The Wairarapa Lake Difficulty.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3305, 10 September 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Lake Difficulty.

Tho petition of the Wairarapa Lake natives prepared by C. A, Pownall, Esq,, of Musterton,.their and now presented to Parliament aaT awaiting consideration, is briefly as" follows: 1, That the petitioners, are and: have been from time immemorial the; owners of the Wairarapa' Lakes; 2, That Her Majesty's Government in Now Zealand claim to have some time since purchased vorious interestsin the lake from several of the owners thereof, 3, That on the ground of such purchase Hor Majesty's said Government have levied a proclamation forbidding all alienations or othor • dealings with tho lakes or any interests therein, L That disputes have from time to time arisen, and still exist between the native ownors of tho lakes and the adjoining sottlers as to the opening of tho lakes when they flood, and that tho non-adjustineut of such disputes has caused and still causes great aunoyanco to tho na tivo ownors aforesaid, and great annoyanco, injury and loss to the settlers whoso land* are flooded by reason of tho lakes not boing opened at flood time. 5, That tho proper boundary or boundaries of the lakes, has never been determined, tho nativo ownom claiming that they are entitled to the soil up to the high water mark.

G, That it is desirable that all theso maltors should bo promptly adjusted and put upon a proper basis, Therefore tho petitioners say that thoy aro willing to enter into the following arraiigoraents, 1. To allow Her Majesty's said Government or any local board or porsons duly authorised to open tho lakes all tho year round so often astho lakes flood beyond tho Native boundary upon this boundary being ■ determined and fixed permanently bv posts or other methods. Tho petitioners stipulating in return that Her Majesty's said Government should in consideration of such conccssioa release all claims over the lakes and re-vest tho same frco of all claims in the petitioners, and the proclamation aforesaid; and $»- petitioners pray that it mixed Coramission of Natives and Europeans should bo constituted by Parliament to determiuo the proper boundaries of the lake, to ascertain and sever any interests Her Majesty's Governniinfc may have acquircd,'to deal with the proclamation, and to settle tho matter so as to effectually decide and put an end to such disputes and claims, I Mr Pownall is awaiting intelligence as to tho petition coming before the Public Petitions Committee of tho Houso, on receiving which ho will go to Wellington with the principal Native chiefs of tho lake to offer evidence upon tho matters stated in ' the petition,