Report on Petition of Heta Tiki.

Petitioner states that one Mr. John Harding holds a Crown grant for a portion of their land and kainga, and that judgment was given in his favour by the Supreme Court owing to an error in the grant. That Mr. Harding was induced to stay proceedings in order that some arrangement might be arrived at by the Government by which the ejection of the petitioner from their kainga might be page 50avoided. That, owing to the failure of the attempt at arrangement, Mr. Harding now threatens to put his judgment in force. The petitioners appeal to the House to give them some relief.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That it appears from the evidence of Mr. Clarke that a portion of the kainga of the petitioner was inadvertently included in a Crown grant to a European, and that in consequence the petitioner is suffering from a real grievance. That it appears to the Committee that the Government are responsible for the mistake made, and ought to take means to have the same rectified.