21

1.—3

[Tbanslation.] No. 219, Sess. 11., 1887.—Pukapuka-inoi a S. D. Taiwhanga. E inoi ana te kai-pitihana mo runga i te taha ki aia me tona hapu kia utua ki a ratou nga moni £266 6s. 6d. ete Kaw 7anatanga mo nga mea e whakahuatia ana e ia. E inoi ana hoki ia kia whakahokia nga eka e 2,000 ki nga tangata whai take ki te Parahirahi Poraka. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: No te mea kua hiahia te kai-pitihana ki te unu ite pitihana, kahore he kupu a te Komiti. 25 o Hurae, 1888.

No. 253, Sess. 11., 1887.—Petition of Abthue Owen. Petitionee, who was in treaty with certain Natives for the lease of a block of land on the north bank of the Eiver Mokau, makes serious charges against two Judges of the Native Land Court and others, alleging that they have used illegal means to prevent him acquiring the said land. He prays that no action may be taken by the Government until a full inquiry has been made, and justice done. lam directed to report as follows: That the Committee, having taken evidence on the petition of Arthur Owen, have arrived at the conclusion that the petitioner has failed to sustain his case, and that Stockman's agreement, on which the claim is founded, has no validity ; that the signature of Mere Kura, alleged to be a forgery, is genuine, and was affixed to the document before the hearing of the case by the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court; that the charges of corruption preferred against the Chief Judge and officers of the Native Land Court are not substantiated, and are without foundation; that there is grave doubt as to the validity of the certificates issued under sections 24 and 25 of the Native Land Administration Act; but that the Chief Judge, in issuing such certificates, acted in good faith. The Committee has no recommendation to make. [For evidence, &c, vide 1.-3a.]

Ist August, 1888. [Tbanslation.] No. 253, Sess. 11., 1887. —Pukapuka-inoi a Ataa Oene. I te whakahaere tikanga te kai-pitihana ki etahi Maori mo te riihi o te tahi poraka whenua e takoto ana ite taha whakararo ote Awa o Mokau. A he nui ana whakapae ki nga Tiati e rua ote Kooti Whenua Maori me etahi atu me tana ki i haere ra waho i te ture a ratou mahi kia kore ai e riro te whenua i aia. E inoi ana ia kia kaua te Kawanatanga e whai tikanga mo runga i taua take kia oti rano te whiriwhiri i nga tikanga o taua mea me te tika hoki kia puta. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei : I runga i te mea kua riro mai i te Komiti nga korero mo runga i te pitihana a Ataa Oene kua tau a ratou whakaaro kihai i ahei e te kai-pitihana te whakamana i tana keehi, a kihai hoki i mana te kirimene a Hori Takimana i waiho nei e ia hei huarahi whakahaere mo tana take. Ako te hainatanga a Mere Kura he hainatanga tika a i hainatia ki te pukapuka i mua ite whakawakanga ote keehi ete Tumuaki ote Kooti Whenua Maori. Ako nga whakapae mo te Tumuaki me atu apiha o te Kooti Whenua Maori kihai i mana, a kahore he take i tukuna ai aua whakapae. E ruarua ana hoki nga whakaaro mehemea hetiwhikete tika te tiwhikete i tukuna i raro i nga tekiona 24 me te 25 ote Ture Whakahaere Whenua Maori. Erangi i tukuna ete Tumuaki i runga ite whakaaro he mea tika kia tukua. Heoi kahore he kupu ate Komiti. 1 o Akuhata, 1888.

No. 476, Sess. 11., 1887. —Petition of the Mokau Coal Company (Limited) and Another. Petitionees pray that a certain lease to one Nevil Septimus Walker may not be validated, and that N. S. Walker may not be empowered to complete the same, or to obtain the execution of a new lease, until a full inquiry has been made into the matter. I am directed to report as follows : That the evidence taken in the case be referred to the Government for consideration, in view of the Bills now passing through the Legislature. [For evidence, &c, vide 1.-3b.] Ist August, 1888.

[Tbanslation.] No. 476, Sess. 11., 1887. —Pukapuka-inoi a te Kamupane Mahi Waro i Mokau me tetahi atu. E inoi ana te Kamupani mahi waro me te kai-pitihana kia kaua e whakamana te riihi a Newiri Hepetimuhu W Taaka a kia kaua hoki e tukua he mana ki taua Newiri Hepetimulm Waaka kia whakaotia taua riihi, e tuku atu ranei i tetahi mana kia hanga tetahi riihi hou, kia ote rano te whiriwhiri i nga tikanga o taua riihi. Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: Ko nga korero mo runga i tenei Pitihana me tuku ki te Kawanatanga kia whiriwhiri e ratou i te mea hoki tera etahi Pire kei te hanga e te Paremete. 1 o Akuhata, 1888.

No. 207. —Petition of Matenga Taiwhanga. Petitionee, who is part owner of a block of land called Parahirahi, states that he agreed to sell part of the block to the Government for mining purposes, and upon which some money was paid to his brother. He now prays that the land may be returned to him upon his repaying to the Government the money they have paid. I am directed to report as follows : That it appears from the evidence of Mr. Lewis, UnderSecretary, Native Department, that a promise was made of £100 to Mr. S. Taiwhanga when the whole of the signatures were obtained. The whole of the signatures not having yet been obtained the right to the amount has not accrued. Therefore the Committeee has no recommendation to IYl_Ll_O Ist August, 1888. 4—l. 3.