The Horowhenua Block.

Manawatu Herald, 16 April 1898, Page 2

The Horowhenua Block.

At a sitting oi the Native Appellate Court, held at the Sydney-street Schoolroom on Thursday, another action arising out of the subdivision of the Horowhenua Block came on for hearing. The presiding Judges were Chief Native Land Court Judge Davy, and Judges Mackay and Butler. The suit was in the nature of a petition from Hetariki Matao and Maata Huikirangi, of Homua, two aboriginal natives, who were not included in the list of 143 persons declared by the Native Land Act of 1867 to be entitled to the Horowhenua Block. ' Sir Robert Stout and Mr Baldwin appeared for the petitioners ; Mr Stafford and Mr Baldwin for Wirihana Parewa and Rehipiti Pamaki ; and Mr H. D. Bell and Mr A. P. Buller for Sir Walter Buller and Major Kemp. When the petition was called on, Mr Bell claimed that before dealing with the matter the Court should first give its judgment upon a matter affecting Major Kemp in connection with Block 14, which had alresdy been argued for its decision. After considerable argument by the Counsel engaged, the court, after half-an-hour's retirement, gave its decision in favour of Mr Bell's contention, and the judgment in the previous case was then read. The Court held that the Native Land Court in 1886, in making an order in favour of Major Kemp, fully intended to vest Block 14 in him as sole beneficial owner, untrammelled by any trust. Mr Bell asked for costs as against the counter-claimants, but the Bench decided to reserve the question of costs. The Court made an order entitling Sir W. Buller, who was also represented by counsel, to register his dealings in terms of the " Horowhenua Block Act, 1896."— Post. The vindication of Major Kemp has been published too late to be of any satisfaction to our gallant ally, as he died at Wanganui yesterday morning.