Report on Petition (No. 5) of Hirini Taiwhanga and 2 Others.
The petitioners complain that due attention was not given to a petition of the Ngapuhi tribe, sent to Parliament in 1874, against the repeal of "The Native Lands Act 1865," against which they allege no fault was found during the eight years of its existence, except in the case of the foolish Maoris of Napier.
They state that the Native Act of 1873 has worked badly, causing distress to the people and wasting the public money. They pray for the repeal of the Act of 1873, and think that if it is continued in operation for another year the people will die.
I am directed to report as follows:—The Committee regret that the time at their disposal has not been sufficient to enable them to make such inquiries as would justify them in reporting an opinion on the subject-matter of this petition.
John Bryce,
Chairman.
[
Translation.]
Ko ke Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi (Nama 5
) a Hirini Taiwhanga me ona hoa e 2.
E ki ana nga kai-inoi kahore i ata whiriwhiria te pukapuka-inoi a Ngapuhi i tukua ki te Paremete i te tau 1874 he whakahe mo te whakakorenga o "Te Ture Whenua Maori, 1865," e ki ana ratou kahore nei i kitea tetahi mate iti nei o tenei Ture i roto i nga tau e waru i mahia ai—ko nga Maori kuare anake o Nepia.
E ki ana ratou (nga Kai-inoi) kua kino te whakahaere o te Ture Whenua Maori 1873 kua pa he mate ki nga tangata kua pau nga moni o te katoa. E inoi ana ratou kia whakakorea atu te Ture o te 1873, a e whakaaro ana ratou ki te waiho tonu taua Ture kia whai mana ana mo tetahi atu tau ka mate nga tangata.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki te Whare:—E pouri ana te Komiti notemea kahore ratou i whai taima ki te uiui i nga tikanga e taea ai e ratou te whakaputa i tetahi whakaaro ma ratou mo runga i nga kupu o tenei pukapuka-inoi.
John Bryce.
Tumuaki.