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No. 389 of 1882.—Petition of Renata Ropiha and 87 Others.
Petitioners state that when the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block was purchased, three hapus of the Ngatiraukawa tribe—namely, Ngatirakawa, Ngatitoa, and Ngatituranga, did not sign the deed of cession and took no part of the purchase-money; that by Native custom petitioners are owners of the Himutangi Block; that on grounds of policy the rents of certain Europeans to be paid on land occupied by them, the last named block had been impounded by Government; that out of these rents there was due to the petitioners at the time of an alleged settlement, the sum of £500, which had not since been paid to them; that with interest this sum now amounts to £1,250; that Government alleges that the whole of the impounded rents have been paid except £66 2s. 1d.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That at the request of Mr. Buller, counsel for the petitioners, as expressed by the honorable member who presented the petition, its consideration has been postponed; that it is now too late in the session for the Committee to consider the complicated questions involved; and that the Committee therefore recommends the Government to look carefully into the matter, and do what may be equitable towards the settlement of a long-standing dispute.
[Translation.]
No. 389 of 1882.—Pukapuka-inoi a Renata Ropiha me etahi atu 87.
E Ki ana nga kai-pitihana i te hokonga o te poraka whenua i Rangitikei-Manawatu, e toru nga hapu o Ngatiraukawa, ara, ko Ngatirakau, Ngatitoa, me Ngatituranga kaore i haina i te Tiiti tuku i te whenua, kaore hoki i tango i te moni o te hoko; i runga i te tikanga Maori ko nga kai-pitihana nga tangata whaitake ki te poraka whenua o Himutangi, na runga i nga tikanga whakahaere a te Kawanatanga i herea etahi o nga moni reti a nga pakeha mo nga whenua i a ratou i roto i taua poraka, na i te wa e kiia nei i whakaritea, e £500, e toe ana kia utua ki nga kai-pitihana, kaore ano nei kia utua kia ratou; ko taua moni me nga hua e rite ana i naianei ki te £1,250, e ki ana te Kawanatanga kua utua katoatia au reti i herea ra, heoi ano nga moni e toe ana e £66 2s. 1d.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
I runga i te tono a Te Pura Roia a nga kai-pitihana, e whakaaturia mai nei e te mema nana i tuku mai te pitihana, ka nukuhia atu te whiriwhiringa i tenei pitihana; kua tata hoki ki te mutunga o te paremete e kore e taea e te Komiti te tino whiriwhiri i nga putake katou e uru ana ki tenei raruraru; na e ki ana te Komiti me ata whiriwhiri marire e te Kawanatanga tenei mea, ka whakarite ai i runga i te huarahiti tika kia o pai tenei raruraru o mua rano.