NATIVES AND THEIR LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1745, 9 May 1913, Page 5

NATIVES AND THEIR LANDS.

DESIRES OF THE OWNERS. (From Our Own Correspondent,) Wanganul, May 8. It is slated, that a largo gathering ol Natives will tako place at Jerusalem oil May 35, tho obji-ct of tho meeting boing to defino tho Wanganui liiver and outside boundaries, and also to unite in doing everything possiblo to keep tho present Government ill power, with a view to (securing proper,, title-deeds, etc., to the lands at present owned by tho Maoris. In connection with the Nativo Land Courts, the Natives aro of opinion that they should bo directly represented by assessors oil such Courts, to act in conjunction with and advise tho Judges is to tho relative claims of tho contestants. Tho Natives gay that they would prefer to have their land sold by public auction rather than have it disposed of privately. Four out of tho twenty-six influential Maoris have been elected to carry out tho nccessary details for furthering tho above project, and with this end in view Ilia following have been appointed a deputation to procced to Wellington to lay mattors before tho Government—Messrs. K. S. Keepa (Tauiuaruiiui), Nepal Tauri, and H. T. Whatahoro Jury (representing th« Wanganui and the river-resident, Natives), and Ropatn. Tumumu (Waitotar.i).