.gif)
No. 112, 1889. —Petition of Tuangahuru Whanganui.
Petitioner states that a block of land called Manawatu-Kukutauaki, situated at Horowhenua, which belonged to his uncle Karepa Tehu, deceased, has been wrongly awarded to one Riperata Pini by the Native Land Court. He now prays that a rehearing of that land may take place.
I am directed to report as follows: That, from the evidence of Ropata Ranapiri, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, it is shown that the petitioner claimed sole successorship to Karepa Tehu, a deceased owner in the Manawatu-Kukutauaki (No 4 d) Block, upon an application made for that interest by Riperata. It is also shown that the petitioner was the nearest of kin to the deceased. The Court, of which Mr. Puckey was Judge, decided that both the petitioner and applicant should succeed. The petitioner strongly objected to Riperata sharing in the successorship, and, as a protest, refused to allow his name to appear in the order, preferring rather to apply for a rehearing. Judge Puckey, upon this, struck out his name. A rehearing was applied for, but refused on the ground that the petitioner had agreed to have his name struck out. It is also shown that the petitioner was the proper person to succeed, being the nearest of kin. This Committee is of the opinion that Judge Puckey was wrong in excluding the petitioner from succession, notwithstanding his refusal to join with Riperata, the duty of the Court clearly being to ascertain the nearest of kin and award accordingly; that the Chief Judge was wrong in refusing a rehearing on the ground expressed. Therefore, under the circumstances, this Committee would recommend the Government to provide the legislative remedy necessary to meet the case.
[Translation.]
No. 112, 1889. —Pukapuka-inoi a Tuangahuru Whanganui.
E Ki ana te kai-pitihana no tana matua keke no Karepa Tehu kua mate nei tetahi Poraka Whenua ko Manawatu-Kukutauaki te ingoa a i whakataua hetia kia Riperata Pini e te Kooti Whenua Maori.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei I runga i nga korero a Ropata Ranapiri koia nei te kaiwhakahaere o te pitihana e kitea ana ko te kai-pitihana anake te tangata tika hei riiwhi mo Karepa Tehu kua mate nei ki te Manawatu-Kukutauki No. 4d Poraka i runga i te tono a Riperata Pini. E kitea ana hoki ko te kai-pitihana te huanga tata rawa kia Karepa Tehu. Na i whakataua e te Kooti ko Tiati Paki nei te Tiati o taua Kooti kia uru ngatahi te kai-pitihana me te kai tono hei riwhihi kia Karepa Tehu. Na i tino whakahe te kai-pitihana kia Riperata Pini kia uru ia hei riiwhi, a hei whakamana mo tana whakahe, ki atu ana ia me kaua tona ingoa e whakaurua hei riiwhi kia Karepa Tehu. I mahara hoki ia he mea pai kia kaua e whakaurua tona ingoa kia watea ai ia ki te tono whakawa tuarua, Heoi patu ake e Tiati Paki tona ingoa. I muri iho ka tonoa he whakawa tuarua otira kihai i whakaaetia no te mea i whakaae te kai-pitihana kia patua tona ingoa. E kitea ana hoki ko te kai-pitihana te tangata tika hei riiwhi mo Karepa Tehu no te mea ko ia te huanga tata rawa ki aia. Na e whakaaro ana tenei Komiti i he te mahi a Tiati Paki i runga i tana patunga i te ingoa o te kai-pitihana ahakoa tana tono kia patua tona ingoa. Ko temahi tika ia ma te Kooti he kimi i nga huanga tata me te whakatau ki aua huanga. I he ano hoki te Tiati Tumuaaki i runga i tona whakakahoretanga i te tono whakawa tuarua i runga i nga take kua whakina nei. Na i raro i enei tikanga kua tono te Komiti i te Kawanatanga kia hanga tetahi Ture hei whakahaere i taua keehi.