No. 357 of 1880.—Petition of Te Ao Tapsell.

Petitioner is wife of Hans Tapsell, and says that the 500 acres of reserve in Te Puke Block are too few to be divided among 200 people. Mrs. Tapsell asks for 500 acres for herself, and also a section in the Township of Te Puke.

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I am directed to report as follows:—

That Te Puke Block was awarded to Her Majesty by the Native Land Court in 1878; that two blocks of land were set apart as inalienable reserves, containing respectively 1,000 acres and 500 acres; that the Government intends to give Crown grants of these lands to the different families interested as soon as the Maoris agree among themselves; that, in addition to the above order of the Court, the Government has set aside a special reserve of 200 acres; that the first two lots have been surveyed and as to the last, the Surveyor-General has instructed the local officer to proceed forthwith to survey it. The Committee has no recommendation to make.