MAORI APPELLATE COURT

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 26 November 1952, Page 6

MAORI APPELLATE COURT

SITTING IN TAUPO A sitting of the Maori Appellate Court was held in Taupo last week, and extended over several days. On the Bench were Chief Judge Morrison, of Wellington, Judge Beechey and Judge Prichard, of Auckland. Mr A. H. Paapu, of the Department of Maori Aifairs, Auckland, was also in attendance as Assqciate and Interpreter to the Court. The appeals lodged were against the decision of the Lower Court delivered at Hastings in 1951. The hearing on that occasion was lengthy, extending from seven to > eight weeks.

The land in question is the Te Matai Black, near Te Haroto, off the Main Taupo-Napier Highway. Although the block is not easy accessible it is mostly c.overed with heavy virgin bush of some considerable value. It is one of the last blocks of Maori Land to be investigated, and great interest has been created amongst the Maoris at Taupo ajid as far afield as the Hawkes Bay and Wanganui districts.

Apart from recording" submissions by the various legal representatives, the Court was required to delve into. numerous court records dating as far back as 1860, such as old court minute books and plans. This procedure necessarily pi'olonged the sitting of the appellate Court; the legal representatives in attendance were Me^srs Dowling and Morrissey, (of Napier), and Messrs Jones and Egan, each appearing for certain claironts or for groups, namely, Werihe Te Tuiri, Te Takinga Arthur Grace, Rore Rutene and others, and Tamahou Hunia and others. Reserved judgment will be delivered in due course. \ •