No. 22.—Petition of Cradock Beauchamp, of Anikiwa, Picton.

Petitioner, who is the lessee of a Native reserve in Queen Charlotte Sound, prays that the law be amended to enable him to surrender his present lease and obtain a new one providing for compensation for improvements, as was done under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act in the case of certain Native reserves in the North Island.

I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that this petition be referred to the Government, with a view to having legislation introduced to enable cases of this kind to be dealt with in an equitable manner.