Squatting on Land.

Patea Mail, 4 March 1882, Page 3

Squatting on Land.

WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS,

A case both instructive and amusing came before the R.M. Court yesterday ; Dr Croft and Mr Christie being the justices. Mr Honeyfield summoned one Qtiinlivan or Quinlin fur refusing to give np possession of some eight acres ol land, on section 57, suburban land, Patea. Mr Barton appeared for complainant. It appeared that Mr Honcyfield’s land abuts on a public road, and that there is a Maori reserve on the farther side of road. Quinlin occupied about eight acres of Honeyfield’s land, in a corner next the road ; had a whare on the land, and grew potatoes. Honeyfield did not know the boundary exactly, but thought it should go to the road. Got Mr Fraser to survey it, and he deposed in Court that Honeyfield’s boundary ought to take in the eight acres occupied by Quinlin; that the Maori reserve is all on the other side of road, and does not include this piece. Defendant produced two Maori leases, letting the eight acres to Quinlin as part of a Maori reserve owned by Tutangi and others.

Dr Croft : A Maori lease is it—oh ! This Irishman may have leased a certain amount of land from the Native, but he has got a wrong pig by the ear. Why didn’t you get it properly surveyed before building a mansion on it, eh 1 Defendant; I did get a survey. Tntangi laid down the pegs, and wo put them in.

Doctor: We are of opinion that the man has < ot where he ought not to have got; but will Mr Honeyfield give him a little time to clear awav ?

Mr Honeyfield; The man has been defying me. I sent a person on the laud to fill up a dangerous well, and he also dug up a few potatoes, to assert my right.

Doctor: We wish to let him down as handsomely as we can. How long will you give him, eh ? Mr Honeyfield : He has been such a nuisance I should like him to clear out at once.

Doctor: What is “at once”—before dinner ?

Defendant: There are some potatoes in the ground yet. Doctor: I think you had better let the Irishman take away his praties. Yon (defendant ) had better clear out in week; but if you are there more than a week you will get no more potatoes. Yon must pay the costs, £1 6s.

Defendant: It is too bad to make me pay costs. Doctor: Too bad for you to go on Mr Honeyfield’s land. I think wo have let yon down very easily.