No. 36 of Session II., 1879.—Petition of Major Te Wheoro.

Petitioner states that, in 1863, ia accordance with a notice in the Gazette, he and his people had joined General Cameron's force in the Waikato country, and had served with him in the war; and that, page 10 when they returned, they found their land confiscated, and only a portion of that which they were entitled to given back to them. The petitioner prays, on behalf of himself and the hapus of Waikato, that the lands wrongfully confiscated should be returned.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the claims of Major Te Wheoro and the loyal people of his tribe seem to be worthy of very careful consideration, on the grounds of their persistent loyalty during periods of great trial, and the fact that, in proportion to their numbers, they have apparently received only a small portion of the land belonging to them previous to the confiscation; and the Government is, therefore, recommended to take the steps needful to make a minute examination, with a view to an early settlement of the whole matter at issue.