No. 200.—Petition of Karaitiana and Others.

The petitioners state that they are owners of part of the Island of Ahuahu; that, while they admit that the Government own part of the island, they deny that the whole has been purchased. They pray that their claims may be heard before the Native Land Court, in order that they may be determined.

I am directed to report as follows:—

A copy of the deed by which the island to which the petition refers (Mercury Island) was purchased may be found in Deeds 299, 300, 305, 308, 314, 320, 377, in the printed book of "Maori Deeds, North Island, Province of Auckland;" and that, in the opinion of the Committee, the claim set forth in the petition cannot be established.