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And whereas by a notice published in the Gazette on the 19th day of August, 1863, at page 345, it was notified that the Native title over the land described in the notice aforesaid and therein named " Manginangina Block," being the land comprised in the said deed of cession and therein named 44 Mokau,'' had been extinguished, exclusive of a Native reserve containing 200 acres, which had been stipulated for in the aforesaid deed of cession, and excepting another small portion therein mentioned: And whereas in recent times the cession of the said Mokau Block to the Crown has, by certain Maoris claiming that their forbears were entitled to interests in the said Mokau Block, been impugned or called in question upon the grounds, amongst others, that the persons who purported to cede the said Mokau Block to the Crown were not the true owners of the land, or the whole of it, and had no power to act for other owners in ceding it; that the boundaries laid down for the said Mokau Block wrongfully included an area of land known as '' Takapau ''; that the purchase-price paid by the Crown for the land was inadequate; and that the deed of cession was not properly executed: And whereas the Government is desirous that the truth and justice of the respective claims and complaints of the Maoris as hereinbefore set forth should be tested by inquiry so that, if such complaints be well founded and of substance, the Government will be able to take order for the redress of the grievances laid upon the Maoris: Now know ye, that We, reposing trust and confidence in your impartiality, knowledge, and ability, do hereby nominate, constitute* and appoint you, the said Sir Michael Myers, Hanara Tangiawha Reedy, and Albert Moeller Samuel to be a Commission: # * # * (b) In respect of the Mokau Block aforesaid, to inquire and report—(i) Whether, due regard being had to the method generally employed throughout the North Auckland District in the conduct of transactions with the Maoris for the cession of land to the Crown at the time when the said Mokau

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