand. Claims Adjustment Act, 1921-22. In the Native Land Court of New Zealand, Tairawhiti District.—ln the matter of Petition No. 309/1920, of Hare Maruata and others, re succession to Maraea Whakaki in Puhunga, and referred to the Court under the provisions of section 35 of the Native Land Amendment and Native. Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1921-22. At a sitting of the Court held at Kahukura on the 6th day of June, 1923, the Court made inquiry into the above matter, and reports as follows : — 1. All parties were represented before the Court. 2. The relationship of the different claimants is set out in the whakapapa annexed. 3. On the 29th September, 1904, Himiona te Moana (one-fifth), Hati Taitua (one-fifth), Mokena Horua (one-fifth), Hare Maruata (one-fifth), Wharau Taitua (one-fifteenth), Hamiora Taitua (onefifteenth), and Riria Taitua (one-fifteenth.) were appointed successors. The evidence then given shows that deceased had no children ; had one brother, Hamiora Taitua, who left the above-named children and grandchildren. 4. On the, 7th March, 1917, the Appellate Court, under section 50/1909, included the descendants of Ngarangikatotohu, on the grounds that the deceased derived part of her right from her father Kanangaroa, a brother of Ngarangikatotohu. (A copy of Appellate Court minutes is attached.) The petitioners were not represented before the Court. 5. Marae Whakaki, Hamiora Taitua, lehu Haki, and Erueti Rena, shown on the whakapapa as descendants of Makahuri, are original owners, and their names appear on Wi Pahau's list as handed in at the original Court in 1884. This list is headed by Erueti Rena, who was an original claimant under Tuotaina.