No. 395.—Petition of Te Warihi Makitaunu and Another.

Petitioners pray that the sum of £8,000 may be paid to them on behalf of their hapu, on account of their claims to a certain block of land, as promised by Sir Donald McLean and Mr. Sheehan, as Native Ministers.

I am directed to report as follows: That, the evidence of the petitioners having been taken, Mr. Lewis, Under-Secretary for the Native Department, stated that the records of the office showed that no promise was made by Sir D. McLean, and the evidence of Captain Mair, who accompanied Sir D. McLean as interpreter, states that no promise was made, and that the promise alleged to have been made could not have been made without his knowledge, he having attended all Sir Donald McLean's meetings. He further produced a corrected report of Sir Donald McLean's speech on the occasion, from the Bay of Plenty Times. There is no mention of any promise in that speech. The Committee are therefore of opinion that the petitioners have no claim whatever upon the Government.