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No. 22 of 1882.—Petition of Wi Kepa Rangipuawhe.
Petitioner claims, on behalf of his tribe, the Ngatihinewai, an interest in the Kaingaroa Block. He says that, in 1877, the Ngatimanawa surveyed the land and included a portion that did not belong to them; that in 1878 the Native Land Court awarded the land to the Ngatimanawa; that a rehearing of the case was granted; that in 1879 the Court ordered surveys to be made, and in 1880 sat to consider the matter; that the Court was asked to adjourn on account of the illness of the petitioner and Arama Mokonuiarangi, but refused to accede to this request; that the Court had confirmed the grant in favour of the Ngatimanawa, and that Government has since purchased the land. The petitioner prays that the case should be again tried, or that the sum of £2,500 should be paid to him as compensation.
I am directed to report as follows:—
That a similar petition was reported upon by the Committee on the 5th September, 1881. It was recommended that Government should carefully inquire whether Wi Kepa had equitable claims. At that time there was no proof offered as to the illness of Wi Kepa; there seems now, however, to be no doubt of the truth of this allegation. The question is, how far this circumstance damaged his application. From evidence offered it seems that his sole claim was through a connection with the Ngatihinewai, and the claim of this hapu was rejected by the Court. Still, as Wi Kepa could not attend, it is possible that arguments were omitted which might have had weight. Government might again inquire into the subject, and consider what can be done justly. A rehearing could not be secured except by special legislation.
[Translation.]
No. 22 of 1882.—Pukapuka inoi a Wi Kepa Rangipuawhe.
E Ki ana te Kai-pitihana e whai take ana ia me tona hapu a Ngatihinewai ki te Poraka whenu o Kaingaroa. E ki ana hoki ia i weaina te whenua e Ngatimanawa i te tau 1877 a tangohia atu ana e ratou tetahi taha o te whenua kaore nei i tika kia uru ki ta rotou wea; no te tau 1878 whakataua ana e te Kooti Whakawa Whenu Maori taua whenua kia Ngatimanawa; whakaaetia ana he whakawa tuarua, no te tau 1879 whakahaua ana e te Kooti kia weaina a no te tau 1880 ka noho te Kooti ki te whiriwhiri i taua take; tonoa ana kia nekehia atu te whakawa a te Kooti natemea i te mate ta koutou Kai-pitihana raua ko Arama Mokonuiarangi engari kaore te Kooti i whakaae whakataua ana kia Ngatimanawa, no muri nei ka hokona taua whenua e te Kawanatanga. E inoi ana te Kai-pitihana kia whakawakia ano, kia hoatu ranei te £2,500—ki a ia hei utu whakarite.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
I whakataua ano e te Komiti tetahi Pitihana penei me tenei i te 5 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1881. Kiia atu ana i reira me ata whiriwhiri e te Kawanatanga mehemea ranei i whaitake a Wi Kepa, kaore hoki i tukua mai he kupu whakaatu tuturu mai i te matenga o Wi Keepa. No naianei ka mohiotia he tika ano taua kupu. Na ko te mea hei rapunga ko te kimi mehemea na taua matenga ona i he ai tona taha. I runga i nga whaikorero i whakapuakina e kitea ana ko tona take i puta ke mai i runga i tona paanga kia Ngatihinewai whakahengia ana e te Kooti te take o taua hapu otira i runga i te ngaronga a Te Keepa, tera pea i mahue etahi mea whaitikanga. Me patai ano pea e te Kawanatanga, kia kitea mehemea ranei kaore he mea tika e taea. E kore e taea te whakawa tuarua, ma tetahi ture hou anake te taea ai.