WAIOMATATINI MEETING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 374, 25 March 1902, Page 3

WAIOMATATINI MEETING.

SOME .REMINISCENCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. Ro the important meeting at Waiomatatini it may interest your readers to know that it is twenty-seven years ago since tho first sitting of the Native Land Court in that vicinity. For months previous great preparations were made to have titles to lands in that locality investigated. The late Major Ropata Wahawaha had at Waiomatatini a vast wooden building oreeted. On the ground floor over two thousand natives squatted. A powerful chief, Wiremu Keiha, was equally opposed to Major Ropata’s land claims as he was to havo the Native Land Court. No civil or military authority was available to enforce the mandates of tho court. Should any disturbance arise the latter’s authority was represented wholly and . solely in Captain, now Colonel, Portor (commanding the Seventh Contingent in South Africa.) So violently opposed was Wiremu Kciha’s section of natives to tho court proceedings with its functions that as the cases sot down for hearing wero being called over great stones wero hurled against the sides and on the roof of the great wooden structure. In tho midst of this turmoil and confusion a hand-to-hand encounter took place between Col. Porter and a stalwart Native who seemed bent on stopping tho proceedings. A rough and tumble ensued on the floor of , tho Court. It lasted for some timo. By sheer physical force Porter ejected his , sturdy opponent, and a calmer tone then prevailed. The presiding judge was the j late Mr John Rogan ; tho interpreter, the t Hon. Jas. Carroll. Mr Carroll’s effici- j oncy and tho assistance given by him in £ the capacity of interpreter was long re- j meinbored. His acumen under trying j circumstances was of groat assistance to the Court. Wi Pere, now M.H.R., took a distinguished part in advising Natives to have their lands brought under the title recognized by our laws. His aid can scarcely be realized at the present day. He was largely instrumental in expediting and facilitating the profitable settlement of that part of tho colony.