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No. 273 of 1881.—Petition of Tuta Nihoniho and 45 Others.
Petitioners were owners of Waitahuia, Poverty Bay, which they sold to the Government in 1876. They say that the whole of the purchase-money has not been paid to them, and also refer to a difference in regard to the acreage sold. Appended to the petition are tables showing at large the transactions as understood by the petitioners. They ask for payment of the balance alleged to be due.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That the transaction referred to in the petition is a very large and important one, and the Committee therefore took pains to examine every voucher. These are all apparently in perfect order, and in the aggregate account for the whole purchase-money, besides £45 extra paid to two unwilling signatories of the deed of cession. Captain Porter, the agent in this affair, was before the Committee, and gave explanatory evidence. The Committee recommends that the Government should make an inquiry independently of this Committee, as there is implied in the petition a serious charge against a responsible public office.
[Translation.]
No. 273 of 1881.—Pukapuka-inoi a Tuta Nihoniho me etahi atu 45.
Ko Nga kai-pitihana nga tangata i whaitake ki Waitahuia, i Turanganui, i hokona e ratou ki te Kawanatanga i te tau 1876. E ki ana ratou kahore ano kia utua katoatia kia ratou nga moni o te hoko, e whakaatu mai ana hoki i te rereke o nga eka i hokona; whakapiria ana ki te pitihana nga rarangi moni i mohiotia ai e nga kai-pitihana. E tone ana ratou kia utua kia ratou te toenga o nga moni e kiia nei kaore ano kia utua.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
He tino putake nui enei e tonoa nei i roto i tenei pitihana, no reira ka tino tupato te whiriwhiringa a te Komiti i nga pukapuka moni (vouchers), e tika katoa ana te ahua o aua pukapuka, a i runga i te huihuinga e rite ana ki nga moni o te hoko, me etahi atu £45, i utua mo te hainatanga i nga ingoa e rua kaore ra e pai kia haina i te pukapuka tuku i te whenua. Ko Kapene Poata, te apiha whakahaere i taua hoko, a i tae mai hoki ia ki te aroaro o te Komiti, whaki mai ana i ana kupu whakamarama. E whakaaro ana te Komiti me ata whiriwhiri ano hoki e te Kawanatanga i tua atu ano i te mahinga a te Komiti, natemea e whakapae ana te pitihana ki tetahi o nga tino apiha a te Kawanatanga.