Report on Petition of Maihi P. Kawiti and 269 Others. (Presented in 1876.)

This is a petition presented last session. Petitioners urge several objections to the Native Lands Bill introduced during the last session, but afterwards withdrawn.

They assert that it is even worse than the Native Lands Acts of 1873 and 1874, and that death would be better than life if such torture is to continue. That, while objecting to the proposed new law, they also earnestly pray for the repeal of the laws of 1873 and 1874.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That, inasmuch as the circumstances which produced the complaints of the petition have considerably altered, the Committee do not deem it necessary to report a specific opinion thereon.