G\—6d

1926. NEW ZEALAND

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1925. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 403 OF 1924, OF HAMUERA KINGI AND SEVENTY-SIX OTHERS, FOR READJUSTMENT OF RELATIVE INTERESTS IN THE PUKETOTARA BLOCK.

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of Section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1923.

Native Department, Wellington, 30th July, 1926. Petition No. 403 of 1924.—Puketotara Block. Pursuant to section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1925, I herewith forward report of the Native Land Court herein. In accordance with that report, I recommend that power be given to the Court to add the name of Hera Wiremu and to readjust the reapportionment of shares as between Tamati te Maara and his brother and sister. The Right Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge.

(8.1.M.8. 7/89-91.) Kaikohe, 2nd February, 1926. Report of the Native Land Court to the Chief Judge after Inquiry into the Claims and Allegations in Petition No. 403 of 1924, of Hamuera Kingi and Seventy-six Others, praying for Readjustment of the Relative Interests in the Puketotara Block. The Native Land Court, acting under the authority of section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1925, opened its inquiry into the claims and allegations of the petitioners at Russell on the 15th January, 1926, but adjourned the case for hearing at Kaikohe. The inquiry was held at Kaikohe on the 28th January, 1926, and the 2nd February, 1926, a large number of interested Natives being present. Evidence was given in favour of the petitioners by Hamuera Kingi, Tame Arena, and Eruera Mihaka. Evidence opposing the claims of the petitioners was given by Hone Rameka, Hone Toia, Hone Hau, and Kereihi Manotau. The Court will briefly refer to the previous history of Puketotara. The Crown handed the block back to the Natives in 1920, following upon the proceedings of the Commission of 1920. The area was 2,196 acres, and the land was poor country, worth about 15s. to-20s. at the most. The Native Land Court (Judge Holland), in June, 1921, held a sitting at Ohaewai, and held that the land should be awarded to the descendants of the ancestor Turou known as Te Whiu Hapu, and the Court called upon the claimants to submit lists. Lists of names were prepared, submitted, read out, and approved. Hirimai Piripo was the only objector, but his appeal was dismissed. His objections have no relation to the claims of the present petitioners. The petitioners now ask for a readjustment of relative interests. They allege that they did not know in what manner the shares were apportioned in 1921, and they claim that many persons not descendants of Turou were included in the lists.