No. 470. 1891, Sess. II.—Petition of Manuera Motu and Others.
Petitioners allege that the Trustees who hold certain lands for them in the Bay of Plenty (confiscated lands returned) are dealing with the same as their own property, and appropriating the proceeds. They pray for relief.
I am directed to report as follows: This petition refers to a class of cases known as the "Whakatane Trust Grants," which the Legislature has dealt with on more than one occasion, but some how or other all special enactments in reference thereto failed to give the Native Land Court sufficient jurisdiction whereby relief could have been secured to the beneficiary owners. Under the present circumstances the beneficiaries cannot participate in the proceeds arising from such lands, nor can they compel the trustees to distribute the same among them. The Committee recommends that the Government will, at the earliest opportunity, bring in such legislation as will absolutely set the matter at rest.
[Translation.]
No. 470, 1891, Sess. II.—Pukapuka-inoi a Manuera Motu me etahi atu.
E Ki ana nga kai-pitihana ko nga kai-tiaki e pupuri nei i etahi whenua raupatu mo ratou i te Pei o Pereti kei te whakahaere i aua whenua ano he whenua no ratou ake a kei te kainga e ratou nga hua a e inoi ana nga kai-pitihana ki tetahi ora.
Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei: E pa ana nga korero o tenei pitihana ki etahi whenua e mohiotia ana ko nga whenua Karaati Tiaki o Whakatane kua maha nei nga whakamatauranga e te Paremete ki te hanga ture erangi kihai aua ture i whai mana ki te tuku mana ki te Kooti Whenua Maori e ahei ai te tuku i te ora ki te hunga whai take. A i runga i te ahua o aua whenua i naianei kahore e ahei te hunga whai take te tango i nga hua e puta mai ana i aua whenua kahore ano hoki e kaha ratou ki te tono ki nga kai tiaki kia whewehea nga hua ki waenga i a ratou a e tono ana te Komiti kia tere tonu te hanga e te Kawanatanga i tetahi ture hei tino whakaoti taua raruraru.