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Report on Petition of Hirini Taiwhanga. The petitioner Hirini Taiwhanga prays for compensation on the ground of loss of employment caused by the cancelling of his license as a surveyor; and for compensation for loss sustained by his brother, who was captured and detained by Maoris while in the employment of the Government. I am directed to report as follows: —-That the petitioner lost his license through his own misconduct ; and, so far from having any claim to compensation, he ought to be thankful that under the circumstances it was restored to him. The Committee cannot therefore recommend his petition to the favourable consideration of the House, and, in respect to the claim made on behalf of his brother, the Committee are of opinion that it cannot be entertained. 19th July, 1876. John Brtce, Chairman. • [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Hirini Taiwhanga. E Tono ana te Kai-inoi a Hirini Taiwhanga kia utua ia mo te korenga o tana mahi i runga i te tangohanga o tana raihana ruri whenua, o tono ana hoki ia kite utu mo te ngaronga o te mahi a tana tuakana i runga i tona hopukanga i tona puritanga c nga Maori i te wa c mahi ana ia mo te Kawanatanga. Kua whakahaua ahau kia whakapuakina c ahau tenei kupu:—Na te hara a te Kai-inoi i tangohia ai tana raihana, tetahi hoki kahore c tika kia tono utu ia engari me whakawlietai ia mo runga i te whakahokinga ki a ia o tana raihana. No reira i kore ai te Komiti c marama kite ki atu kite Whare he mea tika kia whakaarohia paitia tenei pukapuka inoi; amo runga ite tono mo tana tuakana c mahara ana te Komiti kia kaua c whakaarohia. Hurae 19, 1876. John Brtce, Tumuaki.

Report on the Petition of Wi te Wheoro. The petitioner complains that the line of the Waikato Railway has been taken through a very old and sacred burial-place situate at the Taupiri Gorge, on the Waikato River, and that many houses have been built there, and he asks that a grant may issue at once in order to confirm his title to the land. I am directed to report as follows: —As to the first subject, the Committee find that the allegation in the petition is correct: the line of railway has beeu taken through an old burial-place, aud the bones of some of the dead have been disturbed. At the same time it appears that the line could not have been taken in any other direction without very much increased expense, and without subjecting the Public Works Department to great difficulty in procuring ballast for the ballasting of the line. The Natives also admit that they have been somewhat to blame in not pushing the matter before the work was done. The changing of the line would now entail a cost of over four thousand pounds (£4,000), with a line of bad curves and steep gradients. Under these circumstances, the Committee cannot see how the request of the Natives as to noninterference with the burial-ground can be entertained; but as it appears from the evidence of Mr. Knorpp, that no necessity exists for any further trespass on the burial-ground for railway purposes, the Committee recommend that it should be fenced or otherwise protected from further trespass, and such other action be taken as will show to the Natives concerned that it is not the wish of the Government to subject the bones of their dead to desecration. As to tho claim for the grant of the land, Petitioner alleges that it is a reserve of 20 acres, made by Mr. Mackay some years ago iv favour of Petitioner and his tribe. If the reserve made by Mr. Mackay and the burial-ground site be identical, the Committee can see no reason why a grant should not be issued, care being taken to protect the public interest in respect of the railway line. John Brtce, 25th July, 1876. ■ Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Wi te Wheoro. E whakapuaki ana te Kai-inoi i tona pouri mo te whakahaerenga o te rama o te rerewe o Waikato i runga i tetahi urupa tawhito tapu rawa kei Taupiri i te awa o Waikato, mo te whakatunga hoki i nga whare maha ki reira, c tono ana hoki ia kia tere tonu te whakaputanga o te Karauna karaati hei whakatuturu i tono take ki taua whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia whai kupu penei kite whare :— Mo runga i te kupu tuatahi kua kitea c te Komiti c tika ana te kupu i roto i te pukapuka-inoi; kua haere te rama o te rerewe i runga i tetahi urupa tawhito kua hurahia ake nga wheua o etahi o nga tupapaku.