[Translation.]
To the General Assembly of New Zealand, Wellington.

This is a petition from us, the people of Wairarapa, to the General Assembly of New Zealand. Let our petition receive favourable consideration.

Several years have now passed since we sold our land to the Queen, but the Government has not yet paid us the per cents, as agreed upon. We have often applied to the Government to pay the per cents, over to us, but our letters are not replied to, and our requests are turned aside. The only only way of obtaining redress that we can see is, by showing you our grievance. Be kind to us!

Let us now recount the wrong doings of the Government. The Crown Grants, which were promised us long ago by the Government for those lands which were returned to us, some have been given to us, some have not. The Crown Grants also for those lands of ours which have been adjndieated upon by the Native Lands Court, let them be quickly issued to us; for we have to pay the surveyors, and the expenses incurred in carrying out the measures imposed by the Act; but we are unable to lease, sell, or do anything else with our lands to bring any profit to ourselves, until we have received the Crown Grants. That law is a good law, if properly administered by the Government. It would not only benefit people generally, but by the judicious carrying out of its provisions, it would put a stop to the troubles of this country. We pray you to look with favour upon this our petition; carefully consider it, and cause justice to be done.