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No. 73 of 1882.—Petition of Petera Te Pukuatua and 400 Others.
Petitioners describe themselves as Arawas. They refer to the evils of the old mode of dealing with Native lands, and express hearty approval of" The Thermal-Springs Act, 1881." They pray that the above-named Act may be made permanent instead of temporary, and that its provisions may be extended over the whole district.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That the evidence of a very intelligent Native named Aporo Te Tipitipi was to the following effect: 1. That the Act protects the Natives by preventing hasty sales. 2. That it carries out the principle of public competition. 3. It prevents personal disputes between owners and lessees. 4. Under the old system, the Natives not having money to pay surveys, the whole business was thrown into the hands of European speculators, and consequently many difficulties arose. 5. That though the Act may require some amendment, this can only be found out by giving it a fair trial. 6. Land companies and other speculators are now engaged within the district making advances even upon proclaimed lands; and the Natives fear that these may have such influence over members of Parliament that the Act may be repealed or seriously modified. 7. The advances referred to being made secretly, it is only by accident that those most interested know of them. The Committee recommends these considerations to the earnest attention of Government in any attempt at amending" The Thermal-Springs Act, 1881."
[Translation.]
No. 73 of 1882.—Pukapuka-inoi a Petera te Pukuatua me etai atu 400.
E Whakaatu mai ana nga kai pitihana no te Arawa ratou. E korero ana ratou i te kino o te huarahi tawhito mo te whakahaere o nga whenua Maori, a e whakahua ana ano ratou i to ratou tino whakapai ki" Te ture Ngawha, 1881." Ko ta ratou inoi kia whakapumautia taua ture e huaina i runga ake nei, me kaua hoki e waiho hei ture mo te wa poto anake, engari me whakahaere ona tikanga ki runga ki taua takiwa katoa.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
I runga i nga korero a tetahi Maori tino marama, ko Aporo Tipitipi, i[gap — reason: damage] penei te tikanga: (1.) He tiaki ta taua ture i nga Maori i te mea hoki he arai i nga hoko auau. (2.) He whakahaere i te tikanga makete ki te katoa. (3.) He whakakore i tenei mea i te tautohe i waenganui i nga tangata page 8
no ratou to whenua me nga tangata kei a ratou nga riihi. (4.) I roto i te ture o mua i runga i te kore moni o nga Maori hei utu mo nga ruri, riro katoa ana nga whakahaere i nga pakeha hokohoko whenua no reira tipu nui ana te raruraru. (5.) Tera pea etahi wahi o taua ture e pai ana kia whaka tikatikaia engari me mahi rawa kia kitea ai. (6.) Tera etahi Kamupane whenua i naianei, me etahi atu tangata hoko whenua kei taua takiwa nei e whakaputa moni ana mo runga i nga whenua kua oti te panui; a, e wehi ana nga Maori kei whai kaha rawa aua tu tangata ki te whakaki i nga mema o te Paremete e tahuri ai ratou ki te whakakore i taua ture, ki te whakarereke rawa ranei; ko nga moni e whakaputaina ra i tukua ngarotia he mea noa iho i mohiotia ai e nga tangata e whai take nui ana ki te whenua. E mea ana te Komiti kia whakaaro nui te kawanatanga ki enei tikanga mehemea e tahuri ana ki te whakatika i" Te ture Ngawha, 1881."