GIVE BACK MT. EGMONT!

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1927, Page 5

GIVE BACK MT. EGMONT!

MAORIS’ CLAIMS.

Over Land Confiscations.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb" 15. An unexpected claim was made before the Royal Commission of Investi gation into the Maori land gi’ievances at Waitara, this morning, when a na five asked for the return of Mt. Egmont to the Maoris. Kupenga Kahao was the Maori who made the extraor dinaiy request, the object of which is apparently to obtain the fees which arc collected there.

Iu giving his evidence to the Commission, he. asked that the mana of Mount Egmont be returned to vhe people in the territory from Waitotara to White Cliffs. *lhis was- the prerogative of the people of the West Coast from Taranaki to the Chatham Islands; and therefore he asked that -t be returned to the Chiefs with a provision that the Government be trustee to con trol the affairs of the mountain.

“That is,” asked examining counsel, “that the Maoris receive tolls from their people?”

Kahao: “Yes. There was a larg-? Pa belonging to them, he said, just on the snow line, called “Maru. ” There were people killed and buried there during tlie native trouble between Waikato and Taranaki.

The Maoris also asked for the long and permanent residence of the elders at Cape Egmont, which was confiscated. One asked for the return of this place which was about eight acres. They had> he said, to bring sand in baskets on tlieir backs bo improve the soil there to grow kumaras. There were also lamprey weirs there which were now being used by the Marine Department. Other petitioners sought a return to the natives of the towns of Hawere, Patea, Waverley and Mokoia, and various fishing grounds and Pas in various parts of the province. It is probable that the Commission will complete its business in Waitara by Saturday. It will then return to Wellington, where on February 23 will hear Mr Taylor in reply to the arguments of Mr Smith, on the first inquiry in the order of reference whether the confiscations exceeded in quantity what was fair and just. The next sitting will commence at Opotiki on March 23, and those at, Whakatane and Tauranga on March 28 and 31 respectively. Between the conclusion of tlie Tauranga sitting and Easter, the North Auckland petitions will be heard. All the Waikato claims will be taken at Ngaruawahia, beginning on April 20. The Hawke’s Bay and East Coast cases will be taken at Wairoa an May 2. The Commission has to present its report to the Gov ernor-General by June 30. LATER. Investigation of the native claims for alleged wrongful confiscation of landt by the Rbyal Commission was continued for the seventh day. Evidence was given this merning by the «on of the Great Tewhiti, who gave an account of Hon. John Bryce’s raid on Parihaka in 1881. The Commission is now dealing with individual petitions.