G—s

1948 NEW ZEALAND

REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON CLAIMS PREFERRED BY CERTAIN MAORI CLAIMANTS CONCERNING THE MAHIA BLOCK

Laid on the Tables of Both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon Claims preferred by certain Maori Claimants concerning the Mahia Blocjc George the Sixth by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith : To Onr Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Sir Michael Myers, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, and to Our Trusty and Well-beloved Hanara Tangiawha Reedy, of Ruatoria, Farmer, and Albert Moeller Samuel, of Auckland, Retired : Greeting. * * * * Whereas by a certain deed of cession bearing date the 20tli day of October, 1864, the Chiefs and people of the Ngati-Kahungunu Tribe whose names were thereto subscribed, did, for them, for their relatives and for their descendants to be born thereafter, in consideration of the payment of the sum therein mentioned, sell and absolutely convey to Her Majesty the Queen an area of land on the Mahia Peninsula, the boundaries of the said land (hereinafter referred to as the Mahia Block) being described in the deed aforesaid by reference to divers place-names believed to represent natural features : And whereas certain Maoris have claimed that they would, but for an alleged divergence of the boundary of the said Mahia Block, as fixed by survey, from the boundary as determined by the place-names and natural features aforesaid, be the owners of an area of 2,270 acres, or thereabouts, included within the surveyed boundary of the Mahia Block, and this claim is more particularly set forth in Petition No. 82 of 1936, of Ifirini Whaanga Christy and others, presented to the House of Representatives :