NATIVE LAND COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 7, 10 November 1883, Page 2

NATIVE LAND COURT.

Thursday. The business of the Court opened with the case of Whatatuua Block, when Captain Porter applied for an adjournment so as to enable certain arrangements to be made between the parties interested. Adjourned anti' Saturday. Wharohu Block - Application was made by a native agent on the part of six owners for allocation in a certain portion of this

block. His Honor pointed out that under the existing lair agents were prohibited from Appearing in that Court, except under the conditions set down in section 4 of the Native Land Laws Amendment Act.” *' No person shall in any case be permitted to appear in Court, or to have the assistance therein of any Counsel, solicitor, agent, or representative, provided that if it be shown to the Court that any party to the proceeding is, through age, sickness, or {infirmity, or through unavoidable absence, unable to appear, or, if appearing, is incompetent to conduct his case, such person may in the discretion of the Court, be allowed to appear by a native.” Consequently he could not hear him (the agentj ; but he would adjourn the case Until Saturday with a view of giving time to agree. Manukawikixitixi Block No L—Hemi applied for a reopening of the above subdivision in order that her name might be placed on another list. This was objected to, and after considerable animated discus* mission on the part of Wi I‘ere and others the Court refused to again open the case unless the applicants were all unanimous, Kaitj Block. —His Honor said there appeared to be some misunderstanding as to the time this block would be called on. Some how the impression has got abroad that it would not conia on before two o’clock, bur he would hear Wi Pere’s application. Wi Pere applied for time to arrange tribal boundaries.

His Honor said this application had the lime aim as Mr Gannon's.

Mr Gannon said that his application Had for its object, striking of the tribal line in the first place. The Court could not see how they could possibly do otherwise than strike a tribal line, and then proceed to the subdivision, of individual interest if required. The main division must be first dealt with. This Block was quite an exception to all others which had come before the Court. It was a most important one to the district, and very valuable. He had been oyer and seen Rutene himself, and Hutene had expressed a strong wish to have the block sub-divided. Repurata was also anxious to see the same result. He thought the best thing to do was for all of them to meet on Saturday and endeavor to settle matters amicably, but not to come, each laying he was the largest owner. Captain Porter said that Reparata had promised to go out with him on Saturday with reference to another block..

Mr Gannon now handed in a document signed by the Native claimants praying for the Court to strike the dividing boundary. Upon the application of Captain Porter the Court notified that all those Natives incrested in the blik were to attend the Court on Saturday when the list would be gone through and all those not present to substantiate their claims would be struck onti The Court would be open at 10.30. He did not say that it would sit, but would be ft r the convenience of making arrangements,