NATIVE LANDS COURT, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1922, 30 October 1884, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS COURT, CAMBRIDGE.

Ykstkrday.— (Before His Honour Chkf Judge Macdonald.) The Court sat at 8.30 a. in. Matamata Sub-division. \ His Honour anuounced the following judgment in this case : — Iv respect to the general individual shares, and part of a share acquired by Mr Firth, we award to him his propoiportiou of the estate or interest acquired as aforesaid as follows. In respect to the share of Te Raihi 5-40ths, 6SO acres ; Pukeroa l-40th, 136 acies; Hori Nen 5 40ths, 680 acres ; Keepa Rangitu 4 40ths, 54 1 acres ; Hakiriwhi Te Purewa 3 40ths, 408 acres, these seven shares amounting together to nineteen fortietns of the whole block. It only remains to define a portion of the block to be taken by the applicant in respect to such 19-40ths part. It was admitted by all parties that practically the land was equal in value throughout the block. Mr Firth declared himself prepared to allow the native owners to elect a part of the part to be retained by them, while the natives on their part would not undertake the trouble to do co The Court therefore directs that Mr Firth's defined portion of the block shall be to the south of the line running east and west, and so placed as to include between it, and the most southern point of the block 19-40ths of the whole. And the court order the portion of the block so defined to be granted to Josiah Clifton Firth. The necessary orders made. Hinuera Sub-divisions. In this case as in Matamata and Puketutu, the proceedings is for division under section 12, Native Lands Distnct Act, 1882. The block comprises 5,396 acres, and in 1868 was granted to ten persons. Of these nine have conveyed their individual interests to Mr Firth in 872 acres situate at the southern end of the block, while in the residue of 4,524 acres seven have made like conveyance of thoir individual interests. The uncontradicted evidence of the grantees present was that the interests of the grantees were equal, and it was admitted that, except as to u portiou occupied by natives, tiie entire block was of equal value. Out of the 872 acres we therefore award to Mr Firth, in respect to his 9 lOths share, 784 acres, and in respect to his 7-lOths share in the 4,524 acres, we award him 3,166 acres. As to the geographical division. In the 572 acres the court directs that Mr Firth's defined portion shall be to the west of a liuc runmug parallel to the north western boundary of the 872 acres, and so placed that between the two lines there shall be included au area of 784 acres. In the 4524 acres, the court directs that Mr Firth's defined portions shall be two areas of 1583 acres each, one area to be measured through the most northern part of the block, and the other area to be measured through the line between the 4524 acres, and the 872 acresAll necessary orders shall be made, and it is noted that objection its taken that the grantees were trustees. Puketutu Subdivision. This, like Matamata, is a proceeding for division under Section 12 of the Native Land Districts Act, 1882. The block, as granted to the native owners ii| 1868, comprised 17,590 acres, acres. .Of that area 7000 acres at the southern end of the land have been conveyed by all the grantees to the present applicant, Mr Firth. Of the 10,590 acres balance, 2570 acres at the southern end of the block became generally known as M The reserve." Of this so called "reserve" 1028 acres have become vested in Major Wilson. The Crown grant was issued in favour of ten persons. Of tiiese grantees some three have conveyed their individual shares in -that part of the land known as "the reserve,' 1 and not assured to Major Wilson, to the present applicant, Mr Firth. As to the balance of the 10,590 acres not included in the reserve and being 8020 acres, seven grantees have assured their individual interests to Mr Firth. It was"admitted that the grantees held equally. We therefore award to Mr Firth in respect to his three-tenth in the reserve 771 acres, and in respect to his seven-tenth in the 8020 acres 5614 acred. As to the geographical position, it was undisputed that the value of the land is equal throughout ; therefore, as to the reserve the court directs that Mr Firth's defined portion shall be to the east of a line running south from the southern boundary of Major Wilson's land to the southern end of the reserve, and so placed as to leave on its eastern side an area in the reserve of 771 acres. And as to the 8026 acres, Mr Firth's defined portion shall be the area which will be enclosed by a line starting at the northwest corner of the said 7000 acres, thence along the northern boundary thereof to the Wttitoa river, thence along the said river to the south-east corner of the said reserve, thence along the southern boundary of the said reserve to the Tukutahanga stream, thence up the course of the said 'stream to a "point" fixed as hereinafter mentioned, thence westward to the^l^ngapiko stream, thence up the course of the Mangapiko stream to the place of departure. ''The'" point" herefnbeforer mentioned shall be 'a point so •ituated'as to cause a portion of land * included in the boundaries first given to be of an area of 56 U aores, The necessary order* are made, , and ip • i«' noted' that, it is objected, that the