Report on the Petition of Aperahama Tupou and 65 Others.

Petitioners complain that their land has not been managed properly; that land has been taken from them to pay for food for other people.

They state that they did not sign the deed opening the gold field at Ohinemuri, and they pray that their affairs may be properly and fairly considered.

I am directed to report as follows:—That a similar petition was presented last year, and the then Native Affairs Committee recommended that facilities should be given to enable the titles of the Native claimants to the lands in dispute to be investigated by the Native Lands Court.

This recommendation does not, however, appear to have been acted upon, although applications have been sent in by some of the petitioners.

This Committee is of opinion that the recommendation of the Native Affairs Committee of last year meets all the circumstances of the case. The petitioners will be quite satisfied to refer their claims to the Court.

This Committee further recommends that no unnecessary delay should be allowed to take place in the holding of the Court, as by holding such Court, and ascertaining according to law who the persons are who are entitled to the lands in dispute, all existing causes of complaint and trouble will be removed.