Report on the Petition of Meiha Kepa.

The petitioner prays for the rehearing of a case decided on by the Native Lands Court, on the ground that the provisions of the law have not been complied with.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the Committee are of opinion that the case of the petitioner should be re-heard before the Native Lands Court, and would recommend that the Governor should order such re-hearing accordingly.

Further, they recommend that great care should be taken to carry out in their integrity the provisions of section thirty-three (33) of "The Native Lands Act, 1873," in reference to surveying. The blocks referred to in the petition were only surveyed trigonometrically and without traversing the boundaries, and this disregard of the law appears to have been the main cause of dissatisfaction.