G —6c

1948 NE W ZEA L A NI)

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 30 OF 1944, OF HIKIHANA HAMANA AND OTHERS, CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF THE SHARES AWARDED TO THE AMARU FAMILY IN THE MANGATU Nos. 1 AND 4 BLOCKS

Presented to Parliament in Pursuance of the Provisions of Section 13 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1944

Maori Land Court (Chief Judge's Office), P.O. Box 3006, Wellington C. 1, 15th July, 1948. Memorandum for the Right Hon. the Minister of Maoei Affairs. Mangatu Nos. 1 and 4 Blocks Pursuant to section 13 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1944, I transmit the report of the Court on the claims and allegations contained in petition No. 30 of 1944, of Hikihana Hamana and others, concerning the division of shares awarded to the Amaru family in Mangatu Nos. 1 and 4 Blocks. The substance of the petitioners' claim is that their mother, Biria Hamana, was entitled to be included as an owner, that she was wrongfully omitted from the title, and they seek to have her included as an owner. The Court has reported, after a full investigation, that in its opinion the petitioners have not at any time established that their mother, Riria, was entitled to be included as an owner in Mangatu No. 1 or No. 4 Blocks as claimed by the petition, and I recommend that no further action be taken in respect of the claims and allegations in the petition. D. G. B. Morison, Chief Judge. In the Maori Land Court of New Zealand (Tairawhiti District). —In the matter of the Maori Land Act, 1931, and of section 13 of the Maori Purposes Act, 1944 ; and in the matter of the land known as Mangatu Nos. 1 and 4 Blocks and of a petition, No. 30, of Hikihana Hamana and others, referred to the Court for inquiry and report. At a sitting of the Court held at Gisborne on the 11th, 15th, and 16th days of March, 1948, before David Gordon Bruce Morison, Esquire, Chief Judge, and Ivor Prichard, Esquire, Judge. The Court reports that:— The petitioners, and persons adversely affected by the claims of the petitioners, were represented before the Court. In 1881 the Maori Land Court investigated the title to the Mangatu Block, a large block containing approximately 160,000 acres. On this investigation the block was subdivided into several portions, including Mangatu No. 1, containing approximately