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No. 115 of Session I., 1879.—Petition of Haterea Kotutekorinuku.
Petitioner states that an island in Port Cooper, called Ripapa, was never purchased by the Europeans; and that, no matter what any one may say, he is the sole descendant of its real owner. He therefore prays either to be paid for the island, or granted land elsewhere.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That, in the opinion of this Committee, the question of Native title to land which is raised in this petition is one which cannot be inquired into satisfactorily by a Select Committee of the House, and they therefore recommend that the attention of the Government be drawn to the General Report of the Native Affairs Committee brought up in 1876, with a view to effect being given to the same; and further, that the jurisdiction of the Court, the establishment of which is recommended, may include questions such as are raised in this petition.
[Translation.]
No. 115 of Session I., 1879.—Pukapuka-inoi a Haterea Kotutekorinuku.
E ki ana te kai-inoi ko tetahi moutere ko Ripapa, kei Poti Kupa, kaore rawa i hokona ki te pakeha, a, ahakoa, ki pewhea ranei te tangata, ko ia tonu anake te uri o te tangata nona ake taua oneone. No reira ka inoi ia kia utua ia mo taua moutere, kia hoatu ranei he whenua mona i wahi ke atu.
Kua whakahaua kia ki penei:—
Na i runga i te whakaaro o te Komiti, ko te korero take whenua Maori kua puta nei i roto i tenei Pitihana, e kore e taea te ata rapu pai e tetahi Komiti motuhake o tenei Whare. A e mea ana ratou kia kupu tohutohu atu ki te Kawanatanga, kia tahuri ake te Kawanatanga ki te whakaaro i nga kupu a te Komiti mo nga mea Maori, i whakaarahia i te tau 1876—ara; kia tirohia tetahi huarahi whakamana mo tenei mea, a ko te mana o taua Kooti i kiia i reira kia whakaturia, me eke ki runga ki enei tu take e mau nei i roto i tenei Pitihana.