NATIVE LANDS COURT AT KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2181, 1 July 1886, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS COURT AT KIHIKIHI.

o Thk sitting, of the Native Lands Court commenced on Tuesday morning before Major Mair, judge. A considerable number of natives are assembled in the township. There is a vory heavy list of cases set down for hearing, new claims, succession claims and applications for subdivision, which will take a long period to get through. It is uncprtain whether the court will sit altogether in Kihikihi, for the natives are very much divided amongst themselves on the question. The whole of Tuesday's sitting was nearly taken up in hearing the wishes of the opposite patties. A supplementary Gazette has fixed the hearing of the large blocks in Aotea, Taupo, and Whanganui at Otorohnnga, a native settlement in the King Country. Te Wheoro objected to the court sitting there on the grounds of insufficient accommodation a/jid gave his reasons' in writing. ' Te Ngakau, Hote Tamihana and others supported Te Wheoro, anjl 1 said the Waikato's did not wish to go in the country of Ngatimaniapoto who have guns and hate them ; so they preferred the court to remain amongst the Europeans who would protect them. Hone Hornsby said both Mr Bryce and Mr Ballance had promised that thto cases should be heard at their kaingas, and they had come to the conclusion those blocks should be heard at Otorohangp.^ Te Wheoro said that' the Qavernment has written, spoken and telegraphed to the effect • that . until Tawhiao gave his consent no court would be held at Kawhia or elsewhere in the King country." Te.Rmgiwaekau, Toanui, and one or. two others wished the large blocks to be heard at Otorohanga! Some objected §6 the sub-divisions of Maunga- j tautari, whilst others asked for their fcases to be $11 owed to stand over, to be withdrawn or adjourned. His Honour said it' was a question for them to think ~6ver' well. He said there were two points involved ; whether 10-take* ajl the small claims in one block, "aend wjipreC they should be heard, The^W^he-Waikatos had of the Ngfttimaniapoto was groundless. They should get all the people interested together to consider the question. The court would not decide at present. 1 but would proceed wjth other work, The successions claims were them entered upon. Orders were made in favour of Winiata, Te Waiti and Tewara as successors to their father, Paopao, deceased, in Maungatautari No. 4 F., and in favour of Hakiriwhi Purevva as successor to his brother Aremete te Waharoa, deceased, in Puahue.