NATIVE LAND COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1014, 20 December 1881, Page 3

NATIVE LAND COURT.

The Wairoa Guardian thus accounts for the peremptory closing of the Native Land Court, at Wairoa:—When the Court was adjourned Hirini Whanga and others of Rakaipaka who were dissatisfied with the decision given re Opoho, retired to discuss the matter, but Hirini soon returned, and walking into the Court where the Judge and his staff were still engaged arranging their papers, he went up to the Assessor, Mr Retireti Tapsell, and deliberately affronted him, saying “ you belong to the Arawa ; we killed a member of your tribe some time ago, and we will kiil vou if you go to our settlement.” Hirini then walked out again without giving time for a reply. It was a thousand pities he was not arrested and bound over to keep the peace, or in default a few months in Napier gaol. “ The Court has closed its sitting much sooner than was expected, more than half the cases set down for hearing have been adjourned or dismissed. The principal cases disposed of were the Ohuia No. 2 block, 1808 acres, awarded to Hamana Tiakiwai and 55 others ; the Opoho block, awarded to Hirini Whanga and 131 others, including 15 of Ngatihiue (Whakaki). The investigation of the Nuhaka block was commenced, but owing to the action of Hirini and his people who were chiefly interested, it was adjourned ior a future Court. Of the 56 new and adjourned cases set down for hearing 54 were dismissed or adjourned for a future Court. Out of the 138 succession claims, gazetted orders were made for 52, the remainder were dismissed. All the subdivision claims (37 in number) were dismissed, the Court deciding that it had not power to deal with them on the grounds stated in a previous issue. It is to be hoped that before the next silting of the Court a law will be passed to obviate this difficulty—it is urgently needed.