DEED OF CESSION COMMISSION

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 86, 10 September 1873, Page 2

DEED OF CESSION COMMISSION

Gisborne, Saturday, 80th August. [Before Mr. Commissioner Munro, and Mr. Commissioner Rogan.) The Court opened this morning at 10 o’clock. Riparata submitted an application for the hearing of her claim to Awapuni, which was protested against by a number of To Rongowhakaata tribe, on the grounds that all the people of the said tribes had handed over their interest in said block to Te Mokena. Te Aohuna and Waikanae Blocks were then called, and found to be in the same position as Awapuni. • The Court announced that in consequence of the non attendance of the counter claimants, who were largely interested, it would not hear the claim of Riparata until some of the Rongowakaata put in an appearance. Mr. Cuff solicitor, wished to draw official notice to the unsatisfactory state of the titles to several blocks of land, which were, notwithstanding a protest entered by him, passed at the Native Lands Court sitting here in November and December 1870, for which Crown Grants have been issued, regardless of the'protest, and which grants must be seen to be utterly valueless and ultra vires. Mr. Cuff requested Commissioners to bring the matter before the proper authorities, in order that the Crown Grants may be cancelled, and the land passed before the Commissioners. The Court, through Mr. Commissioner Rogan, replied that the Judges in the Native Land’s Court had acted entirely on the advice of the AttorneyGeneral. The mutter then dropped. The Court stated to Riparata that the Commissioners were waiting a reply from the Government, us to what steps would be taken re the action of Rongowhakaata. Mr. Hamlin, Licensed Interpreter, made application on account of Mr. Skeet that, the map of Waihau be returned to him for the purpose of . carrying out the instructions as minuted on said map by the Inspector of Surveys. The Couit acceded to the application accordingly, and the plan handed to Mr. Skeet to make necessary alterations. Monday, September 1. The Court was occupied all day investigating the claim of Riparata Ngete to the Waihau Block of 15,120 acres. Mr. Hamlin appeared for the claimant, and after a patient hearing the Court, awarded the land to Riparata and twenty others, a number of which are stated to be Hauhaus and to have been in r bellion. In consequence of the non arrival of the Crown Agent to take objection to any of the parties named in the award, and there being no other claim before the Court ready for hearing, the Court adjourned till Monday September 8. The Court opened at 10 o’clock a.m., and adjourned till Tuesday September 9. At the sitting of the Court, Mr. Commissioner Munro said that in consequence of instructions received from the Government by the Rangatira this morning the Court would stand adjourned to Wednesday the 12th of November next.