No. 107.—Petition of Retireti Tapihana and Matenga te Wahaeoa (No.1).

Petitioners state that they have been sent to Wellington to represent their hapus, the Ngatiwhahaue and Ngatirangiwewehi. Petitioners say that they have heard that on the 1st May, 1883, a petition had been drawn up at Cambridge, praying for the repeal of "The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880;" they further say that this petition, signed by Rutene te Umanga and others, purports to emanate from Kotorua, whereas it was written at Cambridge; they assert that Umanga and his tribe are not Arawas; that the petition represents the views of certain land companies and lawyers who wish "to make more money by the evil practices which they are now carrying on at Waikato;" and they pray that "The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880," be not repealed.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the evidence in support of this petition was similar to that given last session on the petitition of Petera to Pukuatua (No. 73), and the Committee has to make a Similar recommendation, namely, that in any attempt M amend. "The Thermal-Springs Act, 1880," careful attention should be accorded by the Government to the evidence then given by Aporo te Tipitipi, and would further recommend for consideration the evidence now given by Retireti Tapihana.