Report on Petition of Reha Aperahama and Others.

Petitioners allege that they are and always have been the real owners of land in Hauraki known as Aroha, by reason of their descent from the chief Marutuahu, but that James Mackay has paid money to other tribes for such land, although neither they nor their immediate ancestors have, or have had, any title to it. They express a desire that the money so paid should be made a charge upon the Natives who received it, and not upon the land of the petitioners.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That it seems evident, from statements made to the Committee, that this petition involves questions of Native title to land of a character much more intricate than appears on the surface. The title referred to in the petition have repeatedly been investigated by the Native Land Court, but its decision seems to have been misunderstood, and dissatisfaction has arisen, partly in consequence of purchase-money having been paid (as alleged) to people not entitled to receive it. That, while they are not prepared to express a specific opinion on the merits of the case, they nevertheless think it desirable that further inquiry should be made by the Native Land Court.

Ko te kupu a te Komiti mo Runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Reha Aperahama me etahi atu.

E mea ana nga kai-inoi ko ratou nga tino tangata no ratou tera whenua kei Hauraki, ko te Aroha te ingoa notemea ko Marutuahu to ratou tupuna. Engari kua utua e Tiemi Make etahi moni ki etahi atu iwi mo taua whenua, ahakoa kahore rawa o ratou tupuna i tata ki taua whenua. E mea ana nga kai-inoi me whakatau aua moni ki runga ano i nga tangata na ratou i tango, kaua ki runga i te whenua o nga kai-inoi.

Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki te Whare:—

I runga i nga korero kua whakapuakina ki te aroaro o te Komiti, e uru ana ki roto o tenei pukapuka-inoi nga take o te tangata ki te whenua, a he nui nga mea pakeke o roto, kahore i te mohiotia. Ko nga take ki te whenua e whakaaturia ana i roto o tenei pukapuka-inoi, ka maha noatu nga taenga ki te Kooti Whenua Maori engari ko te whakatau a taua Kooti mehemea nei kahore i marama, a kua tupu ake he raruraru tetahi take na te utunga moni ki etahi iwi e kiia ana e hara ratou i nga tangata tika hei tango. I te mea kahore e taea e te Komiti te tino whakaatu i a ratou whakaaro, engari ka mea ano ratou kia mahia ano taua mea e te Kooti Whenua Maori.

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