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No. 254 of 1881.—Petition of Wi Pere and 30 Others (No. 4).
Petitioners complain of the Native Land Court laws, and state that names of persons had been frequently admitted to the Crown grants, certificates of title, and memorials of ownership, merely from the friendly feelings of the chiefs; others from alleged ancestral rights, although the ancestors had not been upon the land for fifty, one hundred, or even one hundred and fifty years; and others from claims through conquest. They complain, further, that persons of low rank have been placed on equal footing with chiefs, and who insist upon their claims to equal right in the property. Another evil is that when lands are leased they cannot be subdivided during the continuance of the lease. They pray that a law may be framed to empower the Native Land Court to subdivide the leased lands, providing, however, for tho protection of the interests of the lessees.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That that part of the petition which refers to persons whose names are in Crown grants is a question entirely for the consideration of the Maoris interested. That part relating to the subdivision of interests in leased lands is now under the consideration of the House by means of a Bill; and, being a matter of public policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make.
[Translation.]
No. 254 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Wi Pere me etahi atu 30 (Nama 4).
E Whakahe ana nga kai-pitihana i nga Ture o te Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori, e ki ana hoki ko etahi o nga tangata e uru ana ki nga kaarati, me nga tiwhikete, me nga pukapuka whakamahara i runga anake i te aroha o nga rangatira, ko etahi e uru ana i runga i nga take tipuna, ahakoa kaore aua tipuna i noho i runga i aua whenua i roto i nga tau 50, 100, 150 ranei, ko etahi e uru ana i runga i te tikanga raupatu. E ki ana hoki ratou kua whakaritea nga tutua ki nga rangatira, a e ki ana hoki aua tangata tutua e rite tonu ana o ratou take ki nga take o nga rangatira. E inoi ana hoki ratou kia mahia he ture hei whakamana i te Kooti Whakawa Whenua Maori ki te wehewehe i nga whenua i riihitia otira e mea ana ano ratou kia tiakina ano nga take o nga kai-riihi.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
Ko tera taha o te pitihana e korero nei mo nga tangata e uru nei o ratou ingoa ki nga Karauna karaati, he mea ke tera hei ata whakaarohanga ma nga Maori e whaitake ana ki nga whenua. Ko tera taha o te pitihana e pa nei ki te wehewehe i nga take mo nga whenua e riihitia ana, he mea tera kei te whiriwhiria e te Whare i roto i tetahi Pire, a he mea hoki tenei e pa ana ki nga tikanga whakahaere mo te katoa, no reira ka kore he kupu a te Komiti.