No. 47, Sess. II.—Petition of Atanatiu te Kairangi.

Petitioner states that an island, called Paruparu, situated at the eastern end of the South Island, belongs to him; that when the land in the neighbourhood was purchased by Mr. McLean this island was specially excluded from the sale, because it was a landing-place for their boats, and also that some of their dead were buried there. He says he has made repeated applications to the Government for the island, which have been taken no notice of. He prays that it may be restored to him.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That this first Ngatitoa deed of cession did not mention the island referred to in this petition, but purports to sell their claims on the Middle Island (Waipounamu).

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The second Ngatitoa deed mentions specifically the several blocks on the mainland which were included in the sales, but does not mention the island in any way.

It is further urged, on behalf of the petitioner, that a distinct arrangement was come to with the Ngatitoa Tribe at Porirua that these islands were to be reserved for them and their children (apart from the reservations made on behalf of their relatives living on the Waipounamu). That Statement is fully borne out by the evidence of Sir George Grey, K.C.B., M.H.R., who presided over the said purchase.

Your Committee is therefore of opinion that the island Paruparu and those adjacent should be restored to the proper representatives of the Ngatitoa Tribe who owned those islands.

[Translation.]
No. 47, Sess. II.—Pukapuka-inoi a Atanatiu te Kairangi.

E Ki ana te kai-pitihana ko tetahi moutere e karangatia nei ko Paruparu e takoto ana ki te pito ki te rawhiti o te Waipounamu he moutere nana, no te hokonga o nga whenua i ia takiwa e te Makarini, i mahue taua moutere ki waho o te hoko, no te mea he uranga no nga poti, he urupa hoki no o ratou tupapaku, e ki ana te kai-pitihana he maha ana tononga ki te Kawanatanga mo tenei Moutere, otira kihai te Kawanatanga i aha. E inoi ana ia kia whakahokia mai ki aia.

Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—

Ko te tiiti hoko tuatahi a Ngatitoa kahore he kupu hoko i roto mo taua moutere e whakahuatia nei i roto i te pitihana, erangi ano te hokonga o te tuawhenua i te Waipounamu.

Kc te tiiti tuarua a Ngatitoa e tino whakahua ana i nga poraka whenua o te tuawhenua i hokona e ratou kahore rawa he kupu hoko mo nga moutere i roto.

Na mo runga i te taha ki te kai-pitihana e tika ana i tino whakaritea i runga i tetahi korero tanga ki te iwi o Ngatitoa i Porirua, me rahui enei moutere ma ratou me a ratou tamariki, me o ratou uri e noho ana i te Waipounamu. E tika rawa ana tenei korero inahoki nga korero whakatika a Ta Hori Kerei, K.C.B., M.H.R., koia hoki te tangata nana i hoko.

Na e penei ana te whakaaro o ta koutou Komiti ko tenei moutere ko Paruparu me etahi atu moutere e tata ana ki te Waipounamu me whakahoki ki nga uri o Ngatitoa ki nga uri o nga tangata no ratou ana moutere i mua.