No. 153.—Petition of E. F. Harris.

The petitioner, a half-caste resident in Gisborne, states that he and his immediate relatives are justly entitled to a portion of the Patutahi Block, known as Taputoho; that the petitioner never joined in the deed of cession by which the land in question was acquired by the Government, but on the contrary protested, in a letter to the Government dated August, 1869, against his rights in the said land being prejudiced by the said deed. The petitioner prays that he and his relatives may receive compensation for the loss of their land.

I am directed to report that, from the evidence taken by the Committee, it seems probable that there may be some grounds for the claim made by the petitioner. The Committee therefore recommend the case to the Government for consideration and inquiry.