NATIVE LANDS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8711, 10 January 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

Alleged Illegalities. Press Association. Hastings, January 9. The Public Trustee opened an inquiry yesterday into charges made in connection with the purchase of certain interests in the Waimarama Estate. The charges were made against T. W. Lewis, a wellknown native solicitor and interpreter, and Heirley, assistant to Mr Sheridan, head of the Native Land Purchase Department, accusing them of inducing natives to sell land at Waimarama to Government while the natives were in a state of. drunkenness. Evidence for the defence was taken this morning and denied the accusation, the natives mentioned all deposing that they were quite sober when the transactions were made and that they desired to sell the land. The person who made the charges to the Premier and asked for an inquiry was Miss Mienertzhagen, who held leases from natives and did not want the land sold. In her evidence she denied making charges against Lewis and Heirley, her counsel (Mr Morrison of Wellington) submitting that the letter to the Premier produced was privileged. The solicitor for Lewis objected to his client giving evidence when charges wore not made and the accusers were under a hedge. Miss Mienertzhagen swore that the natives mentioned in the Commission were under the influence of drink on the days they signed the transfer of the laud. After much discussion between the Public Trustee and counsel as to the legality of Lewis giving evidence, the inquiry was closed and the Commission practically ended in a fiasco, as the evidence for the defence cleared the accused, and accuser contended that she made no cliarges. The proceedings evoked' much local interest among both Maoris and Europeans.