No. 67, 1891, Sess. II.—Petition of John W. Matthews.

Petitioner alleges that, owing to the state of the law relating to the purchase of Native lands, he and others have suffered heavy loss in the purchase of a block of land known as Kaitai, and he prays for relief.

I am directed to report as follows: It appears that petitioner has suffered considerable loss through being compelled to pay twice for his property, by acting on what was believed to be a page 15decision of the Supreme Court in the Kotaripaia case. When that decision was given petitioner entered upon the purchase of his land with perfect good faith and every intention of complying with the requirements of the law, which was rendered abortive; and up to the present time the attempts made by the Legislature in the Acts of 1886, 1888, and 1889, to provide a remedy have proved inoperative, inasmuch as the technical requirements of the said Acts have shut petitioner out from any relief whatever, notwithstanding such relief has been extended to others. The Committee therefore recommend the matter to the favourable consideration of the Government.