THE OAKURA BLOCK.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 3

THE OAKURA BLOCK.

The Oakura block, on which some of the ploughmen were arrested, was confiscated on the 30th January, 1865. It belonged to the Ngamahanga people, and contained some 27,500 acres. It was known at the time of the confiscation that a section of the hapu had remained loyal, and fought on the European side during the war. Consequently a commission was appointed to decide who were loyal among the hapu and who had been rebellious. The Court consisted of Messrs. Fenton, Hogan and Munro, and sat in New Plymouth from June 1 to July 12, 1566. They found from the evidence of experts that 8000 acres of the block was valueless, reducing the land fit for occupation to 19,500 acres. There were 285 resident claimants, of which number the Court found 115 loyal. According to a proclamation issued by Sir George Grey in 1864, all loyal natives should have their lands secured to them.

All those who remained quiet were promiseu that no further attack should be made upon them, and such as thenceforth remained quiet were assured the full benefit and peaceful enjoyment of their land. For purposes of adjustment, the Court regarded all adults as having claims to an equal acreage, and by an easy computatioa found that the loyal natives were entitled to 7-100 acres of the available land. Having made this tentative award the Court, according to memorandum of F. D. Fenton, found only "2500 acres of available land were left that had not been either given to militaryplettlers or made Government reserves, or open for sale. ITnderclausell. of tbeNew Zealand Settlement Amendment Act 1865 power is given to the Compensation Court to give compensation to natives in land instead of in money, and the Court doubtless desired to do so. It found it had no power to eject military settlers or deal with Government reserves, or laud advertised for sale. One of the judges, Mr. Kogan, was then sent to Wellington to confer with the Native Minister, Golouel Kussell, as to what course should be adopted. Colonel Kussell came to New Plymouth, and instructed the Crown Agent, Mr. W. S. Atkinson, to offer the natives in final compensation of their claims the 2500 acres unalienated, all the Government reserves, and the whole of the land not allotted to military settlers. This was done, and Mr. Atkinson informed Mr. Parris that the offer had been accepted. Mr. Parris, in a letter dated June 29th, 1866, informed the Government that this offer had been accepted, and estimated the laud accepted by the natives in lieu of their claims at about 10,000 acres. The Oakura natives were promised Crown grants for what land was arranged to be given them, but such grants have not been issued to the present day. There have been no confiscations under the New Zealand Settlements Act since 1865, but iu Appendix C.,1871, a return of the laud confiscated to the General Government was published, and included in this return tho quantity of the land given or agreed to be given or reserved for natives whether friendly or not is published under the heading Taranaki. The following reserves are given : “ Oakura, 12,333 acres; Waitara South, 10,673 acres ; Ngatiawa Coast, 55,011 acres ; Ngatiruanui Coast, 17,951 acres ; Patea, 21,233 acres.—(Signed), G. S. Coorjiu. September 9, 1871.” According to a recent return, all tho male Maoris over 15 years of age living in tho Taranaki district from Mokau to Waitotara only number 1335 ; if, therefore, they received these reserves, they would be amply provided for.