G—6a

1947 NEW ZEALAND

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 22 OF 1931, OF RONGOWHAKAATA PERE AND ANOTHER, RELATIVE TO WAIHIRERE BLOCK

Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 13 of the Native Purposes Act, 1936

Native Land Court (Chief Judge's Office), P.O. Box 3006, Wellington, C. 1, 18th August, 1947. Memorandum for the Right Hon. the Minister of Maori Affairs. Waihirere Block Pursuant to section 13 of the Native Purposes Act, 1936, I transmit to you the report of the Court upon the claims and allegations contained in Petition No. 22 of 1931, of Rongowhakaata Pere and another, for rehearing of the investigation of the Waihirere Block. In view of the Court's report, I have no recommendation to make. D. G. B. Morison, Chief Judge.

The Native Land Act, 1931, and the Native Purposes Act, 1936 In the Native Land Court of New Zealand (Tairawhiti District). —In the matter of the land known as Waihirere, and of a petition No. 22 of 1931 by Rongowhakaata Pere and another, referred to the Court for inquiry pursuant to section 13 of the Native Purposes Act, 1936. At a sitting of the Court held at Grisborne on the 27th day of April, 1937. The Court desires to report as follows All parties interested were present and/or represented. The petitioners claim a rehearing of the title to the Waihirere block, as far as it affects the relative interests of the owners, on the grounds that no consideration was given to a gift of part of the land to Whakahihipa, a child of Tutearitonga, and from whom petitioners descend. The petition was opposed by the committee of management on behalf of the incorporated owners. This gift was mentioned in 1881 at the hearing of the title to Kopaatuaki, a block adjoining Waihirere on the north. Mika Rore, who was a counter-claimant, claimed Kopaatuaki as a gift from Nonohe te Mahu, whose descendants down to himself lived there. Mika also spoke of a gift by Mahu (the first donee) to a foster-child, Whakahihipa, of the south end of Kopaatuaki. The Court did not give any decision on the several claims before it regarding Kopaatuaki as the parties agreed as to names for inclusion in the title. On the 24th March, 1881, an order for title issued in favour of fifty-four persons. No award was made in recognition of the alleged gift to Whakahihipa. The descendants of Whakahihipa were later succesful in having the gift from Mahu recognized, and shares were allotted them in Kopaatuaki No. 2 following an inquiry held pursuant to section 6 of the Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1906.