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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1024, 17 January 1882, Page 2

The attempt made by a certain individual in this district to have the sittings of the Native Land Court, which are gazetted for the 30th instant, postponed, was not, we are glad to be able to state, successful. He communicated with the Government, and upon a shallow pretence urged the adjournment to some remote date. The Government promptly replied that the request could not be entertained. The Court, therefore, much to the convenience of many persons will open on the day fixed. While upon this subject we would point out, that European and Maori suitors interested in the subdivision claims advertised for adjudication, would be largely consulting their ow T n interests by pushing on the surveys as quickly as possible, so that no delay through the absence of the plans of the subdivisions, may arise. The main w T ork for the coming sittings of the Native Land Court in Gisborne, will be the making of subdivision awards, but it will be impossible for the claims to come on for adjudication if a feeling of lethargy is permitted to prevail. The internal surveys must be first executed and the plans prepared before the application for subdivision can be actually entertained, or a final decision given. Through a disregard of these matters in times past the investigation of many claims were indefinitely postponed. Considerable inconvenience and expense were in consequence entailed by Europeans and Maoris alike, and the titles remained in their chronic condition. By the exercise of a fair amount of foresight and energy in carrying out the surveys, the individualization of at least some of the blocks of land in this district might be facilitated.