G-.—6

1926. NEW ZEALAND

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1917. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 214 OF 1916, OF TE IA TE WARU, RELATIVE TO THE INTERESTS OF HONE WAITI (DECEASED) IN TAUPARA BLOCK.

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of the. Provisions of Section 25 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1917.

Native Department, Wellington, 24th August, 1926. Petition No. 214 of 1916.—Taupara Block. Pursuant to section 25 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1917, I transmit herewith the report of the Court herein. Seeing that there is now legislation by which the grievance complained of can be rectified, if necessary, by the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, I recommend that no legislation be undertaken at present in respect of the matter complained of. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge. The Right Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.

Native Land Court and Tairawhiti District Maori Land Board Office, Gisborne, 18th August, 1926. Memorandum for the Under-Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Petition No. 214 of 1916, Taupara Block. (Section 25 of 1917 Act.) In reply to your memorandum of the 31st ultimo, a reference by the Chief Judge dated '21st February, 1918, was made to the Court. I cannot find that any report has been made, although an inquiry was held. The minutes of the inquiry are as follows " Saturday, 22nd February, 1919. "M. Gileedder, Judge. W. P. Tamihana, Clerk. " 119. Taupara.—Reference by the Chief Judge under section 25/1917, for inquiry and report. " Pautahi Hapimana (sworn) said : I am the witness for Te la te Waru, my wife, who petitioned Parliament. Hone Waiti te Waru died and was succeeded to by Otene Pikiwai and Emere Tipuna in Taupara Block. Tamihana Huata gave false evidence and misled the Court. (See M.B. 12, pp. 292 et seq.) Te la te Waru is a full sister of Hone Waiti te Waru. There were others in the family. Some died leaving issue. The parents of Hone Waiti te Waru are dead. The whakapapa is as follows : —

The proper successors are, therefore, Te la te Waru (f.a.) one-third ; Henare Tepene (m.a.), one-sixth ; Heni Tepene (f.a.), one-sixth ; Mautiki te Waru (f.a.), one-third. All in Court say this is correct, and the succession in respect of Taupara will have to be amended accordingly."