HERCULEAN TASK FOR JUDGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 999, 14 December 1910, Page 4

HERCULEAN TASK FOR JUDGE.

' BEDLAM IN COURT. (By Telegraph— Spccial CorrceDondcnti Wanganui, December 13. At the sitting of the Native Sand Court, which opened in Wanganui yesterday afternoon, Judge Rawson -presiding, there was a very large attendance of Nar tives from .Taranald, Waimarino, Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu. The cases to be heard chiefly comprise partitions and successions, and an idea, of tha heavy nature of-the list can be gathered from the fact that, including those adjourned from last, sittings, a total of 550 has to be dealt with. As the judge lias only a week at his disposal, the impossibility of getting through the list in that time is apparent, and unless the Native Land Department considers the necessity of improving the means for doing business (says the "Herald"), another .striking .cxamplo of the law's. delay ii in store. J

The realisation of this fact greatly excited the Natives yesterday, and'the judge had no sooner taken liis scat than he was besieged with applications fro in various interested parties to have, their cases heard first, so that they could .return to their homes. So insistent were the Natives, and so loud became their clamour, that it .was impossible to proceed with the business, and when the judge was at last able to make himself heard above the din he perforce cut argument short by adjourning tho Court till this morning, when the cases were taken in the order in which they were set down.