Report on Petition of Reihana Tutana and Others.

The petitioners, who are Natives of the Thames District, pray that their claims to certain blocks of land may be reheard. They allege that they have applied to the Government to allow a rehearing, but that their application was refused.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the only evidence before the Committee is to the effect that, on the application for a rehearing being received by the Government, it was referred to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, who saw no reason why a rehearing should be granted, and the Government, in consequence, declined to accede to the request. The Committee, from the evidence before it, have no reason for thinking that the decision of the Government in the matter was otherwise than correct.