1.--4

16

Nos. 158 and 164.—Petition of Hori Eopiha and Others. Petitioners pray that the action of the Native Land Court, which sat at Tupuaeharuru and adjudicated upon their lands, may be inquired into, as they say the action of that Court was wrong. lam directed to report as follows: That these two petitions are identical in every respect. The lands referred to are still under the consideration of the Land Court; and it is recommended that Government send a copy of the petition to the Chief Judge. 25th June, 1886.

[Translation.] Nos. 158 and 164.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hori Eopiha me etahi atu. E inoi ana nga kai-pitihana kia whiriwhiria nga mahi whakawa a te Kooti Whenua Maori i runga i o ratou whenua, ta te mea c ki ana ratou i he nga mahi a te Kooti. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E tino rite ana enei pitihana c rua (ara) c rite tonu ana nga korero o tetahi ki tetahi. Ako nga whenua c whakahuatia nei kei te whiriwhiria ano etc Kooti Whenua, a c tona ana te Kawanatanga kia tukuna atu he kape o te pitihana kite Tumuaki. 25 o Hune, 1886.

No. 58, Sess. 11., 1884.—Petition of Pamaeiki Paaka, of Motueka (No 1). Petitioner states that certain lands belonging to him and his friends have been leased again for a further period without their sanction, and pray that they may receive their lands, rents, and an account of former payments of rents. lam directed to report as follows: As the matter is of importance in the Motueka District, the Committee reports the following explanation, as given by the Commissioner, Mr. Maekay: "The statements made by the petitioner are merely hearsay, as he did not come to the district till many years after the lands he alluded to were let, nor is he one of the persons for whom these lands were originally set apart. The assertion that the leases were to terminate at the end of twenty-one years, and that the beneficiaries were to receive back the land with all the improvements, is not in accordance with fact, or with the custom followed in respect to these lands. These are matters, however, for the consideration of the Native Eeserves Board, under whose control these lands now are. As regards the non-distribution of the funds accruing from other reserves in the district, the moneys are in custody of the Public Trustee ; and the question as to the best method of expending such moneys in the interest of all concerned will be considered by the Board when sufficient information is before it respecting those who are beneficially entitled : and for that purpose it is proposed to refer the matter to the Native Land Court, as provided by clause sixteen of ' The Native Eeserves Act, 1882,' to secure an authoritative decision on the subject. All former payments of rents have been accounted for."

25th June, 1886. ' [Translation.] No. 58, Sess. 11., 1884.—Pukapuka-inoi a Pamaeiki Paaka o Motueka (Nama 1). E ki ana te kai-pitihana tera etahi whenua ona me ona hoa a kua tukua ano i runga i te riihi i te mea kihai ano ia i wdiakaae, a c inoi ana kia tukua mai a ratou whenua, me nga moni reti me nga kaute o ngautunga o nga moni reti o mua. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: Ite mea he mea nui tenei i te Takiwa o Motueka, c penei ana te whakamarama a te Komiti i runga i nga korero mai a te Make: "Ko nga korero c korero nei te kai-pitihana he rongo kau ano, inahoki kua maha nga tau c reti ana nga whenua c whakahuatia nei c ia ka tahi ia ka tae mai ki taua Takiwa, ehara ano hoki ia i tetahi o nga tangata i wehea atu ai taua whenua i te tuatahi. Ko nga korero c kiia nei kia mutu nga riihi a te mutunga o nga tau c rua tekau matahi, a ka hoki atu ai te whenua ki nga tangata nona te whenua me nga whakapainga katoa i runga i aua whenua, kihai i tika i runga i nga ritenga i whakahaerea ai aua whenua. Otira he mea enei hei whiriwhiri ma te Poari Eahui Maori kei a ratou hoki aua whenua c whakahaere ana. Na mo runga ite wehewehenga o nga moni c puta mai ana i roto i etahi Eahui i taua Takiwa, kei te Kaitiaki o te Tokomaha nga ingoa o nga tangata nana aua moni. A kei te Poari te tikanga mo te kimi i te huarahi pai c whakahaerea ai aua moni hei painga mo te katoa (ara) kia tino mohio ai ana hoki ratou ko wai nga tangata hei tango i aua moni, na reira i puta ai te whakaaro me tuku taua mea kite Kooti Whenua Maori i runga i nga tikanga o te rarangi 16 o 'Te Ture Eahui Maori, 1882,' kia riro mai ai tetahi whakataunga mana mo runga i aua mea." Kua puta nga kaute mo nga moni katoa o mua. 25 o Hune, 1886. •

Nos. 159 and 163.—Petitions of Hiraka te Eango and Others. Petitioners complain that certain lands, Owhaoko and Oruamatua, which they say are theirs, were adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court and awarded to Natives who they allege had no claim. They pray for an inquiry. I am directed to report as follows: That the Chairman move, in the House, that these two petitions be referred to the Committee appointed to consider the Bill proposing to deal with the Owhaoko Kaimanawa Blocks. 25th June, 1886.

[Translation.] Nos. 159 and 163.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hiraka te Eango me etahi atu. E whai kupu aua te kai-pitihana mo etahi whenua mo Owhaoko Oruamatua, c ki ana ratou no ratou taua whenua i whakawakia c te Kooti Whenua Maori, a i whakataua ki etahi Maori c ki nei ratou kihai i whai take. E inoi ana ratou kia pataia taua take.