Native Lands Court.

Patea Mail, 17 July 1880, Page 2

Native Lands Court.

Raumati, a Whenuakura native, and a claimant to the Kaitangiwhenua Block, occupied the time of the Court all day on Thursday, his evidence and cross-exami-ration being brought to a close shortly before the time for closing the Court, Yesterday morning other claimants and counter-claimants to the same block were to have been heard, but after some side issues had been disposed of, Major Heaphy adjourned the case till noon on Monday, lie having received a telegram from Wanganui stating that a number of natives there who had an interest in the block before the Court desired to give evidence. As the Court had been opened in Carlyle at the request and for the convenience of Patea natives, the Judge said he could not now proceed with the case, as it would be unfair to the Wanganui natives to do so, seeing that in the first instance the case had been gazetted to be dealt with in Wanganui. The natives present seemed perfectly satisfied with the explanation. The following blocks, owned principally by natives from Mokoia, Tougahoe, Hawera, and Normanby were then passed rapidly t.hrnuirh the Court, there being no objectors present;— Whitinui 2080 acres Mangariri 6250 „ Mangaruingi 8300 „ Te Rahui 7038 „

Whitinui is situated on the south side of the Patea river, between the Mangehu (a tributary of the Patea) and the Patea rivers. Maugariri lies also between these rivers, farther inland. Mangaruingi is on the north side of the Patea, but farther back than Te Rahui, which joins it. Any of these blocks can be reached in a day by canoe. The case of Te Ngairo, a block of 7500 acres, was dismissed, the claimant, Te Wiro, not appearing. Honi Pihama and Mungu, interested in this block, stated that Te Wiro had got £SO advanced him on this land without their consent, and they wished the Court to dismiss the case. Succession claims at Waitotara and Patea were dismissed, on account of the absence of one claimant and the death of another. The case of Mate Mate Onga, a very large block, was commenced, and is likely to take several days to decide, as there is a dispute about the boundary lines at Kaitangiwhenua. The claimants to Kaitangiwhenua will dispute the boundaries of Mate Mate Onga, while the claimants to the latter contend that a portion of Mate Mate Onga has been taken in the survey of Kaitangiwhenua.