a—6b

at the inquiry into the petition I was somewhat shocked to find that 5,000 acres had been sold to meet the store bills, but on going into the views of the Court, Trust Commissioners, and owners as expressed at the time it appears that they viewed the transaction as a normal and customary one in the circumstances. It certainly ensured that all contributed according to their means. (6) In conclusion, the Court has to report that in its opinion there was no " surplus land "in the Whaiti Kuranui Blocks and that any differences existing between areas shown in the minutes and those on the completed orders can be explained satisfactorily often by inaccuracies in the sketch-plans originally before the Court. (7) The Court considers it its duty to point out that this case has cost the State a great deal of expense which would have been avoided it the petitioners had been required to state in plain terms just what constituted the grievance they were asking the Legislature to remedy. For the Court, [l.s.] Jno. Harvey, Judge.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (601 copies), £8 10s.

By Authority: R. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington. —1950.

Price 3d.~\

3