THE WEBSTER CASE.
AND OTHERS.
ANGLO-AMERICAN CLAiMS COMMISSION
8y Tclc2ro;oli-.3?,fSaß Afisooiatld.n-Copji'toM . Washington, jkjeh 9. Tho Coniniissioii created by treaty to ndju't alt ©utsido pecuiivaty claiiiis of ■tlw United States and Gfeat Britain is expected to hear twcTity,six eases—-ton American a«d sistocn B'ritkh, The eases are interesting historically, and of great unptU'tAUCc.
itio Hntisli elwni n million dollars on faehnU of tho Kalnico Indians of Cnnashi, teed on tbp u-itlmokliisg from them of anmiitios pledged under tho Treaiv of Oneiit, ' "
One American claim h on behalf of tho heirs of William Webster for lands m Juew Zealand purchased bv Webster .seventy j-eal'a ago. * ■ ■ A similar daim, for a millioft dollars, is being brought by the heirs' of an American nanied Stucfer Ift regard to rubber lands iiv Jehcw. Studei-'s concessions were vacated by the British tiovenifiioat.
■ DTBEBNATIONAL LAW. Wastilngton, Mircli 9. Kutucrotts cases of importance, Jiwladmg mooted queslwns of i'litorimtiojml law, ivijl bo decided at the International lnbuiiitl of Arbitration, which begins its soeond sessian at ioDwrrsw.
Ever since. I8S?, Sractioally. the -elaiins of tlvfi Amerjcati whatev, AVtt.liaiii 'Wtbster, for lands, of indemnity for'the alleged loss of such, luvv-o ougiiKcd tiro at lentioM of the K<s«- 2eali»d CTOvcnimeiit. neUsters claim is hi ,i-500,060f in cwsection wit.li fotge areas oi land senttereil owr tho CflToniaiitlol district, iuduiiiiiK Sffvcrni areas now held bv jirfniiig eompanics. The fotaviiij; is a «ohy- uf the original brk'l' on.winch Wr-bsfefs heirs lirtßeMted the iio-w historic eiainis-*
William Webster, a citizens of the United States of America, ctaiins from tho British (Government; compensation: to the amount of JSMfiil in raspett of lands in the Nortli Island of Nw Zealajid parohased by hinj i'raiii tsi.e Brigteat owners, and, as he nliegcs, witiiiglully taken by Uhj Crorai, mid'aftewi-flrds sftW or othiii'iriso disposed of in violation of pre-existing rights. In - April, ißffli Lonl John EfeeH, tire then SecMarj; of State fot , thp Colonkif, aclilfesieti a hwinoratHlwn to Lord Mmerston, Sce.retary for Fof.oi.gn Affairs, in which the- falling jmssage occurs:—'
.tto British, Statute Book has in the present century, in tbi'pfl distiftet- enactnionts, declared that Nw Zealand is iiot n part o-f the BriMslt Dojiiinimie, aiut, secondly. King Wilijam IV niaclo the most j»ftl)lie solcum mid authentic <lcc'Jarntioft wiiteh it Was wssibte b> niftko that Neiv. Zealand was a substantive ami iiulcpqUiluiit Stale, In. Her Majesty's instruction's conveyed by tho Marquis of Norroahby to Mr. Consul Jlobson., ilirocting hriit to ixwA with tire aboriginal Natives of. Now Zealand for tte cession of tho sovereignty of tlieir country, and Hid right; of pre-emption over tlieir lan<Ja to the .Crown of Xißiat Britain, i\ is distinctly afflruietl isrf tfce. Nitfivo owners that rhei* tvtlts to the eg 3 and of Nβ*- Zmhni. is indisputable, aiud lias bectt solemnly recognised fey thfc JJrMish Goveraw-cut, The 3'rcnry qf Waifcaiißi, which was tie iifvmediato resftlt of Ooiiatl Heljsoa's uagotktwn, was in -efftct a treaty of union. It prttvjdeil fol , thfe cession to Her Majesty 'oJ! alt the rigite I ami _ peweris of sovwcigii.t}', while confirming and giiarahteeiitK to the tihitifc ofld tiib?s «■{ Sw Zealand tho .full- exdusivo jvnd 'timlistnvbed poSfiessiqn of tlieir lands jmA ostfttus, nnii it reserved tp, ; Her i lliij.