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Report on Petition of Tamati Paetai and 13 Others.
This petition has reference to an old land claim, which many years ago was dealt with by the Land Claims Settlement Court, a Crown grant being ordered to issue in favour of a European named McCaskill.
The petitioners, while admitting the original sale to the European, allege that he has taken into his survey a piece of land which was not comprised in the original purchase.
I am directed to report as follows:—The Committee finds itself entirely unable to investigate the merits of the petition, and can only refer it to the Government to take action. It may be possible to deal with this case under the provisions of "The Native Land Act, 1873," having reference to old land claims; but, if not, the Committee would recommend that the Government should direct inquiry to be made in the locality in which the land is situated, by some officer of the Government resident there.
John Bryce,
Chairman.
[Translation.]
Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Tamati Paetai me ona hoa 13.
Ko te tikanga o tenei Pukapuka-inoi mo tetahi take whenua tawhito i mahia i mua noa atu e te Kooti Whakariterite Take Whenua, i kiia kia whakaputaina he Karauna karaati ki tetahi pakeha ko McCaskill te ingoa.
E whakaaetia ana ano e nga kai-inoi te hoko o mua ki te pakeha, otira e ki ana ratou kua tangohia e ia ki roto ki tana ruri tetahi piihi whenua kihai i uru ki te hoko tawhito.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki te Whare:—Kahore rawa te Komiti e kaha ki te kimi i nga tikanga o te Pukapuka-inoi heoi ano te mea e taea ko te tuku atu ki te Kawanatanga ma ratou e mahi. Tera pea ka taea te whakahaere he tikanga mo tenei mea i runga i nga ritenga o "Te Ture Whenua Maori, 1873," e tau ana ki nga take whenua tawhito; engari ki te kore tena e taea, e mea ana te Komiti me tono ki te Kawanatanga kia kimihia nga tikanga, i reira ano i te wahi e takoto ai te whenua, e tetahi apiha o te Kawanatanga e noho ana ki reira.
John Bryce,
Tumuaki.