1.—4

22

It appears that this block of land was returned to Moananui and Ngarae, at the time when the Government was settling the cession of the Te Puna and Katikati Blocks. Subsequently Moananui made application to the Native Office, at Tauranga, to allow the grant to issue in his own name only, offering to set aside other lands for Ngarae and her children, and the Native Office appears to have consented. I am directed to report as follows: —The Committee think that such powers should not be exercised unless publicly and in the presence or with the consent of all parties interested. However, land was pointed out to the Native officers by Moananui at Matakana, which land the Native Department here alleges will be granted to the petitioner and others, children of Ngarae. Nearly six years having elapsed since this arrangement was made, the Committee consider that legal effect should be given to it without any further delay. John Brtce, 20th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Ani Ngarae Honetana me ona hoa c 2. E ki ana nga kai-inoi i whai take to ratou wdiaea a Ngarae ratou ko etahi atu ki tetahi piihi whenua kei Tauranga ko Te Rereatukahia te ingoa, a no tona matenga kua whakakorea to ratou paanga kite whenua i runga i te whakaputanga o tetahi Karaati kite tangata kotahi anake ko nga whanauuga o Ngarae i kapea ki waho. E kitea ana ko tenei piihi whenua i whakahokia ki a Moananui ki a Ngarae i te wa c whakaritea ana etc Kawanatanga te hokonga oTe Puna o Katikati. Muri iho ka tono a Moananui kite Tari Maori i Tauranga kia tukua te Karaati kia puta i runga i tona ingoa anake, i whakaae ano hoki ia ki te whakarite i etahi whenua ke atu mo Ngarae ratou ko ana tamariki a c kitea ana i wkakaae te Tari Maori. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: —E whakaaro ana te Komiti kaua aua tv mana c whakahaeretia engari i te aroaro o te katoa kia kite hoki kia whakaae ranei nga tangata katoa c whai tikanga ana. Engari i whakaaturia ki nga apiha ote Tari eTe Moananui he whenua ki Matakana, c kiia ana hoki c te Tari Maori o konei ka karaatitia kite kai-inoi me era atu tamariki a Ngarae. Kua tata tenei kite ono o nga tau kua pahure nei i muri iho o te whakaritcritenga koiai whakaaro ai te Komiti me whakamana taua whakariteritenga i runga i nga tikanga o te Ture kaua c whakaroaina. John Brtce, Oketopa 20, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition of Matiu Poono and 61 Others. This is a petition from Natives of Shorthand, Thames, in which it is alleged that Mr. Mackay is surveying certain lands of theirs situated at Hauraki and Piako. They pray that such survey be put a stop to, it being unauthorized by them. I am directed to report as follows : —The Committee find, on inquiry, that as it appears by statements made by Mr. Mackay, in the following telegram to the Under Secretary, Native Department, dated 10th October, 1876, that no such unauthorized survey as that complained of in the petition appears to be going on, the Committee have no recommendation to make. John Brtce, 24th October, 1876. Chairman. To the Under Secretart, Native Department, Wellington. (Telegram.) Grahamstown, 10.45 a.m., 11th October, 1876. I assume that Matiu Poono and his fellow petitioners belong to the Ngatimaru tribe. If so, I may say, in the survey of lands at Piako last year, the portion they claimed was carefully excluded. I only dealt with those lands belonging to and sold by the Ngatipaoa tribe, at Hauraki. All surveys have been long since completed. 1 have only one survey in progress now, and that is on the Waitoa Block, near Ohinemuri, ceded by Ngatitamatera, and where Matiu Poono and Ngatimaru cannot possibly pretend to have the slightest claim. As soon as the weather permits surveys of the swamp country, I intend to complete that of the Piako Block, and if any portion of it abuts on or approaches any claims of Ngatimaru or Matiu Poono, I shall send them due notice to attend and point out their boundaries. Factious opposition with a view to delay cannot be too strongly deprecated, and as long as care is taken that only the claims of Ngatipaoa and Ngatitamatera are surveyed, and those to which Ngatimaru have the slightest shadow of right are excluded from such survey, I cannot admit any cause of complaint. If there should be any further communication on this subject necessary, will you kindly telegraph the names of the petitioners ? James Mackat, Ohinemuri. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Matiu Poono me ona hoa c 61. He pukapuka-inoi tenei nga etahi tangata Maori o Hotereni Hauraki c kiia ana i roto i taua puka-puka-inoi c ruritia ana c Te Make (Mr. Mackay) etahi whenua o ratou kei Hauraki kei Piako hoki, a c inoi ana ratou kia whakamutua taua ruri, notemea kahore i whakamana c ratou. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : —E kitea ana cte Komiti i runga ite kimikimihanga notemea i runga i nga kupu a Te Make i c pukapuka-waea c mau ana i raro iho nei kite