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1.—3

Eepoet on Petition of Hohepa Paeaone and Another. Petitionees, who are Natives of the Thames District, state they conveyed a piece of land at the Thames to the Wesleyan body, as they understood, for religious purposes only, but that they learn now with deep regret that it is proposed to sell it to the Education Board in Auckland, and they pray for such relief as may insure that the land in question shall be devoted to the purpose originally intended. I am directed to report as follows : — That, while the Committee have some reason to think that the proposed sale or transfer of the land in question is not in accordance with the intention under which it was originally given, the Committee do not feel able to recommend any course to the House which would have the effect of depriving the trustees of legal rights which are not denied by the petitioners. John Beyce, 30th October, 1877. Chairman.

[Teanslation.] Ko te kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Hohepa Paeaone me tetahi atu. Ko nga kai-inoi he Maori no te Takiwa o Hauraki c mea ana i tukua c raua tetahi wahi whenua ke Hauraki ki nga Weteriana mo nga mahi karakia anake, engari kua rangona inaianei, me te nui o to raua pouri, tera c hokona taua wahi kite iwi whakahaere kura o Akarana. A c inoi ana raua kia meatia he tikanga c pumau tonu ai taua wahi mo te mea i whakaritea ai. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare: — E whakaaro ana ano te Komiti he tika kahore i whakaritea kia taea te hoko te tuku ke atu ranei taua wahi i runga i nga whakaritenga ite tukunga o taua wahi ite tuatahi. Engari c mea ana te Komiti c kore c taea c ratou te mahi he tikanga ma te Whare c kore ai c taea c nga kai-tiaki te mahi i nga tikanga kua hoatu kia ratou c te ture kaore nei i te whaka hengia c nga kai inoi. John Bryce, Oketopa 30, 1877. Tumuaki.

Eepoet on Petition of Hoani Kerei and Othees. Petitionees pray that the lands at Whakatane taken for the sins of the people (i.e. confiscated) may be returned to them, as the people who murdered Mr. Volkner and Mr. James Fulloon are hung, and those who fought against the Queen have been taken prisoners and punished. I am directed to report as follows : — That the consideration of the request made by the petitioners for the restoration of confiscated land involves a large question of policy, and the Committee do not deem it desirable that they should express an opinion on the subject. JonN Beyce, 30th October, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation.] ko te kupu a te komiti mo eunga i te pukapuka-inoi a hoani keeei me etahi atu. Ko nga kai-inoi c inoi ana ko nga whenua i tangohia mo nga hara o te iwi me whakahoki kia ratou, notemea ko nga tangata na ratou i kohuru a te Wakana raua ko Hemi te Mautaranui kua tarewatia, a ko nga tangata katoa i whawhai ki a te Kuini kua riro herehere kua whiua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu kite Whare :— Ko te whiriwhiri mo te tono a nga Kai-inoi kia whakahokia atu nga whenua i riro i te raupatu, he mea pakeke, a c kore te Komiti c ahei te whakapuaki whakakaaro mo taua mea. John Bryce, Oketopa 30,1877. Tumuaki.

Eeport on Petition of Hoani Kerei. Petitioner prays that confiscated land at Whakatane may be restored to his tribe, on the ground that his parent, although, in common with the rest of his tribe, engaged in fighting against the Queen, alw-ays gave intimation to the Europeans of an intended attack. I am directed to report as follows: — That the petitioner has shown no ground of claim, unless as a member of the Ngatiawa tribe, whose claim as a whole has been fully satisfied. JonN Bryce, 31st October, 1877. Chairman.

[Translation]. Ko te kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Hoani Keeei. Ko to kai-inoi c inoi ana ko nga whenua i riro mo te hara o te iwi me whakahoki ki tona iwi, te take i penei ai ia ko tona matua, ahakoa i uru tahi kite iwi whawhai kia te Kuini, i matua whakaatu ki nga pakeha i ta ratou whakaeke. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki to Whare : — Kahore te kai-inoi i whakaatu take mai mo tona tono, engari ano pea mci ma runga mai i tona iwi i a Ngatiawa otira ia ko nga tono a te iwi kua rite katoa. John Bryce, Oketopa 31,1877. Tumuaki.