G.—No. 1

PETITIONS.

12

[translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand. Otaki, 9th September, 1867. In the year 1865 the Ngatiraukawa sent a petition to the Parliament in Session at Wellington, praying that the country lying between Ohau and Rangitikei, including Manawatu, might not be excluded from the operation of the Native Lands Act, but that the Land Court might be allowed to operate in the case of our land claims. The Assembly replied that, if after the expiration of one year Dr. Peatherston's purchase was not near completion, then the Assembly would cause the Lands Court to be open to receive our claims. We thought all had been done in accordance with the terms contained in your reply to us: that one year should be allowed to elapse whilst Dr. Featherston was carrying on his negotiations ; after which, the Assembly would empower the Native Lands Act to operate in the claims to the land excluded. We did not know it would be necessary to make another petition in the year 1866. We have only now become aware that it was necessary to have done so. We therefore now make this our petition to the General Assembly, and pray you to allow the Native Lands Court to have power to act in the case of our land claims. We make this petition to the Assembly: let your Honourable House favourably consider our prayer. We sutler much from want of law. [Here follow five signatures.]

No. 12. PETITION OF NATIVES AT TURANGA. Ki te tino Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni e noho nei ki Poneke. Turanga, Hurae 8, 1867. Ko te inoi tenei o o koutou tangata pono, o o koutou tino hoa, o etahi o nga tangata o Turanga e mea ana, kia tirohia e koutou e te Runanga Rangatira tetahi o o matou pouritanga, ko to matou taonga nui ko to matou whare whakairo kua mauria huhua koretia, e te Kawanatanga, kihai matou i whakaae ; ko nga korero pono enei o te mauranga o taua whare, ara ; i te taenga mai o te Ritimona, ka tono mai kia hoatu e au te whare, kahore au i whakaae, mea atu ana ahau ki a ia, kahore, kei te iwi katoa te ritenga, ka mea mai ia ki au na ratou ranei te whare ? mea atu ana ahau, kahore naku ano te whare erangi ko te mahi na matou tahi. Ko te whakahokinga mai ate Ritimona heoi ano ra, ka mutu taku tohe atu ki a koe : ka haere atu te tima me taua Pakeha, e hia ranei nga ra e ngaro atu ana taua tima ka hoki mai ano ki te tiki mai i te whare, ko Kapene Piki i haere mai, ki te tiki mai i te whare, ka mea mai ia ki au kia hoatu te whare mo te Kaw rana ki Poneke. Ka mea atu au ki a ia, kahore au c pai. Tenei ano etahi o nga kupu a taua Pakeha kei au, heoi ano, haere atu ana taua Pakeha ki te pakaru ite whare, mauria atu ana, heoi ra kahore aku kupu whakaae ki a ia: ka peke ra nga korero. He inoi tenei na matou kia whakaarohia tenei to matou mate, ka inoi tonu matou ki a koutou. Ka huri. Na o koutou hoa aroha i runga i te ture. [translation.] To the General Assembly of New Zealand in Session at Wellington. Turanga, Bth July, 1867. This petition of your true and faithful friends, some of the people of Turanga, prays that you will look into one of our troubles. Our very valuable carved house has been taken away, without pretext, by the Government: we did not consent to its removal. This is a true account of what took place in reference to the removal of that house: at the time of Mr. Richmond's visit here, he asked me to give up the house ; 1 did not consent, but told him, " No, it is for the whole people to consider." He then asked me if"the house belonged to them all. I answered, " No, the house is mine, but tho work was done by all of us." To this Mr. Richmond replied, " That is all; I will cease to urge you." The steamer left with Mr. Richmond. After having been away a short time, the steamer came back again to take away the house ; Captain Biggs came to fetch away the house. He desired me to give it up for the Governor, to be taken to Wellington. I told him I did not agree to it. He said other things, which 1 have not forgotten. He then w rent to take down the house, and carried it off, but I did not give my sanction to it. This is all I have to say about it. We pray you to consider this our trouble. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. [Here follow eight signatures.]

No. 13. immrmTAAT /\-n TTAnmfAAT i tiattta i ±\_j.ii.iuii ur nuivuiviu±>A ruinu. Ki te Runanga Nui o Niu Tireni kei Poneke e hui ana. Poneke, Hurae 30, 1867. He tangi atu tenei naku na Horomona Pohio, he tangata Maori no Niu Tireni. Te take ko taku whenua i hokoa ai e nga tangata o tenei motu ki nga tangata o to Kawanatanga, na Ngatitoa i hoko ki nga tangata o te Kawanatanga, kaore, ko nga utu o taua whenua i tangohia ai e taua iwi, hei utu mo