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No. 144 of 1881. —Petition of Pineamine Tuhaka and 136 Others. Petitioners state that they were owners of Pakatipu-o-te-Ngaere, Poverty Bay District, sold to the Crown ; that at the time of sale it was arranged that certain persons should receive the purchasemoney for distribution to those entitled to share in it; that the persons thus appointed did not distribute the money They pray that either land or money should be given to them. I am directed to report as follows : — That, in its dealings with the land referred to, Government seems to have been quite regular, and paid to each grantee the due proportion of the purchase-money One of the petitioners, Iritana Ngawiki, is one of the grantees. The Committee has no recommendation to make. 28th July, 1881.

[Teanslation.] No. 144 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Pineamine Tuhaka me etahi atu c 136. E ki ano nga kai-pitihana no ratou tetahi whenua ko Papatipu-o-te-Ngaere te ingoa c takoto ana i te takiwa o Papata Tei, a i te wa i hokoa ai he mea whakarite etahi tangata hei kai-tango i te moni hoko kia whakaratongia ki nga tangata c tika ana hei tango i aua moni, a kihai i whakaratongia c aua kaitango taua moni. E inoi ana ratou kia wahia atu tetahi wahi o taua whenua ranei, kia utua atu ranei kite moni a ratou take. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— I a ratou whakahaerenga katoa mo runga i te whenua kua korerotia nei i tika te mahi a te Kawanatanga, me te utu atu i nga moni ki ia tangata o roto o te Karaati c tika ana ki a riro i a ia. Ko Iritana Ngawiki tetahi o nga Kai-pitihana, a ko ia ano hoki tetahi o nga tangata o roto o te Karaati. Kahore he kupu a te Komiti. 28 Hurae, 1881.

Ngatikauwhata Claims Commission. The Native Affairs Committee, to whom was referred the attached correspondence, has directed me to report as follows : — 1. That the Committee has heard the statement and evidence of Mr. Alexander McDonald, who appeared for the Native claimants before the Commission, and has also considered the papers referred to it. 2. That there is no necessity for disturbing the decision set forth in the Commissioner's report; and Mr. McDonald himself readily admits the accuracy of the printed evidence attached to the Commissioner's report. 3. That the question is not one affecting the public interest, and from Mr. McDonald's own evidence it appears that any question which may be in existence as amongst the Natives themselves is capable of being finally and satisfactorily settled by them. Mr. McDonald states confidently that there would be no difficulty in obtaining the consent of the grantees to recognizing any equitable or other claim which the petitioners may have as against the grantees. There is, therefore, no reason why the public should be at the expense of a further and unnecessary inquiry 2nd August, 1881.

[Translation.] Komihana mo nga Kereme o Ngatikauwhata. Kua whakahaua ahau c Te Komiti mo nga Mea Maori kia ki penei i runga i nga pukapuka c piri nei, a, i tukua mai nei ki tenei Komiti, ara:— 1. Kua rongo te Komiti i nga korero a Eiki Makitanara te Kai-whakahaero o nga tangata Maori na ratou te kereme i te aroaro o te Komihana, a, kua whiriwhiria hoki c te Komiti nga pukapuka i tukua mai nei ki a ia. 2. Na, kaore he take kia whakararurarutia te whakataunga a te Komihana c takoto na i roto i te ripoata a nga Komihana; i whakaae tonu hoki a Eiki Makitanara kite tika o nga korero i whakapuakina kite aroaro o te Komihana, ara, i perehitia nei, i whakapiria mai nei ki taua ripoata. 3. Na, he mea tenei c pa ana ki nga take o te Katoa, a i runga tonu i nga korero a Eiki Makitanara ka taea pai ano c nga Maori te tino whakaoti tuturu nga tikanga pera c takoto ana i waenganui i a ratou ; c ki tonu ana hoki a Makitanara era noa c whakaae nga tangata o roto i te Karauna Karaati ki nga take tika pewhea atu ranei o nga kai-pitihana i runga i a ratou. No reira kaore he take kia whakapaua ano etahi o nga moni a te katoa kite whakahaere ano i tetahi atu whakawa kore-tikanga. 2 Akuhata, 1881.

No. 234 of 1881—Petition of Tamaki Tikao and 9 Others. Petitioners refer to a Bill for rating Native land, and pray that it may not be passed. I am directed to report as follows :— That, this being a matter of public policy, and How under the consideration of Parliament, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd August, 1881.

No. 234 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Tamaki Tikao me etahi atu c 9. E whai kupu ana nga Kai-pitihana mo tetahi Pire Eeiti i nga whenua Maori, a, c inoi ana ratou kia kaua c whakamanaia taua Pire. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—