25

1.— 4

tikatika i te Ture Arai i nga tuku he i nga Whenua Maori, 1873," a no te hokinga o te mana o taua Ture nei ki muri ka meatia me tau te mana o " Te Ture arai i nga tuku he i nga Whenua Maori, 1870," ki aua tv pukapuka pena me tena i tuhia kite kai-iuoi no reira i kore ai c mana te taunga mo tana moni a c inoi ana ia kia whakaorangia ia. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite whare: —Ki te whakaaro ote Komiti kahore i whakaaturia mai he tino take kia whai tikangatia ai te " Ture Whakatikatika i te Ture Arai i nga Tuku he i nga Whenua Maori, 1873." John Brtce, Oketopa 24, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition of Timoti Ropitini. This is a petition from a half-caste of Akaroa, who alleges that he is entitled to 50 acres of land sold by the Natives to Europeans, but which had been long previously purchased by petitioner's father. He prays that the 50 acres in question be returned to them. I am directed to report as follows : —The petitioner having submitted no evidence in support of the allegations of his petition, this Committee caused inquiry to be made on the spot by the Rev. Mr. Stack, but the result of that inquiry has not been in favour of the petitioner. The Committee cannot, therefore, recommend his prayer to the favourable consideration of the House. John Brtce, 24th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Timoti Ropitini. He pukapuka-inoi tenei na tetahi hawhe-kaihe no Akaroa, c ki anaia c whai tikanga aua ki tetahi whenua c 50 eka te nui i hokona c nga Maori ki nga Pakeha, engari kua hokona i mua noa atu c te papa o te Kai-inoi. E inoi ana ia kia whakahokia ki aiate 50 eka ra. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: —Notemea kahore te Kai-inoi i whakaatu korero mai hei whakakaha i nga kupu o tana pukapuka-inoi i tae atu te kupu a te Komiti kia uiuia nga tikanga c te Taka, minita, ki runga tonu kite whenua, engari ko te ritenga o taua uiuinga kihai i hapai i te Kai-inoi. Koia i kore ai te Komiti c kaha kite ki atu kite Whare kia whakaarohia paitia te inoi o te Kai-inoi. John Brtce, Oketopa 24, 1876. Tumuaki.

Report on Petition of Henare Tomoana and 33 Others. Petitioners state that a short time ago they and other Natives went to Hastings, near Napier, to sign certain deeds, and that the reason they did not go to Napier was that they were afraid they would be led astray by drink. They complain that, although their lawyer, Mr. Sheehan, made many efforts to get a magistrate to come out to witness their signatures, those efforts failed, and that great inconvenience and loss resulted therefrom to the petitioners and others. The petitioners express an opinion that the officers did not attend at Hastings because they desired to prevent them (the petitioners) from becoming possessed of money wherewith to try certain cases before the Supreme Court, and they urge that those officers should be reprimanded for behaving in such a maddening way. I am directed to report as follows: —" The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1870," provides that the Governor in Council may from time to time make regulations for the guidance of Trust Commissioners in the performance of their duties. The Committee is of opinion such regulations should be at once issued and gazetted. That, in respect to the witnessing of deeds by Resident Magistrates, as required by " The Native Lands Act, 1873," the Committee is of opinion that general instructions should be given to Resident Magistrates to witness such deeds at fixed times and places, of which public notice should be given. The Committee is further of opinion that, in the case referred to by the petitioners, the officers concerned acted in accordance with their instructions. John Brtce, 25th October, 1876. Chairman. [Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Henare Tomoana me ona hoa c 33. E ki ana nga kai-inoi i haere atu ratou ko etahi tangata Maori i mua tata atu nei ki H eretaunga (Hastings) c tata ana ki Nepia kite tuhituhi i o ratou ingoa ki etahi pukapuka a ko te take i kore ai ratou c haere ki Nepia he wehi kei whakawaia ratou c te waipiro. E ki ana ratou ahakoa i maha nga tono a to ratou roia a Te Hiana (Mr. Sheehan) kia haere atu he Kai-whakawa kite titiro i te tuhituhinga o o ratou ingoa, kihai i taea a no reira ka nui te raruraru me te mate i pa ki nga kai-inoi me etahi atu. E whakaatu ana nga kai-inoi i ta ratou whakaaro ko te take i kore ai nga apiha i tao ki Heretaunga he rnea kia kore ai ratou (nga kai-inoi) c whiwhi kite moni hei whakahaere i etahi whakawa i roto i te Hupirimi Kooti a c tono ana ratou kia riria aua apiha mo taua mahi whakaporangi a ratou.' 4—l. 4.