No. 200, Session II., 1879.—Petition of Tikini Pahau.
Petitioner states that the Shag Point Railway runs through the burial-ground of his deceased friends, and that in making the excavations for the line of railway the remains of friends are exposed. The place where his dead are buried is called Whataparaerae. He prays for compensation for the desecration of his burial-ground for the railway.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That the Government be requested to inquire into the facts stated in the petition, and, if the remains in the graveyard be exposed, that steps should be taken immediately to have them decently interred in any neighbouring burial-ground satisfactory to the Natives interested; or, if the Maoris prefer that a new burial-ground should be set apart, that this should be done.