No. 144, Sess. I.—Petition of Henare Pukuatua and 8 Others.

Petitioners complain that they suffer great inconvenience and hardship through the frequent adjournments of the Native Land Court by Mr. Brabant, who is also the Resident Magistrate of the district. They pray that he may be relieved of his office as Resident Magistrate until their titles are settled.

I am directed to report as follows: That the attention of the Government be called to the inconvenience caused by adjournments of the Native Land Court in order to enable the Judge or Recorder to attend to other duties, and that it is desirable to make such arrangements in future as will prevent loss or inconvenience in consequence to the Natives attending sittings of the Court.