11

1.—2.

[Translation.] No. 178, Sess. ll.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wirihana me Piriri me etahi atu (No. 2). E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he kai riihi ratou no etahi Whenua Rahui i te Tai Hauauru i roto i te Takiwa raupatu kahore a ratou riihi i whakahaua c nga Komihana o te Tai Hauauru kia whakamana c te Kawana no te mea i whakaritea i muri iho i te pahitanga o " Te Ture Patai Whenua Raupatu me te Ture Whakawa Herehere, 1879." E inoi ana ratou (1) kia whakamana a ratou riihi; (2) kia whakahoutia a ratou riihi etc KaiTiaki o te katoa i raro o nga tikanga o te riihi c mau nei. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— E whakahau ana te Komiti i te Kawanatanga kia pataia te tika o enei riihi a kite mahara ratou c tika ana nga utu me etahi atu tikanga o te reti c tika ana kia whakamana i runga i nga whakarereketanga c whakaarohia ai he tika i runga ano hoki i te tiaki i nga take o nga Maori no ratou te whenua a no te mea kihai i tino tika te whakahaere o enei rihi i te tuatahi c whakaarohia ana kahore c tika kia uru tetahi kupu utu mo nga whakapainga mo te whakaroa ranei i te riihi i te mutunga o te riihi. 21 Oketopa, 1884.

No. 179, Sess. ll.—Petition of Arundell and Ross and Others. Petitioners state that they are leaseholders of Native reserves in the West Coast confiscated territory. They say that the West Coast Commissioner informed them that he would recommend their leases for confirmation, subject to certified plans being indorsed. They pray that their leases may be confirmed, subject to the condition aforesaid, and also that they be granted valuation for improvements, and, as far as possible, that their leases may contain the same conditions as those granted by the Public Trustee. I am directed to report as follows : — That, as the leases in question appear to be equitable, the Committee recommends that they bo confirmed when the plans have been put in the deeds as required by law. The question of renewal of the leases mentioned in this petition is of peculiar difficulty; but the Committee considers that it might be disposed of, to the advantage of both the lessees and the Natives, by the surrender of such existing leases as were made prior to 1879, and giving in exchange new leases under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, at rents to be computed upon the present improved value of the land. This would give the Natives at once the full yearly value of the land, and would leave the lessees free to continue to improve the freehold. In any renewal to be made under this recommendation the West Coast Commissioner should be most careful to observe the conditions of clause 8 of " The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881," in reference to acting in concert with the Native owners. 21st October, 1884.

[Translation.] ' No. 179, Sess. ll.—Pukapuka-inoi a Aranera me Rom me etahi atu. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana he kai riihi ratou no etahi whenua Rahui i te Tai Hauauru takiwa rau patu c ki ana ratou i ki mai nga Komihana o te Tai Hauauru ka whakahaua c ratou kia whakamana a ratou riihi me tuhituhi rawa ia te Tiwhikete whakamana i te mapi ki tua o te pukapuka riihi. E inoi ana ratou kia whakamana a ratou riihi i runga i nga tikanga c mau nei i runga ake nei kia whakaaetia ano hoki he utu mo ta ratou whakapainga i te whenua kia tuhia ano hoki enei tikanga ki roto i te riihi pera me nga riihi i whakaaetia c te kai tiaki o te tokomaha. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:— No te mea c tika ana nga riilii c korerotia nei c whakahau ana te Komiti kia whakamana ana ka oti te tuhi nga Mapi i runga i ta te Ture i whakaaroai. Ko te kupu whakahou i te riihi c mau nei i roto i te pitihana c tv ahua whakauaua rawa ana otira c whakaaro ana te Komiti c taea ano te whakarite hoi painga mo te kai riihi me nga Maori ano hoki i runga i te whakarere o aua riihi i whakaritea i mua o te tau 1879 a me hoatu hei tapiri mo era riihi he riihi hou i raro i nga tikanga o te Ture Rahui o te Tai Hauauru ko nga utu o te reti me whakahaere i runga i ona painga ano o naianei o te whenua ma tenei te riro ai te utu tuturu o te whenua i ia tau i ia tau i nga Maori a ma tenei c watea ai nga kai riihi kite whakapai tonu i te whenua ko nga riihi c whakahoutia ana i raro i enei whakahaunga me tino tupato rawa nga Komihana o te Tai Hauauru kite titiro i nga tikanga o te rarangi tuawaru o te Ture Bahui Whakatau o te Tai Hauauru 1881 i runga i te whakahaere tahi me nga tangata whai take. 21 Oketopa, 1884.

No. 32, Sess. ll.—Petition of Te One Hiporite and 20 Others. Petitioners complain that the portion of land reserved to them to live on is too small. They ask that an extra portion may be allotted to them and their descendants. I am directed to report as follows : — That the Government be recommended to take into early consideration the position of the petititioners, the Committee believing that their land is insufficient for their reasonable wants, and that a moderate provision for them should be made. It seems that the original grant amounted to only about d>\ acres per head, which was sufficient so long as the Natives had the run of the neighbouring unoccupied lands. The lands are now hemmed in by European occupiers, and they are thus confined absolutely to their own holdings. Their land also is subject to destructive floods, to their very great loss, and necessitating special help from the Commissioner. Probably legislation may be needed to enable Government to carry out the recommendation here made. Probably any difficulty might be got over by a provision in the Special Powers and Contracts Act. 28th October, 1884.