NATIVE LAND COURT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1894, 19 March 1880, Page 3

NATIVE LAND COURT.

KAIAPOI. Wednesday, Makch 17. [Before his Honor Judge Symonds andHoani Taipua, Native Assessor.] The Court opened at 10 a.m. His Honor stated that he found in reference to succession claims which were being made that this Court had no jurisdiction in respect to the reserves of the Middle Island, as the power of this Court to deal with them was removed by the Native Reserves Act, 1873. The Chief Justice, to whom the matter had been submitted, had referred the Court to this Act. These claims would, therefore, have to be dismissed, as they could only be entertained on an amendment of the law. _ . Fifty-four succession claims were then dismissed, and the Court adjourned. Thtjbsday, Mabch 18. [Before his Honor Judge Symonds and Hoani Taipua, Native Assessor.]

The Court opened at 10 a.m. His Honor stated, through Mr Hammond, interpreter, that the Court would prooeed to ascertain (1) the names of all Kaiapoi Natives entitled to a share in the land and hereditaments described in the Kaiapoi Native Reserves Act, 1877, 1877, including 1832 aores Ashburton district, 300 acres at Little River, 250 acres at Upper Ashburton, and 550 acres in different lots at Oxford ; (2), the share or shares to which each Native was entitled; and (3) whether any of such Kaiapoi Natives were under disability, and if so, the nature thereof, and if infants, the ages of such infants. A list of claimants was handed in. In the Neatwaewae hapu list Teoti Pita Mutu, Pita Mutu, and Wikitoria Mutu were objected to. G P. Mutu sworn, deposed that he was a minister of the Church of England, and belonged to this hapu. "Was one who had a right in the reserves. Was living at Kaiapoi at the time of the sub-division by Mr Buller. His name was in the former list for these reserves. No sub-division was made of the Raupaki reserves by Mr Buller. His name was put into the Raupaki reserves by Judge Fenton in 1868. Some of the Kaiapoi Natives were admitted to these reserves by consent of the Raupaki Natives. They had no claim, but were admitted through their kindness.

His Honor stated the objections! were not sustained, as the fact of these names being on the Raupaki list did not disqualify these Satires from claiming to share in the Kaiapoi reserves if they were at the latter place when Mr Buller made the sub-division. In the Ngaitamahaki hapu list no objections were made. In the Ngatihurihia hapu list Matiria Tepa was objected to. Teone Tikaowira gave evidence that this woman lived at Akaroa, and had never resided at Kaiapoi, nor was Bhe present when Mr Buller made the sub-division. Mary Te Aik, belonging to the same hapu as claimant, deposed that the claimant never resided at Kaiapoi. His Honor ordered the name of Matiria Tepa to be struck out. The names of Hira Putere and Kiti Te Aik were objected to on like grounds, and after hearing evidence, the names of these women were also struck out. Several lists of other hapus, about twelve in all, were gone through, and objections taken in a similar way to the foregoing to several of the names, which were dealt with according to the evidence adduced, but were of no public interest. The Court rose at 430 p.m.