No. 70, —Petition of Rutene te Umanga and 204 Others.

Petitioners state that when they consented to the passing of a Springs Act they understood that only about 3,000 acres should be interfered with, whereas the Government Proclamation includes 600,000 acres, which they regard as "a very unjust proceeding." They complain also that Government now proposes that no sale or lease should be permitted to private persons of certain lands which had been under offer, and which the Natives had agreed to sell at 6s. per acre for forest and 7s. per acre for open land. A portion of the purchase-money and the whole cost of survey had been paid by Europeans. Petitioners offer to sell the land to the Government on the terms agreed upon with the private purchasers.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That no evidence has been given in support of this petition, and the Committee has no recommendation to make.