No. 482 of 1882.—Petition of Watene Te Ranginui and 8 Others.

Petitioners belong to the Ngatiapa, and state that in 1880 they agreed to sell their interest in the land called Otairi at 7s. 6d. per acre, and received £500 on account; that the same year the Court, after investigation, awarded them 3,843 acres; that in consequence of the Government being represented by counsel the petitioners also had to have counsel; and that this cost them £360. They ask for a refund of this amount, or else that they should be allowed to pay off the £500 advanced by Government and have their land free.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That Government agreed to receive repayment of the advances upon the petitioners' land, and did so receive the amount on the 21st of August last. The land will therefore be declared free.