The Native Land Court.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 108, 2 April 1884, Page 2

The Native Land Court.

[By P.APAOIOEA.]

There are at present about 400 Natives assembled here foi' the purpose of settling the long-sti«udi»g Otaruakupua negotiations, and thereby bring the matter to a close. So far as I can judge there is every prospect of an amicable settlement being arrived at. Mr Gill, the head of the Native Laud Purchase Department, and Captain Mair, District Officer for the West QoasL N^^fc^ktricj^.^eprejiettt tho Government, and are anxious to have a satisfactory 'settlliiirent with the least possible delay. ..There ..are a, nu.ra.ber of Europeans present, who represent the various hapus, among them being Mr G. P. Donelly, Mr D. Fraser, Dv Buller, and others. Mr Donelly has retained the services-pC Mr Stevens for the purpose of assisting iv the very difficult task" of dividing 'and ;ap|)pii3.uming the various WudiJr of ? monfey 3 i<r Which the several- families of th^e. -different hapug vhom^e i-epresent!s L 811 M W'enrttled. It was believed Joy some' that Dr Buller had been'retained by the Government for the purpose of assisting .Mjr jG-ill m the : completion of ,the title tol fQtamakapua, bujt frpp rwljafe J, , csailealrii Dr Buller bas'a much more solemn duty to perform, viz., that of signing; a receipt at the fpo( of eacii' accpuntfor Which he Wy' receive .payment, some instances the time occupied m going over the various items m solicitors' accounts is very eolisiderable.' Tlire' J dpurt has been sit&ug, but* was adjourned y>sier<>ay tiibrniug until 2 p. hi., m order to allow the; Natives an opportutiity of carrying out the time-honoured custom pf; je^Ening,, not. iiieoessai-iiy gocid for good, but food for; food. Their Hons. Judges, O'Brien and Mair are presiding, : aud ; can o'uly.' proceed *witti -%he cases from time to limeys, the pppoutunity presents itself. Te Ketimaiia-Te franco, iof Ngatitama, Utiku Potaka, °of Ngatihauiti, Renata Kawepo, Airini Tonore (Mrs Donelly), and Wikitoria Te Uaraairangi, of Ngatihinemauo, and others presented about £500 wocth of flour, sugar, beef, potatoes, tea, tobacco, matches, besides a' iew casks Ipf beer, and, some morLeVe- |iK6sents • and it was pleasing to! noticejthefe 'folj&l'iabs'cnce of the buudredß-oiuottles of spirits which used of late^Vjearft ;:i to accompany such presents^,. The, recipients of the viands were Nga(itumoßjii,!Rangitane, Ngatiapai, Ngatimiirahi,' and JStukjipkb^all of which ; tribes and' hapus' had ; Already bentowed similar hospitality on their yisitoi-s^ There is certainly pnejfe^ture m the. .Katiye^cusjipm >w^iic^ !mig^t. with advantage be '.pjractised by some Euro- ; peans| < pretend -to -^djoctpi.^the Maori, andit^s that pf the most perfect unselfishness. .._.Xhey prefer to give whole carcases of beef rajthecth^n, exact their "ppundrpfr^osji."