1.—2

18

[Translation.] No. 302 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Petera te Pukuatua me etahi atu 22, E inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia kaua c tv te Pire a te Kawanatanga c mea nei kia utu reiti nga whenua Maori. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— E pa ana tenei ki nga tikanga whakahaere Kawanatanga, c korerotia ana c te Whare, kaore he kupu a te Komiti. 23 Akuhata, 1881.

No. 273 of 1881.—Petition of Tuta Nihoniho and 45 Others. Petitioners were owners of Waitahuia, Poverty Bay, which they sold to the Government in 1876. They say that the whole of the purchase-money has not been paid to them, and also refer to a difference in regard to the acreage sold. Appended to the petition are tables showing at large the transactions as understood by the petitioners. They ask for payment of the balance alleged to be due. I am directed to report as follows: — That the transaction referred to in the petition is a very large and important one, and the Committee therefore took pains to examine every voucher. These are all apparently in perfect order, and in the aggregate account for the whole purchase-money, besides £45 extra paid to two unwilling signatories of the deed of cession. Captain Porter, the agent in this affair, was before the Committee, and gave explanatory evidence. The Committee recommends that the Government should make an inquiry independently of this Committee, as there is implied in the petition a serious charge against a responsible public office. 23rd August, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 273 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Tuta Nihoniho me etahi atu 45. Ko nga kai-pitihana nga tangata i whaitake ki Waitahuia, i Turanganui, i hokona c ratou kite Kawanatanga ite tau 1876. E ki ana ratou kahore ano kia utua katoatia kia ratou nga moni ote hoko, c whakaatu mai ana hoki ite rereke o nga eka i hokona; whakapiria ana kite pitihana nga rarangi moni i mohiotia ai c nga kai-pitihana. E tono ana ratou kia utua kia ratou te toenga o nga moni c kiia nei kaore ano kia utua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—He tino putake nui enei c tonoa nei i roto i tenei pitihana, no reira ka tino tupato te whiriwhiringa a te Komiti i nga pukapuka moni (vouchers), c tika katoa ana te ahua o aua pukapuka, a i runga i te huihuinga c rite ana ki nga moni o te hoko, me etahi atu £45, i utua mo te hainatanga i nga ingoa c rua kaore ra c pai kia haina ite pukapuka tuku ite whenua. Ko Kapene Poata, te apiha whakahaere i taua hoko, a i tae mai hoki ia kite aroaro ote Komiti, whaki mai ana i ana kupu whakamarama. E whakaaro ana te Komiti me ata whiriwhiri ano hoki c te Kawanatanga i tua atu ano i te mahinga a te Komiti, natemea c whakapae ana te pitihana ki tetahi o nga tino apiha a te Kawanatanga. 23 Akuhata, 1881.

No. 320 of 1881.—Matiu Whaeematangi and 3 Others. Petitioners say that they are loyal Natives of the Taranaki Tribe, but they have not yet received Crown grants for their lands. They pray for redress. I am directed to report as follows : — That this is a matter which might properly be referred to the West Coast Commissioner to be dealt with, and, with this object, the Committee recommends it to the attention of the Government. 23rd August, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 320 of 1881..—Pukapuka-inoi a Matiu Wharematangi me etahi atu 3. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he Maori ratou no te iwi o Taranaki, i noho piri pono ratou ki a te Kuini otira kahore ano ratou i whiwhi noa kite Karauna karaati mo o ratou whenua. A c inoi ana kia whakaorangia ratou. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— He mea tika tenei kia tukua atu kite Komihana mo te Taihauauru kia mahia c ia, a i runga i tera huarahi ka kiia c te Komiti me ata rapu he tikanga c te Kawanatanga. 23 Akuhata, 1881.

No. 29 of 1881.—Petition of Mokena Koheee. Petitioner alleges that he is, by Native custom, owner of land near Gisborne called Titiraugi, incorporated in a block named Kaiti; that in 1873, when Kaiti was being passed through the Native Land Court, he was attending to Parliamentary duties in Wellington, and consequently his name was left out of the grants; that he was promised a rehearing ; that in 1879, when the case again came on, it lapsed from some unknown cause; that he has since made several efforts to get the matter reopened ; and, finally, that in January, 1881, he attended a sitting of the Land Court, and was then informed that it could not be dealt with, and that he had better appeal to Parliament. The petitioner prays for relief. I am directed to report as follows : — That the Committee cannot see that any injustice has been done to the petitioner, but if there be any question of law it could be settled upon his making a new claim. The Committee has therefore no recommendation to make. 23rd August, 1881.