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No. 28 of 1881. —Petition of Pita Tunua, Paroee, Hapeta, and H. Tamihana. Petitionees allege that their signatures had been got by misrepresentations to the deed of sale of Opuawhanga Block No. 3, and complain that signatures should be taken in hotels and stables. They pray for a return of half the block named. I am directed to report as follows : — That there are four blocks of this name. No. 3 was Crown-granted to Eruera Maki on the 27th June, 1868, as sole owner. Prom him Government bought the land in March, 1879. No. 2 was Crown-granted to Pita Tunua and Parore, two of the petitioners, on the 27th June, 1868. It was sold to the Superintendent of Auckland in 1870. In 1872 deeds, then unregistered, were burned when the Government buildings in Auckland were destroyed by fire. In 1878 Mr. Sheehan, then Native Minister, ordered a new deed to be prepared. This was signed by the grantees. The money paid on the second transfer was £6 —merely to pay the expenses of the Natives. The deed specifies the reason why it was renewed, and is in every respect full, explicit, and regular. The Committee cannot recommend that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. 13th July, 1881.

[Teanslation.] No. 28 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Pita Tunua, Paeoee, Hapeta, me H. Tamihana. E Xi ana nga kai-pitihana i tinihangatia ratou i haina ai ratou i te pukapuka-hoko mo Opuawhanga Nama 3, c whakahe ana hoki i te tuhinga o nga ingoa i roto i nga paparakauta me nga tepara hoiho. E inoi ana ratou kia whakahokia atu kia ratou te hawhe o taua Poraka whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— E wha rawa nga poraka c mau ana taua ingoa kotahi. Ko te Nama 3 i Karauna karatitia kiaa Eruera Maki ite27 o Hune, 1868, i karaatitia ki tona kotahi. Hokona ana eiaki te kawanatanga i Maihe o te tau 1879. Ko te Nama 2 i karaatitia kia Pita Tunua raua ko Parore i te 27 Hune, 1868, tokorua raua he kai-pitihana inaianei. Hokona ana etc Hupiriteneti o Akarana ite tau 1870. Ite tau 1872 i wera ite ahi nga puka-puka-hoko —i mua ite rehitatanga o aua pukapuka-—i te weranga o nga Tari Kawanatanga i Akarana. I te tau 1878 i whakahaua c te Hiana, Minita mo te taha Maori, kia mahia houtia he pukapukahoko. Hainatia ana ano taua pukapuka c nga kai-hoko. E ono pauna i utua ite tuhinga o taua pukapuka tuarua, engari i utua enei moni hei whakaea kau i nga moni a nga Maori i pau i to ratou taenga atu ki reira. E whakaatu ana ano taua pukapuka i te take i mahia houtia ai, c marama katoa ana nga kupu, i tika hoki te mahi i taua pukapuka. E kore c ahei te Komiti kite ki atu kia whakaaetia te inoi a nga kai-pitihana. 13 Hurae, 1881.

No. 98 of 1881,—Petition of Hemaea Tauhia and 32 Others. Petitionees claim to be owners of Hauturu (Little Barrier Island), unjustly awarded by the Land Court to Ngatiwai. They say that Judge Bogan's decision on the 16th June, 1880, which gave the land to petitioners, was just; but that the Assessor, who sat at a subsequent hearing of the case, was bribed. They state that they will hold the land, and there will be fighting. Petitioners conclude by saying that "the Parliament should not make any more laws affecting Maori lands, for they will be the cause of wars between the races." I am directed to report as follows : — That there was a rehearing of this case on the 14th May, 1881, before Chief Judge Penton and a Native Assessor. There was unfortunately a difference of opinion, and the case had to be adjourned. On the Bth June, 1881, Judge Monroe and an Assessor decided in favour of Ngatiwai, and the petitioners felt aggrieved. The Government is now trying to settle the matter, and the Committee recommends that no effort should be spared to bring to a satisfactory conclusion a very serious dispute. 19th July, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 98 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Hemaea Tauhia me etahi atu c 32. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana no ratou a Hautuau (Little Barrier Island), i tukua hetia c te Kooti Whakawa Whenua ki a Ngatiwai. E ki ana ratou i tika te whakatau a Tiati Bokena ki nga kai-pitihana te whenua i te 16 o Hune, 1880, engari ko te Ateha i tv ki. te Kooti i te whakawakanga i muri iho he mea utu. Eki ana ratou era ratou c mau tonu kite whenua, a tera etu te pakanga. Ko te kupu whakamutunga a nga kai-pitihana he ki kia mutu te hanga ture hou a te Paramete mo te whenua Maori, kei waiho hei take whawhai i waenganui i nga iwi Maori. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— I whakawa tuaruatia tenei whenua i te 14 o Mci, 1881, c Te Penetana raua ko tetahi Ateha Maori. I rereke te whakaaro o te Ateha, i rereke te whakaaro o te Tiati, no reira ka nekehia ano te whakawaka. No te 8 o Hune, 1881, ka whakataua c Tiati Moanaroa raua ko tetahi Ateha taua whenua ki a Ngatiwai na reira i mea ai nga kai-pitihana kei te noho mate ratou. Kei te whakahaere te Kawanatanga i naianei i etahi tikanga c oti ai tenei mea, na o whakahau ana hoki te Komiti kia whakaotia tenei raruraru nui. 19 Hurae, 1881.

No. 97 of 1881.—Petition of H. K. Taiaboa (No. 1). Petitionee states that in 1880 he petitioned the House, but the Native Affairs Committee had not 2—l. Hi