1.—2.

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lam directed to report as follows: That the subject of the Maori rights to coastal and other fisheries present serious difficulties, and, as settlement progresses, these difficulties are likely toincrease. The Committee recommends that the Government should, as soon as possible, institute a searching inquiry, and try to have the rights of the Natives defined and secured as far as possible. The Government is referred to the statement made by Mr. Hakuene, M.H.E., as evidence in this case. It shows the great value the Natives set upon these fishing rights. 21st July, 1886.

[Teanslation.] Nos. 278, 1885, me 91, 1886.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wieemu Katene me etahi 11,976 atu. E whai kupu ana nga kai-pitihana no te mea kua tanumia katoatia a ratou tahuna pipi me a ratou mahinga ika c te pakeha a kua whakaturia he taone ki runga i aua whenua i Akarana i etahi wahi atu hoki. Eki ana ratou i whakapumautia aua wahi kia ratou etc Tiriti o Waitangi ite tau 1840. Na c inoi ana ratou kia whakahokia aua wahi kia ratou i runga ano i nga tikanga o taua Tiriti. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: He nui te raruraru i runga i nga take a nga Maori ki nga Takutai me nga mahinga ika a kite nui haere te nohonoho o te whenua ka nui haere nga raruraru. E tono ana te Komiti kite Kawanatanga kia hohoro te whiriwhiri i tenei mea me te whakamatau ki te whakatau me te whakapumau i te take a nga Maori. E tonoa ana te Kawanatanga kia tirohia nga korero i korerotia c Hakuene, M.H.E., mo runga c tenei keehi. E whakaatu ana hoki ite mahara a nga Maori i te nui o enei mea ki a ratou (ara) o nga mahinga ika me nga mahinga pipi. 21 o Hurae, 1886.

Nos. 50, 51, and 17.—Petition of Tapa Paeoto, Te Aueeee, Himu Materoa, and Others. Petitionees state, with numerous others, that they are tenants in common of a block of land in the Whanganui District, called Waimarino, containing 490,000 acres. They state the Government are desirous of purchasing the said block; that the Government have paid or have agreed to pay some of the owners large sums of money to the prejudice of them (the petitioners), wdio state that all their claims are equal. They pray that inquiry may be made into the reasons of the Government so acting. I am directed to report as follows : That these three petitions are to the same effect, viz., that in purchasing the Waimarino Block the Government purchasing agent had given more money to some grantees than to others, though they all had a like interest in the grant. Shortly, the facts are these: Waimarino Block contains about 490,000 acres, and Natives belonging to thirty different hapus are interested. As Government had made a general arrangement to purchase the land, itwas not considered necessary to put the owners to the expense of dividing it. After cutting out 35,000 for special grants, and arranging for 50,000 for reserves, the balance that passed through the Court available for purchase by Government was about 405,000 acres. It was arranged that the minimum to be given to each grantee should be £35, but it was recognized that some Natives from chieftainship or other reasons would have to be paid more than this. The purchasing officer, however, had instructions that the price, including every charge, should not exceed £50,000, the grantees numbering a little over one thousand. The purchasing officer, in accordance with instructions, gave in no case less than £35, but in other cases gave £40, £50, and sometimes more : some of the petitioners acknowledge that they had received the higher sum. All the witnesses declared that they did not object to the sale. It was clearly explained by the purchasing agent to each seller that when he signed the deed the money received covered all demands. About six hundred owners have parted with their interests. The Committee does not believe that any injustice has been perpetrated, and has no recommendation to make.

21st July, 1886. [Translation.] Nos. 50, 51, and 17. —Pukapuka-inoi a Tapa Paeato, Te Aueeee, me Himu Mateeoa me etahi atu. E ki ana nga kai-pitihana me etahi toko maha atu kei' te puritia c ratou tetahi Poraka whenua i te Takiwa o Whanganui i runga i te tenata kamana ko te ingoa o taua whenua ko Waimarino c 490,000 eka. Eki ana ratou c hiahia ana te Kawanatanga kite hoko i taua whenua a kua utua oto Kawanatanga kua whakaae ranei kite utu ki etahi o nga tangata whai take etahi moni maha ama reira ka iti ai te hia ma ratou ma nga kai-pitihana c ki nei he rite tonu te hia ma ia tangata ma ia tangata. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E rite tonu aua te tono a nga pitihana c toru nei (ara). I runga i te hokonga o te Waimarino Poraka i neke ake nga moni i hoatu c te Kaiwhakahaere hoko a te Kawanatanga ma etahi i nga moni ma etahi Ahakoa he rite tonu te panga a ia tangata a ia tangata kite whenua. Ko nga take tenei i pera ai ratou no nga eka o Waimarino c 490,000 a c toru te kau nga hapu Maori c whai panga ana ki taua whenua. A i runga ite mea kua takoto tetahi tikanga whakahaere a te Kawanatanga mo te hoko o taua whenua kihai i maharatia he mea tika kia kaua c whakapaua ngasmoni angatinihapu ite wehewehenga o taua whenua. Heoi i muri iho i te wehenga o nga eka c 35,000 mo etahi karati motuhake me te whakaritenga hoki kia 50,000 eka hei rahui ka whakawakia nga toenga c te Kooti c watea ana hei hoko ma te Kawanatanga. I tae pea kite 405,000 eka a i whakaritea kia kaua o hoki iho ite £35 ma ia tangata whai take kite whenua a i mohiotia ano hoki ko etahi o nga Maori i runga i to ratou rangatiratanga me etahi atu take me neke ake nga moni ma ratou ite £35. I tukua atu hoki tetahi tikanga kite kai hoko ate Kawanatanga kia kaua c neke ake ite £50,000 nga moni c utua ai mo taua whenua. Ko nga tangata nana taua whenua kei te neke ake i te 1,000. A ko te Kaihoko a te Kawanatanga i runga i nga tikanga i tukuna atu ki aia kihai i utu i nga moni hoki iho i te £35 erangi i etahi c £40 i etahi c £50 ahe mea ano i neke ake i etahi. Ko etahi hoki o nga kai-pitihana i whakaae i riro ia ratou etahi