1.—4

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Report on Petition of Tamati Paetai and 13 Others. This petition has reference to an old land claim, which many years ago was dealt with by the Land Claims Settlement Court, a Crown grant being ordered to issue in favour of a European named McCaskill. The petitioners, while admitting the original sale to the European, allege that he has taken into his survey a piece of land which was not comprised in the original purchase. I am directed to report as follows : —The Committee finds itself entirely unable to investigate the merits of the petition, and can only refer it to the Government to take action. It may be possible to deal with this case under the provisions of " The Native Land Act, 1873," having reference to old land claims ; but, if not, the Committee would recommend that the Government should direct inquiry to be made in the locality in which the land is situated, by some officer of the Government resident there. John Brtce, 6th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Tamati Paetai me ona hoa 13. Ko te tikanga o tenei Pukapuka-inoi mo tetahi take whenua tawhito i mahia i mua noa atu c te Kooti Whakariterite Take Whenua, i kiia kia whakaputaina he Karauna karaati ki tetahi pakeha ko McCaskill te ingoa. E whakaaetia ana ano c nga kai-inoi te hoko o mua kite pakeha, otira c ki ana ratou kua tangohia c ia ki roto ki tana ruri tetahi piihi whenua kihai i uru kite hoko tawhito. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare:—Kahore rawa te Komiti c kaha kite kimi i nga tikanga o te Pukapuka-inoi heoi ano te mea c taea ko te tuku atu kite Kawanatanga ma ratou c mahi. Tera pea ka taea te whakahaere he tikanga mo tenei mea i runga i nga ritenga o" Te Ture Whenua Maori, 1873," c tau ana ki nga take whenua tawhito; engari kite kore tena c taea, c mea ana te Komiti me tono kite Kawanatanga kia kimihia nga tikanga, i reira ano i te wahi c takoto ai te whenua, c tetahi apiha o te Kawanatanga c noho ana ki reira. John Brtce, Oketopa 6, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition of Tukukino and 113 Others. The petitioners state that certain land belonging to them at Ohinemuri has been wrongly included in land sold to one Mr. Thorpe, and that they did not appear to oppose the sale, because they did not know it was being made. This appears to be the revival of an old dispute, the correspondence and documents concerning which have been submitted to the Committee ; but no new evidence has been produced. I am directed to report as follows : —The Committee are absolutely unable to determine whether or not there exist good grounds for the claim advanced by the petitioners, and can only recommend that inquiry be made by the Government through their officers residing in the district, with the view of ascertaining whether a real grievance exists. John Brtce, 6th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Tukukino me ona hoa 113. E ki ana nga kai-inoi kua whakaurua hetia tetahi whenua no ratou kei Ohinemuri ki roto kite whenua i hokona ki a Mr. Thorpe, a kahore ratou i tae atu kite whakahe i te hoko notemea kahore ratou i mohio c hokona ana. Ko te ahua o tenei mea he whakahou i tetahi tautohe tawhito, kua whakaaturia nga pukapuka me nga reta kite Komiti engari kahore he kupu hou i puta. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : —Kahore rawa te Komiti c kaha kite ki tuturu mehemea he take tika kahore ranei mo te tono a nga kai-inoi, heoi ano te kupu ma te Komiti he ki atu kia kimihia c te Kawanatanga ki a ratou apiha c noho ana ki taua takiwa, kia kitea ai mehemea c tika ana te pouritanga o nga kai-inoi. John Brtce, Oketopa 6, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition (No. 1) of Natives of the Ngatitoa Tribe. The petitioners claim to be entitled by right of conquest to a block of land called Tararua. That the block has not yet been passed through the Native Lauds Court. I am directed to report as follows: — That any claims which the petitioners may have on the block of land, according to Native custom can be brought before the Native Lands Court, which is the proper tribunal for ascertaining the ownership to Native lands. That this Committee cannot entertain applications from Natives to decide disputes in reference to lands held under Native title. John Brtce, 6th October, 1876. Chairman.