Kaitangiwhenua Block

Patea Mail, 3 August 1880, Page 3

Kaitangiwhenua Block

A SERIES OF ERRORS. We are informed that this block, containing 102,856 acres, and in which so much interest appears to centre, will be adjudicated upon by Major Heaphy at Waitotara. ■ As there is some misapprehension about the cause of the delay in getting this block passed through the Lands Court, we may briefly state that a notice appeared in the Gazette summoning the natives interested in it to appear at Wanganui. It will be remembered that the natives on this coast held meetings, and requested the Government to lake evidence and decide the case at Patea. The Judge, Major Heaphy, acting under instructions from Government, adjourned the case accordingly. Soon after the case commenced a hitch occnrred, as it was discovered that Wanganui natives had telegraphed that they had claims, but had had no proper notice to attend. Major Heaphy adjourned the case till the following day, and after telegraphing to headquarters, found that no Gazette notice had appeared by which the Wanganui natives could know that Kaitangiwhenua was to bo heard in Patea. Ho thereupon adjourned the case till the following Monday, expecting no doubt that the Wanganui natives would arrive in the interval. Monday came, but no natives from Wanganui put in an appearance, and the Judge said that if the natives for whose convenience the Court had adjourned to Patea insisted upon going on with the case, an appeal could be made ly Wanganui or other natives, on account of the fact not being notified in the Gazette that the Court had adjourned to Patea. A chief of considerable influence then addressed the Court, saying he wished the case to proceed, that he was quite content, that the Wanganuis had no claims, and that he would not care if they did appeal. Ho then informed the Court that he had in his pocket a letter from Major Kempa, asking him to throw the Government over in the matter of these lands, and come and join him against the Government. (Note.—lt is generally believed on this coast that Major Kempa, since his dismissal from Government service, has joined with a party of land speculators, and the meaning of this letter to Uruteangina should be well understood). The chief, however, would not do that, but wished the case to go on. After a further adjournment, Major Heaphy said that if the claimants, counter-claimants, and objectors were willing, he would allow the case to proceed, The evidence of the surveyor was then taken, and it was discovered that the Gazette notice did not properly describe the boundaries of the block. The Court pointed out very clearly that an objection from absent claimants on these grounds would bo fatal ; and he dismissed the case, informing the claimants that they might make out a fresh application in a few weeks. A fresh application was at once made out, the boundaries of the block being thoroughly defined, and we are told the application will appear in the Gazette of to-day. It is usual to give a month’s notice, so that under the most favorable circumstances the case will not be heard before the end of August. Questions are naturally asked, who is to blame for neglecting to give the proper notice of the adjournment of the Court ? Who is to blame for giving an inaccurate description of the boundaries of the land ? What official or officials have caused all this delay, and put the natives to much expense and inconvenience ? The natives in this matter have good cause to complain. Some officials are in need of instruction as to their plain duty.