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referred to in the petition under inquiry That the efforts of several successive Governments to settle this matter have been successful so far only as to deprive the Native owners of their only vantage-ground, i.e., possession ; and the papers and evidence disclose good grounds for believing that the Natives gave up possession in the full faith and belief that they would again be reinstated in their tribal holding. That justice requires that the petitioners and their friends should be restored to their original position, and be confirmed in their possession of the land. That inquiry should be made by the proper department to ascertain whether or not the application and declaration on which the Land Transfer title was based were made in accordance with fact. That, in the event of proof of the fact that the European vendor was an innocent purchaser, compensation should be paid to him in manner provided by the Public Worts Act now in force. That the G-overnmcnt should, without delay, take the necessary steps to replace the Native owners in possession, without payment or consideration in land or money on their part. 21st September, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 61 of 1881. —Pukapuka-inoi a Paoea Kaiwhata me etahi 6. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he maha nga tau c noho ana ratou i runga i te whenua i Ngatahira ; i tae atu a Te Paraihe me Te Boretana kia kite i a ratou kite whakaoti i nga tautohe mo te take ki taua whenua ; i whakahaerea ano etahi tikanga kia utua taua whenua ki tetahi whenua ke atu, engari. kaore i whakaotia aua whakaritenga ; kaore ano he kupu ate Kawanatanga i tae atu ki a ratou no reira ka inoi ratou kia whakahokia a Ngatahira ki a ratou. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Me rapu mehemehea ranei na te Kooti te he i kore ai c mana te hiahia o nga Maori no ratou te whenua kia mau tonu taua wahi ki a ratou hei whenua mo te iwi, no te mea hoki he nui ratou nga Maori kua panaia i runga ite whenua i maharatia nei kua oti i te ture te whakatau ki a ratou. Na kite whakaaro a tenei Komiti i mahara tonu nga Maori me te pakeha hoko, ko te whenua ke c hokona ana ko to whenua i riihitia ki a Te Paratiweeti, i runga i tena tikanga c kapea ana a Ngatahira ki waho ote hoko. Na he maha nga Kawanatanga kua whakamatau kite whakaoti i tenei raruraru, heoi ano te mea i oti ko te tango ite ora kotahi nei ote Maori, ara ; i tona whenua; na i runga i nga korero me nga pukapuka kua takoto kite aroaro o te Komiti i puta pai nga Maori ki waho o taua whenua i runga ite whakapono tera ano ratou c whakahokia ki runga. Na i runga i te huarahi o te tika me whakahoki pumau ano nga kai-pitihana me o ratou hoa ki runga ki to ratou whenua o mua iho. Na ma tona Tari tika ano c kimi mehemea ranei i pono te oatitanga i tuturu ai te take o taua whenua i raro ite Ture Tuku. Na kite kitea i pohehe te hoko ate pakeha, me utu ano ia i raro i nga tikanga ote Turo mo nga mahi Nunui c mana nei. Na me tere tonu te whakahoki ato Kawanatanga i nga Maori ki runga ano ki to ratou whenua, me kaua hoki nga Maori c utu whenua c utu moni ranei. 21 Hepetema, 1881.

No. 382 of 1881.—Petition of Manihera Maaka and 18 Others. Petitioners state that a block of land called Okurupatua was adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court on the 6th June, 1881, and that, owing to some of their witnesses having been late, their claims had not been considered. An application for rehearing was refused. They pray for redress. I am directed to report as follows : — That this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 21st September, 1881.

[Translation.] No. 382 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Maniheba Maaka me etahi atu 18. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana i whakawakia tetahi whenua ko Okurupatua c te Kooti Whakawa Whenua i te 6 o nga ra o Hune, 1881, a no te mea i tureiti etahi o nga kai-whaaki korero kihai i whakaarohia o ratou kereme. Kaore i whakaaetia te tono kia whakawa tuaruatia taua whenua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei : — Me tuku atu tenei pitihana kia whakaarohia c te Kawanatanga. 21 Hepetema, 1881.

By Authority : (Jeobgb Didsettet, G-OYernment Printer, Wellington.—lBBl.

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