No. 231 of 1882.—Petition of Petera te Pukuatua and 86 Others.
Petitioners pray that they may be allowed to lease 600 acres of land at Koutu to Mr. Robert Graham, notwithstanding the provisions of the Thermal-Springs Act.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That the Committee cannot recommend any departure from the natural action of the Thermal-Springs Act in favour of Mr. Graham. There is a great jealousy on the part of the Natives in regard to Europeans getting a surreptitious footing in the country, and these persons sent Mr. Tipitipi, himself holding a large interest in the land, to give evidence against the prayer of this petition. The Government has had a lease of the land referred to since 1874.