NATIVE LAND COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 8, 13 November 1883, Page 2

NATIVE LAND COURT.

Kaiti Block. 0/ Saturday last pursuant to notice a large gathering of Natives took place in the Native Land Court. Judge Brookfield and the Native Assessor, Mr Ereatara, also attended, but not in their judicial capacity. Captain Porter, Mr M. Gannon, and Mr W. L- Roes wore also present representing large interests. Captain Porter opened the proceedings by stating tho object for which the meeting had been called. After some remarks from Mr Harris relative to defining the boundary line between the sections represented by J&utene and Biparata, Mr Wi Itere nddresned the meeting at considerably length. He said the main poiut to be considered that day was the question vf how to determine the eubdivldiug Hue between the owners ou Bipcratu’s side, anti those on Rutenw’s side. Let) he said, Brookfield alone decide that matter. Let him bo the “ Committee ” the arbiter between those parties. His Honor, he thoug ht, should go upon the land and inspect xt fur himself so us to be better able to jud|;e of its value. From the very begining-a and for years past the knotty point td settle with reference to Kaiti, had been this very question that has now cropped u|(» between KiperuU and Butene, but ndMing final has yet becu settled. If the L.\ttd Court has the power to deal with the caje; very well, let it deal with it; and lot it aitio doul with the question of those whose iildivxdual interests ate claimed to be targ t, or said to bo small. Both Butene and Bijarata are hard persons to deal with as to the interests m this block claimed i •uspectively by them. Therefore ho (Wi P «re) thought that the beat way to sottln the dispute was to leave it to Mr Brookfield, to act in the character of an arbitrator. It wis not as if Butene had admitted that Kip. wata hud an absolute right, nor agaiq F uh if 1 tfparata had said to Butene, “ Yes, it is tru e ; I have no right.” It would not do to leuv e the matter to the Maoris to settle, becaus. i those best able to deal with such questions were; in this case, interested parties. Euro} wans in the district were also interested,, therefore, he thought, the most impart ial “ Committee” the whole question could be left to, was to Judge Brookfield. If he Made u mistake it would be his judgment and not his motives that would be at fault. They all knew what a troublesome matter this Kaiti business had always been. Mrs Gannon consented t< 1 the proposal made by Wi Fere, that tho Ji idg« should fix the boundary line between the two parties. Mrs Gannon was altogether op posed to the question being left to a Maori Committee. What Wi Fere said should be carried out, and tho question of individu U interests dealt with afterwards,

Captain Porter also approved c f the suggestion made, and urged It as the most practicable way to a solution oi' the difficulty. Mr M. J. Gannon pointed out th It a large number of the Kaiti owners wen i pretseni and that all parties were fully repi taented. He asked if auy one dissented to t ho proposal made. As no one dissented a day should be fixed for going on with the work. This was answered in the negative, many present fully endorsing the course pro} 'Osed. Mr Harris : Ranicra Te Heuheu and u tliers enquired if His Honor Judge Brook field would be willing to accept tho office - of arbiter, which the Native owners of K liti desired to impose upon him. In reply Judge Brookfield stated that if the parties so desired he was willing to ac k This anauuncement gave unanimous satis • faction. The meeting then broke up having previously fixed Thursday next for going ou with Kaiti. MONDAY’. The subdivision of Waiora No. 1 Block was completed. The hearing of the Taruheru Block stands adjourned until Wednesday. Wednesday was also set apart for hearing Katerina Kahutia’s claim re annuity. His Honor stated his intention of visiting Butene on Thursday, with a view of arranging the boundary lines of Kaiti.