No. 250 of 1882.—Petition of Thomas Craig.

Petitioner states that in 1871 and 1876 he had petitioned the House in regard to losses sustained by him owing to his having trusted to the permission given to him in 1861 by Mr. Mantell to negotiate with certain Natives to cut timber at Opitonui, and to his having been turned off the land and his cut logs seized after the land had passed through the Native Land Court in 1870; and that, though the Public Petitions Committee had in 1871 recommended Government to consider his case, nothing has been done.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the Government did what it could to enable Mr. Craig to get his logs away, and that he got a good many to his mill in consequence. In 1876 the Public Petitions Committee, after a full investigation, reported that it could see no way of granting further relief. This Committee has no recommendation to make, as it recognizes no equitable claim against the colony.