WAIROA NATIVE LAND COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 324, 13 November 1875, Page 3

WAIROA NATIVE LAND COURT.

Before J. Rogan, Esq., Judge, presiding. Assessor : Honi Peeti, Esq. Clerk : E. Woon, Esq. Interpreter : Mr. James Carroll. BLOCKS DISPOSED OF. Te Pvtebe, 18,323 acres. Forty-two claimants of the tribe of Ngatikahungunu. No objectors, memorial of ownership to issue. Rotosakarangu, 8,000 acres. Thirty claimants, Ngatikahungunu tribe. This was an investigation on a sketch survey. It was understood that Napier natives would object, but there were none present iu Court. Judge Rogan said that if the survey was unopposed, a memorial would issue for the claimants. Tukurangi 37,000 acres. Ruakituri 52,000 „ Taramarama 30,000 „ Waiau 38,000 „ Total 157,000 The two first named blocks were the only ones invesligated; it was agreed by the Uriwera tribe on the one side, and by Ngatikahungunu on the other that the evidence adduced on these blocks should be taken in support of the other. With respect to Tukurangi block, Ngatikahungunu admitted the right only of the Uriwera (or rather of a sub tribe, Ngatiruapani) to a small portion of this block and altogether derived their right to any portion of the remaining blocks. The evidence was very conflicting; one side asserted that they alone had lived and cultivated on the land from their ancestors’ time, seven generations back, to the time of the Hauhau troubles, and that they had never seen the other claimants on the land; while the counterclaimants adduced exactly the same line of argument. The Judge intimated that in all his experience, no case had ever been before him of so extraordinary a nature. He would go on the ground to see for himself, and would take two or three of the leading men from each side with him ; until, however, the land had been properly surveyed he would give no decision, but when the survey was completed he would, after giving notice to the parties concerned, return to the Wairoa for that purpose. Mr. Rogan intimated

that up to the time of coming into court he fully believed that the plans produced were a complete survey; he would not blame the officers of the Government or Ngatikahungunu or theUriweratribes,but he said it was utterly impossible for him to order a memorial of ownership to issue, without a certified copy of a plan of the laud, the title of which was to be investigated, being before him. The four blocks named lay between Waikaremoana, and the right bank of the Ruakituri, a tributary of the Huangaroa, which is a branch of the Wairoa river. Ruakituri No. 2, Tauwharetoi, Whakaongaonga, Huangaroa-matawai and Mokonuiarangi blocks, the surveys of which were incomplete, were, on the application of the Turanga natives, adjourned to this court. A few succession and subdivision cases have been disposed of. The Judge has availed himself of the assistance of Karaitiana Takamoana, M.H.R. in getting the parties concerned insubdivision cases toarrive at an amicable arrangement prior to coming into court, and with marked success. / The Government found tents, and supplied rations to the Uriwera tribe some GO or 70, and rations to Rongowhakaata (Turanga natives) about 40, The punt across the Wairoa river was also free to the natives coming and returning to the Court.