«ty;;.tlio right d pte-■■empUott--over<"OTchMiilKlfi, as" tln> ptoHwetofa thereof may 1)0 tlkposad -to alienate. The treaty has no vefaeneo (o lands wlvtoU till) Native- owftqrS liail already alkmvted at ; a time when New Zealand was h tho poijition. of an iiisfepeiid«nt Sta-fe' Tho Crowft, in ' tafcilifi ! posSßssioß . in iSlO.'; foaiid ■ Brlttsh *ub- ■ jeeW 4iid xttbera (to (lie .uwifcti- oi' alioiit 2000} in qniet and Hndistarbed iwssi?.«ioH ■ or tracts of lands by virtue of purchases made- direct froin the aekfton-kilgefl i tffii ewtteys, . In a proclamation , issued | by Usveriior Hobson, of even dalo witk that proclaiming ttin severeigut.V «i jw gealaitJ (JffniiaJy 30., ISdfl), it is notified "tp.*H Hμ Majesty's so'bjsets that Her Majesty dees net deem ii expeehent to . :recogui.so «ny titles to Isacl m Kew Zealand which arc hot derived from or eqnfiniwjd bj- Her Mftjesty." Allowing ttat ike power to confiscate existing litfrohases teliieh. this .proetomation implies veiild. be eni'pKeil in the case or wiisli subjectSi the terms of tno nrcelftijiation cannot be- h'o-ld to ex" tea«( tfi swbj.eets od etlior nations owning . no aUifg-ianco to ttift Queeiis aud who had peowisly ..acquired land, there. Aa Mr. wvmeH VGfj- clearly jMt; it in h'is eoin' inmiicatiM it, lord Abardten (li«em. i tev "VVhatever rig-Ms eauld ba ! OGqttirod to JJfiglailiJ by {he session of ■sovereignty over- the Islands of New Z«alaiid Miust» of ceiiTSß, fco (iB-alified by diiT nrMxistiai* rights of pthor nations. I A fitter the United States nor any Vmvit if so woiifd l>3 liermtttod 'ititfc I out oppesition by BngUnd in. estaWishftjf an ejeliisivo ■ srivcrtjgftty over ffrsrioasly indepelldent islands in the Paeife ■ Oceaa to nroeeed at pleasuTe to wcate I piarclwees <ii land mafia by British' sub- ■ jefe &r to.itttefeterß wftli ottei.n:tj;r.cs.fe ex.isti«3 befaro Such asscrtio.n of sovoroJgnty was livade." g-W: Secretary of State, in his iastrnctiene to the Q<>verwr of New Zealand i.n Nnmh, Mi, says .that tn tho case *>£ aliens, where the fu'iji; ofc tho MircliaSe is Undispttted, "tjie claims slioukl bci aelsnosvlßtlKar wilhoiit at present cohsiderinjj the. liloeks On whieli only on.o part of the purchase, meiiey lias lj.ee.ii. paid. Mr. Weteter (who is a citizen «£ tUa United State*, anil us alien in i:lie nieaninsr of Hie, Eo.val liistruetiofls) Ws, it is submitted, entitled to hftvo las ftndisDUted .qlajms af ffiH.OCIO iieres qltowed ill full, O{ the Claims Admitted hy tjfj.ts Coinmtoioncrs as» mtdispritod oirly WM acres liavo been granted to Sir. Wotister. w Ms assigiis, Jind it Is contended thst life title is unilisputablf good to the rcfliaininij Zi&,sm HOfcsi th«j llmtt having been felKi.se.d of ! l>y grants ftoni Ife Crowij in violatjon of . thesfc rights. Tho claim-ant i» .piitittfrd ta cpmpbnsMioi), wtd ho claims at tho rate! of Jl, pw a:cw-, Mote; T-ko. claiin. aiffited nbovp is flftWo 3.«.dcpond.e.Bt of alleged rifthts arisinft wit of inctonploto pvirehaSfs (ainoHiitiftg, it is statedi to 5539.000 ac*es.or nioro) ami special ilaiangi? in resrwet oJ claimant's Jcettri trtotet tnkeu and appropriated bv the Orowu.
