Report on Petition of Paora Tuhaere and Others.

Petitioners state that they gave the land for the railway between Helensville and Riverhead without compensation, on the understanding that the Maori people should be allowed to travel by rail without payment, and that a house for their accommodation should be erected, but that on both these particulars they have been disappointed, and pray for relief.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That there is no foundation whatever for the assertion that the Natives were promised free passes for three years in consideration of their conceding lands required for the Kaipara Railway line without payment. That it does appear that Mr. Sheehan promised the Natives at the time whea the concession was made that landing sites would be reserved for them at the Helensville and Waitemata Stations, and that buildings would be erected on the landing sites for the accommodation of Maoris travelling by the railway. The Committee would strongly recommend that those promises should be fulfilled without unnecessary delay.