Report on Petition (No. 1) of Natives of the Ngatitoa Tribe.

The petitioners claim to be entitled by right of conquest to a block of land called Tararua.

That the block has not yet been passed through the Native Lands Court.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That any claims which the petitioners may have on the block of land, according to Native custom, can be brought before the Native Lands Court, which is the proper tribunal for ascertaining the ownership to Native lands.

That this Committee cannot entertain applications from Natives to decide disputes in reference to lands held under Native title.

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[Translation.]
Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi (Nama 1) a Ngatitoa.

E ki ana nga kai-inoi e whai take ana ratou i runga i te rau o to ratou patu ki tetahi whenua ko Tararua te ingoa.

Ko taua whenua kahore ano kia whakawakia e te Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori.

Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki te Whare:—

E taea ana e nga kai-inoi o ratou take, me he take o ratou i runga i te tikanga Maori, te kawe ki te aroaro o te Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori, ko tera te huarahi tika hei kimihanga i nga take whenua Maori.

Kahore tenei Komiti e titiro i nga tono a nga Maori kia whakataua e ratou nga tautohe e tau ana ki nga whenua e takoto ana i runga i te take Maori.