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reported according to his wishes; he again prays for £400 and interest, and that all the evidence and papers be published. I am directed to report as follows : — That upon a similar petition from the same gentleman brought before the House last year the Committee reported as follows: " That, according to his own evidence, the delay in the payment of the £4,000 arose entirely from the refusal of Mr. Taiaroa (the petitioner) to get from the parties interested a receipt in full settlement of claims as agreed upon, and that, as acknowledged by him, this delay was with a view of forcing Government to pay another £1,000. The Committee, therefore, cannot recommend the prayer of the petition to be granted." No new evidence whatever has been adduced on the present inquiry, and the Committee would simply reaffirm the above report. 22nd July, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 97 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a H. K. Taiaroa (Nama 1) E ki ana te kai-pitihana i pitihana ia kite whare i te tau, 1880, erangi ko te whakataunga a te Komiti mo nga mea Maori kihai i tika ki runga ki tana i hiahia ai, no reira ka inoi ano ia mo te £400 me nga hua o runga, a tetahi, kia panuitia katoa nga korero me nga pukapuka. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— I whakatau ano te Komiti i runga i tetahi pitihana penei i tukua mai c te kai-pitihana kite whare ite tau kua mahue ake nei; i penei taua whakatau :" I runga ano i nga korero a Taiaroa, ko te take i roa ai te £4,000 c puta ana, nana tonu, na te kai-pitihana i kore c whakaae kite mea i nga tangata c pa ana ki aua moni kia tuhi i tetahi pukapuka whakaae i te rironga o aua moni, i te mea ano hoki kua oti te whakaae hei utunga whakamutunga tera mo aua kereme; eki ana ano hoki a Taiaroa ko te take i whakaroa ai ia i taua mea he mea nana kia utu ano te Kawanatanga i tetahi atu £1,000. Heoi no reira c kore c whakahau te Komiti kia whakaaetia te inoi a te kai-pitihana." Kaore ano he korero hou i puta ake i roto i tenei whiriwhiringa ; heoi ta te Komiti he whakahua ano i te whakataunga i runga ake nei. 22 Hurae, 1881.

No. 143 of 1881—Petition of Wi Pere and 29 Others (No. 2). Petitionees pray for an increased number of Maori members of the House of Bepresentatives. I am directed to report as follows : — That, this being a matter of public policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 22nd July, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 143 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wi Pere me etahi atu c 29 (No. 2). E inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia whakatokomahatia nga mema Maori ki roto kite whare Bunanga. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei : — No te mea he tikanga tenei c pa ana ki nga whakahaere mo te katoa heoi kaore he kupu a te Komiti. 22 Hurae, 1881.

No. 96 of 1881.—Petition of Wi te Wheoro (No. 2) Petitionee says that he and his hapu, which had always been loyal, lost their land during the Waikato war, and that the Native Affairs Committee had recommended the Government to settle their claims; he asks for a Commission to be appointed, that a speedy settlement may be made. I am directed to report as follows: — The Committee recommends that effect should be given to the report of last year, subject, however, to this condition, namely, that the legality of the confiscation shall not be called in question, and the inquiry shall be confined to ascertaining whether or not there are any special circumstances in the case of the petitioner entitling him and his people to further consideration. 22nd July, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 96 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wi te Wheoeo (Nama 2). E ki ana te kai-pitihana ko ratou ko tona hapu i piri-pono ki a Te Kuini i nga takiwa katoa, i riro o ratou whenua i te whawhaitanga ki Waikato, na i whakahau ano te Komiti mo nga mea Maori kia whakaotia c te Kawanatanga o ratou kereme whenua; heoi c tono ana te kai-pitihana kia whakaturia he Komihana hei whakaoti wawe tonu i taua mea. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— E ki ana te Komiti me whakamana te kupu whakatau a te Komiti o te tau kua pahure ake nei, engari me haere i raro i tenei tikanga ara; me kaua c korerotia te tika te he ranei i runga ite ture o te rau-patu, na ko te whiriwhiri me whakahaere anake i runga i te kimi me kore etahi take i motu ke c tika ai te whakaaro atu ano i te kai-pitihana me tona iwi. 22 Hurae, 1881.

No. 165 of 1881.—Petition of Kaeaka Kahukura. Petitionee prays that Paratene Tamanuiarangi may be appointed Native Assessor for the Chatham Islands when the Native Land Court sits there. I am directed to report as follows i — That, this being a matter pertaining to the Government, the Committee recommends that the petition be passed to it for consideration* 22nd July, 1881.