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No. 282 of 1882.—Petition of Hongi Keepa and 7 Others.
Petitioners claim to be owners of the Island Motuapao, and claim Maria Van Dieman, and complain that the Government had erected a lighthouse upon it without their consent. They pray that the island may be returned to them.
I am directed to report as follows:—
In the report upon this case, made in 1881 on the petition of Rawiri Hongi and others, there is an eror as to the Crown grant to Taylor; but Motuapao was surplus land from Taylor's purchase, and so declared, and has been so treated throughout. Government allowed the mainland to go through the Land Court in favour of the Natives, as a matter of grace, and instructed Mr. White, R.M., to assist in the transaction; but Motuapao was not included in the Crown grant issued the 15th November, 1872 whilst by declaration in the Gazette under date 4th March, 1875, the Native title to this island was declared to be extinguished. On the 5th March, 1875, an Order in Council set it apart as a lighthouse reserve.
[Translation.]
No. 282 of 1882.—Pukapuka-inoi a Hongi Keepa me etahi atu e 7.
E Ki ana nga kai-pitihana no ratou tera Moutere a Motuopao i Keeps Maria; e whakahe ana ratou mo te whakaturanga a te Kawanatanga i tetahi Whare Raiti ki reira kihai ratou i whakaae. E inoi ana ratou kia whakahokia taua Moutere ki a ratou.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei:—
I he te whakataunga a te Komiti i te tau 1881 (i runga i te pukapuka-inoi a Rawiri Hongi me etahi) mo te Karauna karaati ki a Teira; engari he" whenua takoto noa na te Karauna" a Motuopao i toe mai i roto i te hoko a Te Teira, a i panuitia koi na ano tona ahua tae mai ki naianei. I runga i te atawhai a te Kawanatanga tukua atu ana te tua-whenua kia whakataua e te Kooti Whenua Maori ki nga Maori, i kiia atu hoki a Te Waiti Kai-whakawa kia tahuri ki te mahi i taua mea, engari kaore a Motuopao i uru ki roto ki te Karauna karaati i whakaputaina i te 15 o Noema, 1872. Na i te 40 Maehe, 1875, i panuitia ki te Kahiti te Korenga o te take Maori ki runga ki taua Moutere, a no te 5 o Maehe, 1875, ka puta te Ota a te Kaunihera wehe i taua Moutere hei Rahui tuunga Raiti.