I—3

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Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ahau kite Whare: — Kahore rawa he take mo te kupu c ki nei i whakaaetia kia haere utu kore nga Maori i runga l te rerewe mo nga tau c toru i runga i ta ratou hoatu noa i nga whenua mo te huarahi o te Eerewe ki Kaipara. Engari kua kitea c tika ana i whakaae ano a Mr. Sheehan itewa i homai ai te whenua kia whakatapua he wahi unga ki uta mo nga Maori i te teihana i Te Awaroa i te teihana i Waitemata a kia whakaturia hoki he whare hei nohoanga mo nga Maori c haere ana i runga ite Eerewe. E ki kaha atu ana te Komiti kia tere tonu te whakaea i aua kupu whakaaetanga ra. John Beyce, Hepetema 25, 1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Hieini Eawiri Taiwhanga and Others. (Presented in 1876.) This is a petition presented last session, and referred back in consequence of the Native Affairs Committee of last year not having reported an opinion to the House. The petitioners complain of the action of the Native Land Court in depriving them of three blocks of land near the Bay of Islands, and pray either that a rehearing of their case should be granted, or that £500 should be paid to them in cash, or that 200 acres should be returned to each of them out of the three blocks. I am directed to report as follows : — That the grievance which the petitioners really appear to have is against their own relations, who they allege sold the lands as grantees thereof, and did not fairly divide the money with other owners whose names were not in the grants. In the absence of any evidence, the Committee have no specific report to make. John Bryce, 25th September, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Hihini Eawiri Taiwhanga ma. (No te tau 1876 i tukua mai ai.) No tera tau i tukua mai ai tenei pukapuka-inoi, i whakahokia mai notemea kihai te Komiti o tera tau i whai kupu tuturu kite Whare. E pouri ana nga kai-inoi mo te mahi a te Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori i riro ai etahi whenua etoru c tata ana ki Tokerau, c a inoi ana ratou kia whakawakia tuaruatia ranei aua whenua, kia utua ranei ratou kite £500 moni kia whakahokia ranei ki ia tangata o ratou c 200 eka o roto o nga piihi etoru. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare : — Ko te mate a nga kai-inoi ma o ratou whanaunga ano c titiro na ratou hoki i hoko nga whenua i te mea ko ratou nga tangata i roto i nga karaati, a kahore i tika ta ratou wehewehenga i te moni ki era atu tangata kahore nei o ratou ingoa i roto i nga karaati. Kahore he kupu tuturu i whakapuakina kite aroaro o te Komiti koia i kore ai he kupu pehea ranei mo tenei mea. John Bryce, Hepetema 25,1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Eenato Kawepo and Others. The petitioners complain that the passing of the Native Land Sales Suspension Bill will inflict a grievous wrong upon the Maori people, and ask that their lands may not be interfered with. I am directed to report as follows: — That the Committee recommend the petition to the careful consideration of the Government and the Assembly, in connection with the Native Land Sales Suspension Bill now before the House of Eepresentatives. John Sheehan, 25th September, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation.] Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Eenata Kawepo ma. E whakaatu mai ana nga kai-inoi i to ratou pouri mo te Pire Whakatarewa i nga hoko Whenua Maori, ma te whakatuturutanga hei Ture ka pa ai he mate nui kite Iwi Maori, a c tono ana ratou kia kaua c whakararurarua o ratou whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: — E mea ana te Komiti ma te Kawanatanga me te Eunanga c ata whiriwhiri nga tikanga o tenei pukapuka-inoi ma korerotia te Pire whakatarewa i nga Hoko Whenua Maori kei te aroaro o te Whare inaianei. John Sheehan, Hepetema 25, 1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Nepia Tokitahi and Others. The petitioners ask that no new Native land law should be passed this year, but that the question should be left till next year for settlement, so that both races may assist in making the law ; and they ask further that forty chiefs should be appointed to make laws for the Maori people. I am directed to report as follows : —