No. 97 of 1881.—Petition of H. K. Taiaroa (No. 1).

Petitioner states that in 1880 he petitioned the House, but the Native Affairs Committee had not page 6reported according to his wishes; he again prays for £400 and interest, and that all the evidence and papers be published.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That upon a similar petition from the same gentleman brought before the House last year the Committee reported as follows: "That, according to his own evidence, the delay in the payment of the £4,000 arose entirely from the refusal of Mr. Taiaroa (the petitioner) to get from the parties interested a receipt in full settlement of claims as agreed upon, and that, as acknowledged by him, this delay was with a view of forcing Government to pay another £1,000. The Committee, therefore, cannot recommend the prayer of the petition to be granted."

No new evidence whatever has been adduced on the present inquiry, and the Committee would simply reaffirm the above report.