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No. 22 of 1882.—Petition of Wi Kepa Eangipuawhe. Petitioner claims, on behalf of his tribe, the Ngatihinewai, an interest in the Kaingaroa Block. He says that, in 1877, the Ngatimanawa surveyed the land and included a portion that did not belong to them ; that in 1878 the Native Land Court awarded the land to the Ngatimanawa; that a rehearing of the case was granted; that in 1879 the Court ordered surveys to be made, and in 1880 sat to consider the matter; that the Court was asked to adjourn on account of the illness of the petitioner and Arama Mokonuiarangi, but refused to accede to this request; that the Court had confirmed the grant in favour of the Ngatimanawa, and that Government has since purchased the land. The petitioner prays that the case should be again tried, or that the sum of £2,500 should be paid to him as compensation. I am directed to report as follows : —■ That a similar petition was reported upon by the Committee on the sth September, 1881. It was recommended that Government should carefully inquire whether Wi Kepa had equitable claims. At that time there was no proof offered as to the illness of Wi Kepa; there seems now, however, to be no doubt of the truth of this allegation. The question is, how far this circumstance damaged his application. Erom evidence offered it seems that his sole claim was through a connection with the Ngatihinewai, and the claim of this hapu was rejected by the Court. Still, as Wi Kepa could not attend, it is possible that arguments were omitted which might have had weight. Government might again inquire into the subject, and consider what can be done justly. A rehearing could not be secured except by special legislation. 3rd August, 1882.

[Translation.] No. 22 of 1882.—Pukapuka inoi a Wi Kepa Eangipuawhe. E ki ana te Kai-pitihana c whai take ana ia me tona hapu a Ngatihinewai kite Poraka whenu o Kaingaroa. Eki ana hoki ia i weaina te whenua c Ngatimanawa ite tau 1877 a tangohia atu ana c ratou tetahi taha ote whenua kaore nei i tika kia uru ki ta rotou wea; no te tau 1878 whakataua ana etc Kooti Whakawa Whenu Maori taua whenua kia Ngatimanawa; whakaaetia aua he whakawa tuarua, no te tau 1879 whakahaua ana c te Kooti kia weaina a no te tau 1880 ka noho te Kooti kite whiriwhiri i taua take ; tonoa ana kia nekehia atu te whakawa a te Kooti natemea i te mate ta koutou Kai-pitihana raua ko Arama Mokonuiarangi engari kaore te Kooti i whakaae whakataua ana kia Ngatimanawa, no muri nei ka hokona taua whenua etc Kawanatanga. E inoi ana te Kai-pitihana kia whakawakia ano, kia hoatu ranei te £2,500—ki aia hei utu whakarite. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— I whakataua ano c te Komiti tetahi Pitihana penei me tenei i te 5 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1881. Kiia atu ana i reira me ata whiriwhiri c te Kawanatanga mehemea ranei i whaitake a Wi Kepa, kaore hoki i tukua mai he kupu whakaatu tuturu mai ite matenga oWi Keepa. No naianei ka mohiotia he tika ano taua kupu. Na ko te mea hei rapunga ko te kimi mehemea na taua matenga ona ihe ai tona taha. I runga i nga whaikorero i whakapuakina c kitea ana ko tona take i puta ke mai i runga i tona paanga kia Ngatihinewai whakahengia ana c te Kooti te take o taua hapu otira i runga i te ngaronga a Te Keepa, tera pea i mahue etahi mea whaitikanga. Me patai ano pea etc Kawanatanga, kia kitea mehemea ranei kaore he mea tika c taea. E kore c taea te whakawa tuarua, ma tetahi ture hou anake te taea ai. 3 Akuhata, 1882.

No. 297 of 1882,—Petition of Kirihini Te Moeranga. Petitioners say that a burial-place is included in land sold to Government at Otamawhakaruru, Mongonui, and that this burial-ground was excepted from the sale, but petitioners find that no provision has been made to give them possession. They pray that 20 acres of land, including the burial-ground, may be given to them. I am directed to report as follows:— That the petitioners do not give the name of the block referred to ; but Mr. Tawhai, who presented the petition, thinks it is Puheke. The Committee has no evidence as to whether the land has been sold by Government tp settlers. The Committee recommends that inquiry should be made, and if it be found that the land is still held by the Crown, that any burial-place within it should be protected. 4th August, 1882.

[Translation.] No. 297 of 1882. —Pukapuka-inoi a Kirihini Te Moeranga me etahi atu. E ci ana nga kai-pitihana tera tetahi urupa kei roto i tetahi whenua i hokona kite Kawanatanga, i Otamawhakaruru, Mangonui. Ko taua urupa i kapea ki waho ote hoko, engari kua kite nga kaipitihana kihai i whakaotia he tikanga c riro ai kia ratou taua wahi. E inoi ana ratou me hoatu he whenua ki a ratou kia 20 eka a me uru taua urupa ki roto. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— Kaore i whakahuatia c nga kai-pitihana te ingoa o te Poraka c korerotia ana c ratou, engari kite mahara a H. Tawhai, nana nei i tuku to pukapuka-inoi kite Whare, ko Puheke taua whenna—kaore he korero hei whakaatu kite komiti mehemea ranei i hokona taua whenua c te Kawanatanga ki nga tangata noho kainga. E whakahau ana te komiti me rapu taua mea, aki te kitea kei te Karauna tonu taua whenua me tika ano taua wahi urupa. 4 Akuhata, 1881.

No. 272 of 1882. —Petition of Paraone Tuwhaee, Utiku Huru, Heeewini Nopera, and Matenga Paerata. Petitioners state that they were interested in Takahue No. 2, near Mongonui, though their names were not in the grant; that Government purchased the land; and that, owing to petitioners' ignorance of the law, they had not applied in time for a rehearing, though over a hundred persons are interested, They pray that 200 acres of the block may be returned to them,