ITEMS OF INTEREST

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 20, 18 February 1927, Page 8

ITEMS OF INTEREST

- _ ■ l • ~ .: . ■:■■■•■ —T~ ’ MT. EGMONT CLAIMED. MAORIS UNEXPECTED REQUEST. .'■ —•— . ■ NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. An unexpected claim was made before the Royal Commission investigation of the Maori land grievances at Waitara this morning when a native asked for the return of Alt. Egmont to the Maoris.

Kupenga Kahao was the Maori who made the extra ordinary request, the object of which is apparently to obtain the fees which arc collected there. In giving his evidence to the commission he asked that the mana of Alt. Egmont be returned to the people of the territory from Waitotara to White Cliffs. This was the prestige of the people of the West Coast from Taranaki to Chatham Islands, anil therefore he asked that it be returned to the chiefs, with a provision that the Government be trustee to control the affairs of the mountain.

“That is,” asked examining counsel, “that the Maoris receive the tolls for their people?-” Kahao: Yes.

There was a pa belonging to them he said, just on the snow line, called “Maru. ” There were people killed and buried there during the native trouble between Waikato and Taranaki. The Maoris also asked for the long and permanent residence of the elders at Cape Egmont which was confiscated. One asked for the return of this place, which was about eight acres. They had to bring sand in baskets on their backs to improve the soil there to grow kumeras. There were also lamprey weirs there which wore now being used by the Marine Department. Other petitioners sought the return to the natives of the towns of Hawera, Patea, Waverley and Mokoia and various fishing grounds and pas in various parts of the province. It is probable that the commission will complete its business in Waitara by Saturday. It . will then return to Wellington, where on' February 23, it will hear Mr Taylor in reply to the arguments of Mr Smith on the first inquiry in the order of reference, whether the confiscation exceeded in quantity what was fair: and just. The next sitting will commence at Opotiki on March 23 and' those at Whakatane and Tauranga will be on March. 28 and 31 respectively. Between the conclusion of the Tauranga sitting and Easter the North Auckland petitions will be heard. All Waikato claims will be taken at Ngaruawhia, beginning on April 20. Hawke’s Bay and East Coast cases will be taken at Wairoa on May 2. The commission has to present its report to the Governor-General by Juno 30.