Report on Petition of Tapa te Whata and Others (No. 1).

Petitioners state that, although they reside on the West Coast of this Island, they nevertheless had claims to land in the Waikato, which was confiscated by reason of the rebellion of the Waikato Natives. They allege that they were not concerned in fighting against the Queen, but that they have had no opportunity of proving their claims, inasmuch as they knew nothing of the sitting of the Compensation Court until after it was over.

I have the honor to report that—

The Committee is of opinion that the allegation in the petition, that the petitioners had no notice of the sitting of the Compensation Court, is correct.

The Committee is not in a position to offer any opinion as to whether the petitioners have any real claims to the lands to which their petition refers, but considers that petitioners are entitled to have an opportunity afforded them of bringing forward their claims.

It will most likely be found that a great deal of the lands affected by the petition have been alienated to other persons, and that it would be impossible to give petitioners possession of such portions as should be found to belong to them. The Committee would recommend, however, that inquiry should be made through the Native Land Court, or other competent tribunal, to ascertain the nature and extent of the claims of the petitioners, and that it should be left to the Government to determine in what manner such claims as they may be able to establish shall be satisfied.

[Translation.]
Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Tapa te Whata ma (Nama 1).

E ki ana nga kai-inoi ahakoa kei Kapiti to ratou Kainga e whai take ana ano ratou ki etahi whenua kei Waikato i tangohia mo te hara o te Iwi o Waikato ki te mau patu ki a te Kuini. E ki ana nga kai-inoi kihai ratou i uru ki te whawhai ki a te Kuini, engari kahore ano i watea he huarahi ma ratou hei whakatuturu i to ratou take notemea kahore rawa ratou i mohio ki te nohoanga o te Kooti whakawa mo nga whenua kua tangohia; rongo rawa ake kua mutu.

Ko te kupu ata tenei ki te Whare—

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E whakaaro ana to Komiti e tika ana te kupa a nga kai-inoi i roto i te pukapuka-inoi kahore i tae atu he whakaaturanga ki a ratou o te nohoanga o te Kooti.

Kahore e ahei te Komiti ki te ki mehemea he take tika to nga kai-inoi ki nga whenua e whakahuatia ana i roto i ta ratou pukapuka-inoi, engari e whakaaro ana te Komiti me whakawatea he huarahi ma nga kai-inoi hei tukunga mai i o ratou take kia tirotirohia.

Akuanei pea ka kitea kua hokona alu te wahi nui o te whenua e whakahuatia ana i roto i te pukapuka-inoi ki etahi atu tangata a ekore rawa e taea te whakanoho i nga kai-inoi ki runga ki nga wahi e kitea ai i whai take ai ratou. Engari ka tohutohu atu te Komiti ma te Kooti Whenua Maori ma etahi atu Tikanga Whakawa marama ranei e kimi te ahua me te nui o nga take o nga kai-inoi, a me waiho ma te Kawanatanga e whakarite te huarahi e ea ai nga take e taea e nga kai-inoi te whakatuturu.