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No. 253, Sess. II., 1887.—Petition of Arthur Owen.
Petitioner, who was in treaty with certain Native for the lease of a block of land on the north bank of the River Mokau, makes serious charges against two Judges of the Native Land Court and other, alleging that they have used illegal means to prevent him acquiring the said land. He prays that no action may be taken by the Government until a full inquiry has been made, and justice done.
I am directed to report as follow: That the Committee, having taken evidence on the petition of Arthur Owen, have arrived at the conclusion that the petitioner has failed to sustain his case, and that Stockman's agreement, on which the cliam is founded, has no validity; that the signature of Mere Kura, alleged to be a forgery, is genuine, and was affixed to the document before the hearing of the case by the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court; that the charges of corruption preferred against the Chief Judge and officers of the Native Land Court are not substantiated, and are without foundation; that there is grave doubt as to the validity of the certificates issued under sections 24 and 25 of the Native Land Administration Act; but that the Chief Judge, in issuing such certificates, acted in good faith. The Committee has no recommendation to make. [For evidence, &c., vide I.-3a.]
[Translation.]
No. 253, Sess. II., 1887.—Pukapuka-inoi a Ataa Oene.
I te whakahaere tikanga te kai-pitihana ki etahi Maori mo te riihi o te tahi poraka whenua e takoto ana i te taha whakararo o te Awa o Mokau. A he nui ana whakapae ki nga Tiati e rua o te Kooti Whenua Maori me etahi atu me tana ki i haere ra waho i te ture a ratou mahi kia kore ai e riro te Whenua i aia. E inoi ana ia kia kaua te Kawanatanga e whai tikanga mo runga i taua take kia oti rano te whiriwhiri i nga tikanga o taua mea me te tika hoki kia puta.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: I runga i te mea kua riro mai i te Komiti nga korero mo runga i te pitihana a Ataa Oene kua tau a ratou whakaaro kihai i ahei e te kai-pitihana te whakamana i tana keehi, a kihai hoki i mana te kirimene a Hori Takimana i waiho nei e ia hei huarahi whakahaere mo tana take. A ko te hainatanga a Mere Kura he hainatange tika a i hianatia ki te pukapuka i mua i te whakawakanga o te keehi e te Tumuaki o te Kooti Whenua Maori. A ko nga whakapae mo te Tumuaki me atu apiha o te Kooti Whenua Maori kihia i mana, a kahore he take i tukuna ai aua whakapae. E ruarua ana hoki nga whakaaro mehemea he tiwhikete tika te tiwhikete i tukuna i raro i nga tekiona 24 me te 25 o te Ture Whakahaere Whenua Maori. Erangi i tukuna e te Tumuaki i runga i te whakaaro he mea tika kia tukua. Heoi kahore he kupu a te Komiti.