No. 371 of 1882.—Petition of Ropata te Pokiha.

Petitioner states that in 1879 the Thames County Council determined to build a bridge across the Ohinemuri River, at Paeroa, at a place where the road would have injured his cultivations; that, by arrangement with the Chairman, the petitioner went to Cambridge to meet Mr. Sheehan upon the subject; that petitioner's objection to the bridge was removed by a promise from Mr. Sheehan that Government would build a house for him at Paeroa; that though the bridge has been erected the house has not, and he prays that either the house should be built, or a sum of £200 be paid to him.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That there seems to have been a promise by Mr. Sheehan, but how far it extended is not clear. In 1880 the then Native Minister, Mr. Bryce, recommended the petitioner to apply to the County Council for compensation. Nothing seems to have come of this. The Committee considers that the matter should be carefully gone into and redress given if there be a grievance. It recommends, therefore, that the attention of the Government should be given to the case.