NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 253, 6 March 1875, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Monday, March 1, 1875. [Before Judge Rogan (presiding); Hone Peti; and Wikiriwhi Te Tuaha, Assessors.] Te Aohuna Block.

Judge Bogan proceeded to give judgment in this case, and said : “ The Court are unanimous that the original proprietors of this land are Tainihana and his people and their claim is admitted. Biparata’s claim on account of occupation for a considerable time is proved, and is sufficient to admit her and her people as well.” Mangarara Block, (Uawa,) 1,773,322. Banicra Turoa, sworn stated : I know that this land is not included in the piece that Judge Munro adjudicated upon. Arapeta ordered the survey. It joins the boundary of the town. This land belongs to a hapu called Ngatikuranui, their great name being Hauiti. The witness then named those who were in with him (about sixty in number) all being descendants of Bua manawa oro by four different wives, he did not know if there was ony objectors or not.

Karauria Pahura said: I am the real owner of the laud. It is mine by right of conquest. He then described three several occasions when ancestors of his had fought for the land, and sub-divisions were consequent thereupon, and continued : I dispute the numbers named by Baniera as descendants. There is but one ancestor Tamateapaia through whom the land can be claimed. Baniera only comes in through Bua manawa oro who is but of recent days. All those in his list are younger than I. I am the head of the land, and of the people as well. He then stated that some had been left out by Baniera, and an adjournment took place to allow of the list of names being amended. At the resumed sitting the Court intimated that the case could only be proceeded with Io a certain extent as it was by no means clear that the case had not been adjudicated upon already by Judge Munro, and no final decision could be given until that gentleman had been communicated with. Waihirere Block, No. 1, 28 Acres. This small block was passed through by Wi Pere and others in the names of seven persons being representatives of the several tribes interested therein. This block is to be sold or leased to the Government for quarrying road metal. As there were no dissentients a memorial of ownerships was ordered to be issued. Tuesday, 2nd March. Tangihanga Block, 11,230 Acres. Wi Pure, sworn stated: I know the laud in the plan. Wi Haronga and others ordered the survey. This land belongs to the Whanau akai. I hand in the list of owners. Witness here asked the Court if the law made all claims of equal value. Judge B.ogan: The memorial of ownerships will issue, and when the question of sub-division arises that matter will be settled. Wi Pere : If we are all to share alike I do not wish the case to be proceeded with. The law of equal division presses heavily upon me. Judge Bogan: The Court has nothing to say. at this stage as to how much any one man has. That is a matter which you can settle afterwards by applying for a sub-division. After reading over the list of owners in the land, Wi Pere said: Some of these have no real claim to the land, but I admit them on account of ties of relationship. I get my rights to the land from my ancestor, Berewa. This land is being occupied by us. I have had my rahui on it which no one will interfere with. The Court informed Wi Pere that if he had any fresh names to be added he could do so now (fresh names added). He then named ten persons whom he wished as trustees, and requested that the land be made inalienable. Judge Rogan : By the old law ten persons could be named. That has been repealed ; now the land belongs to all. Trustees cannot be named now ; if afterwards you wish to sub-divide you can do

After some remarks fromWi Pere in support of his views. He was informed that the Court could only administer the lawastheyfoundit; they were not to judge as to whether that law was good or otherwise, and if the people agree to the land being inalienable it could be done. If

however the land was made over to ten persons, all chiefs, and they were dishonest they would keep the proceeds of the land among themselves instead of dividing it among the people. Wi Pere then said they would come to some arrangement whereby it could be vested in ten persons. The Court informed him that that course could be adopted if the people were willing. Umukapua Block, 18 Acres. Pimia Ata said this land belonged to her and her people. She ordered it to be surveyed, (names of owners then given in.) These are all I know. Her tribe is Ngatipakirehc who claim the land through one common ancestor Pakirehe. The persons named are his descendants. Witness then (raced from that ancestor to herself, but failed to show how the others are descended. Her descendants lived on it from ancestor to ancestor down to Wikitoria who was born on the land, and so on down to the time that Te Kooti came and Wi Rangiwhaitiri was killed. By the Court: Arai Maite on the plan is the name of an old boundary. Epeha is where Wi Bangiwhaitiris house stood. Pimia : The tribe named by me is tliat which occupied the land. The survey was not interrupted. I knew the boundaries of my own and my mother’s knowledge. It adjoined other land which I hold. I have not encroached on other people’s rights. Mrs. Wyllie applied to have her sisters’ names put in as claimants, and said that she had lived on the land, and some of her relations were buried there. The names were admitted by the Court.