No. 345.—Petition of Henare Kaihau.

Petitioner says that he and others named were grantees and owners of land at Waiuku, and that Paoro te Iwi, one of the grantees, now dead, had left by will to petitioner his share in the property, and that, the land having been sold, a sum of £2,000 is held by the Public Trustee, of which he is half owner. He prays that this money may be paid to him.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That petitioner was owner with others in a block of land called Pehiakura, restricted from sale or lease for more than twenty-one years. The land was let at £75 per annum. In 1880 the owners were offered £3,500 for the land, and, as this would bring in a much larger income if invested than the lease produced, they applied for leave to sell, stating that they would agree to the money being invested permanently for their use. By agreement a sum of £500 was paid them for the purpose of paying debts, and it was further agreed that £3,000 should be invested by the Public Trustee. When the trust deed was ready they refused to sign, as they wanted more money. After various negotiations, the sum of £1,000 further was paid, and now they weary the Minister for the balance of £2,000. The Committee recommends that it should not be paid to petitioners, but invested by the Public Trustee, if the law permits of that course.