Resumption of Estates.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 222, 26 September 1901, Page 3

Resumption of Estates.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Napier, last night. At the Compensation Court to-day, at the conclusion of tile Kumcroa Estate ease, the claim of the trustees of tho Forest Gate property was heard. This was a claim for land taken under the Hand for Settlement Act. The claim js at the rate of X‘s Us 9d per acre, and tho Government offer .L'i! 17s 6d. The total amounts in each ease being not definitely ascertainable owing to a doubt as to tho exact acreage, the question of area will bo settled between the parties after a fresh survey lias been made, it bad been known that the property consisted of between 8500 and 9000 acres, and the claim was based on 8777 acres, lit is now stated, however, that the correct average is exclusive of roads, and of a block of ;i!l acres, to which the Herrick family had no right except that of occupiers. The point at issue was the value of the laud, and the total amount of the award would be in accordance with tho acreage. Counsel for claimants quoted from the Parliamentary debate on the Forest Gate property as reported in Hansard, whore tho Premier said the prieo the trustees offered for the land (X-t 10s) the Government were prepared to give, and then they altered their minds and asked to withdraw it. Counsel for Government said that was not evidence, and the Premier had no authority to make any offer binding tho colony.