No. 201 of 1878; No. 350 of 1880.—Petition of Wirihana Tekeha and 27 others.
Petitioners speak on behalf of the Ngatinaho Tribe. They state that they lost their property during the Waikato war in 1863; that they were loyal, and helped the Government; that they left their page 38homes, relying upon the Proclamation which secured the loyal Natives their land and property, but when they returned from the war, they found all gone; that their claims were investigated by Mr. Beckham, R.M., who, on 31st January, 1868, decided that they should receive compensation according to law; that they have not received such compensator. They pray for redress.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That the Government be recommended to seek for legislation early next session, in order to insure that justice should be done in this and similar cases of very great hardship.