NATIVE LAND COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 20, 11 December 1883, Page 3

NATIVE LAND COURT.

(Before Judges O’Brien and Williams.) PA?ATU BLOCK. The rehearing of the claims to the Papatu Blo' k came on yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Mr. Siemens acted as interpreter. Mr. Robinson asked if tlnir Honors would allow himself and Mr. Brassey to appear in this case, as they represented large European interest*. Their Honors replied that, they would not. In reply to Mr. Harris, th*ir Honors said th»»y were going to hear the case, as it was heard previously. Hirini Kaiwhanga wished to have the case reheard, because he and his people had not been present in the last. They wished to have it subdivided, so that each of the tribe may have a fair s’ are

Riperata asked was this case a re-hearing. She and her people wished to have the line of sub-division reheard. There were three portiqps of the block they wanted to be reheard, —viz., Mangaheri, Te Rere, and Okoro, She said, in reply to the Bench, that the former judgment did not define the interests of any of the parties. Their Honors explained that they could not rehear portions of the Block, but only the whole Block.

Riperata said, in 1881 Papatu was gazetted to be heard before Captain Heale. He explained to them that the hearing of the case should be dropped, as the lines of boundary could not be agreed to between them. The Block was then sub-divided. Hone Ruru had always disagreed, and she now wished the Block to be done her way. Hone Ruru and his people only wanted certain names to be put in for Mangahere, Ilio o te Irewhare. When the case was first heard claims were sent in for sections Nos. 1,2, 3, &c. She and her people now wished to send in claims in the different portions previously mentioned. Their Honors explained that if she agreed with the general lines of the previous judgment, and only wished to have a further list of names putin, they could do so, but if she did not agree with the judgment the case would have to be reheard.

After further remarks, Riperata said they would have the Block re heard and have the list of names put in for each portion. She she would not have the case reheard if a list of names was put in for each portion.

Their Honors said that would be done on the sub-divisions. Mr. Harris said that when Judge Brookfield heard this case before, separate applications were sent in for each portion, but the Court decided to hear the Block as a whole. He submitted that, as that was the case, this Court would have to rehear the Block as a whole. Their Honors said it was only competent for them to hear the Block as a whole. They would now proceed with the case as before. Hone Ruru now addressed the Court, going fully into the case as it was previously heard, and explaining the claims of each party to the different portions. Their Honors decided to adjourn this case until 9.30 this morning. WAITIRI BLOCK, Their Honors delivered the following judgment to the claims in the above Block :— The north portion of the Block to Wi Fere and Party ; the southern part of the Block divided in three parts. Two parts to Araputa Pere and Paora Haupa, and one part to Betty Morris, Pauapa, and Tiopira,