The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 129, 5 July 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1876.

Tub native laud -mooting, that took place yesterday at the Court House, consisted of the former .owners of the Opako Block. The claims of two tribes meet in it—To Ngao Kite, of Tannin, rand Lis people, and Ngitihine, eomprising the Mamitalii, Mokoia, and Matengarara natives, under Hone Pihama, Ngahina, &c., and interlaced -with sprinklings of other tribes, claiming dies of relationship As for instance 'there were about tea of .Titokovvaru’s people waiting as interested parties for the result. These questions did not arise for discussion, the principal difficulty being between the Commissioner and the natives, the former insisting .on treating the question as one of confiscated land, and giving a lump sum as a free gift from the Native Minister, as consideration for the former claims -of the natives in this block, which is within the confiscated boundary ; and the natives refusing to accept anything in that shape, insisting that what was ■given should bo at so much'per acre as purchase money. St..will : bo seen that ithe question is one «o'f principle. The (Unoccupied land within the confiscated .•boundary, is to be 'Still considered as to the oniony, or, if the snativo view bo accepted, it must he abandoned to the to do as ,thcy like witl,i. ,Tl*e latter view if ac'.copte'd, will soHonkly interfere with, and .postpone the.i Settlement by the Government of the remainder oflhe confiscated ‘lauds in this province. The natives have so .far refused to give way, but There ’is very little doubt that they will submit to what Sir George Grey, when lie >vas Governor, laid clown as the confiscation boundaries, with the sanction of $lO Assembly, and that the present Government; are, simply carrying out.