Maori Litigation.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 4

Maori Litigation.

HARD-WORKED NATIVE COURTS. Tho Maori who loves litigation, and does not call the law " a hass," is enjoying, either in action or anticipation, a protracted banquet ,of litigation in various parts of tho North Island at present. 1 The Ikaroa Maori Land Board commenced a' sitting on Wednesday at Hastings, where it has to deal with a large number of applications for confirmation of leases, removal of restrictions, and other matters. To-morrow the President of the-Board," Judge Sim, whq has just been relieved at Wanganui. by Judge Gilfedder, will open the sittings of a native Land Court'at Hastings, which has an alarming order paper of 948 cases before it. The number: is not unusually largcj-however, for a.session of a Native Court. The list includes numerous applications for confirmation of transfers and: leases, : nineteen for original investigation.. ,of title—a lengthly-business, involving tho' resuscitation of innumerable ancestors— about 150 applications..for^,partition, others for succession, • registration of adoptions, cutting off of. areas "purchased by the Crown, survey charging orders, compensation for land taken under the Public Works Act, and other matters. If none were postponed, they would keep the Court busy for six months, but as. many of tho parties will probably not. appear, causing their cases to bo adjourned, it may finish in oight weeks. ■ The Wairoa Native, Land Court, in Hawko's Bay, will sit under Judge Rawson to-morrow for' settlement cf 150 cases of a like variety. The Wanganui Court, which,has'been, sitting for about five months, may go on for two more. It started' with an enormous list of 1413 cases, to which probably a thousand havo been added since. Tho Native-Land Court now sitting at Whakatane, under" Judge | Hair, will have its hands full'probably tor a month' or six weeks still to oomc. Judge Edgar,' at the Thames, is supervising tho.despatch of a list running into a thousand cases. Judge Browne, who is tho President of four Maori Land Boards, is as far removed from idleness as his brother judges. A. short sitting of tho Court will be held in Auckland early next month. The Native Appellate Court, Judges Scth-Smith and M'Cormick, are holding, a sitting at Russell, where thoy are likely to roinain some time, as vhero are a great jiumbcr of appeals igainst original investigations of title to be dealt with. Judge Jones is holding a continuous Court for Gisborne and the East Court district. Chief Judge Palmer, who is in Wellington, luriiig the session in order that ha nay give tho House information about ill this great judicial activity when required, and has taken charge of iwo commissions during intervals, hopes to satisfy tho longings of many ither Maoris, whose districts have not '.md a Court of. late, immediately the session ends.