No. 402.—Petition of Meiha Ropata and 172 Others.

Petitioners state that they belong to the Ngatiporou Tribe, and are owners of land in the Waiapu District. They say that they are annoyed and wronged by the action of various persons who are endeavouring to purchase their land. They give schedules of certain of their lands which they desire to have brought under the operation of "The Native Reserves Act, 1882." With regard to portions of the named land now held by Europeans, they desire that the leases should be respected. They ask that they may be empowered to form a Native Committee, subject to the control of the Public Trustee, whose duty it would be to assist in carrying out matters connected with the lands reserved.

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I am directed to report as follows:—

That the early attention of the Government be called to this petition, with a view to doing what may seem to be best under the circumstances.