Tlie above brief was orijijiiiaUr prepared i.tt 1878, bvtt sttteo f.hcft. the aifiotmt has ;),)00ii aildcil to 0M a/jGOUiit of 'interest, in'creasing values, etc., lill Ute .east : now reaches <dv« half a mtllian eteriing. An attiested copy ef the deal o'f conveyaflee shews that <i yery EQiiipleto cortvejmiieo vas made, ttot only of tito area of 80,i)00 acres of land in -question.. Tint of its tiinbcr <ind vegetable" pwSduciions, aiincsj metals, and otltef roi^wal-s. The ctocttAient bears the signatures of the roll«vw).g clijeds :—fo Knrikkcj To JLirftve, To Ntiiri, 'To Wcora, 'j'ft jveofcn, Witeniu K&ua, Knrotaha Te JCopa, K-oi Hftiki, Waro. Eniiia., Tβ Ifeohoe, To WafPlioiiga, Jlan.atf.ra, '('o Huja, Kiu-i-lwn-i Ngal-i, Watq. TnoMabcrei initi Kp«ngi.va.. Tlie i!Oi!B.id«Mtion &r wliieli tbe eliieifs conveyed the land to Wibsfer k set rjoivu
us "seiwol jirticks ei ihercJltaiidise,™ o.i' tUo voti.ie of J?H9S, and the foitowing list; shows wltat iWs 'jnelpqltftßcKstf cs.njisl.-ed of:—Twenty blankets* 125013b. tobateo-, two efciiH two casis of .powttof. iflO tartoviisli bosej, i! 0 tiicces ot print. 2iQ yards o? dnogaree, 40 paita ef' t*o«ieers, 20 phesti, 2 pieces of prmtj 2 iron po'ls, '% gowns, 52 <?a3ks (*T powder, 120 Waufcets, : SO Jjoes, SO spades, 82 irau pats,' 10' sUpsrior joiibi'o puns, 70 jmwfeH'S, JO eohfe 4 : i! shaWls, 8 itiizpu eliiris. WO fislili.oote, ami 400 razor*. The onJjvjwsh, cansi.dßVations noted in (lie ilceil t-o'iMflriso liva ileiiis of JBI.S asd i!2li s , W iStB irt (til.
Tlw Xwv &alnii(l Govnrujitoiif has dotliwcd ■ Hatsiliiy i" -l'epird to tito claim., .'iiirf at various piirfmfs in recent years Iv.ive sent Dv, FitchoW, Sit .Teliir .Pl-inJla-y mid Profesw SalnioMti to Eii'shtmt to fc' present its iiv.teies.ls in co»iwirfitm m'fjj ii»e MST-. At J.ho Iftttf-i- aiil of xflii p rf! . feseor SuliMOiul .«f(cBfl(:tl ivt the Forct*ii Office to assist -thai iMvpartmeiit, it-ltfch rs'diealtitp v-rtli the «u\fcr'en l.»el\aU'«i' Ow4t Britain, in the pvervavatiwi ef flic case fei , thft lutcruatiDiiai ftminjiseigfi,'
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19140311.2.66
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2004, 11 March 1914, Page 7
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,325THE WEBSTER CASE. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2004, 11 March 1914, Page 7
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Dominion. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.