No. 157.—Petition of Tamati Ngaheke.

Petitioner prays that he may be allowed to sell twenty-five acres of land which he received on account of military services, but which, according to the present law, is inalienable. He also asks that he may be reimbursed the money he has lost in trying to dispose of the land.

I am directed to report as follows: That the Committee, having been informed that the Government is now willing to purchase the military-settlement land of the Native contingent, it has only to say that this step is approved of, though the simpler plan seems to be to remove the restrictions to alienation, and let the owners sell in open market.