NOTES AND INCIDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2230, 23 October 1886, Page 3

NOTES AND INCIDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN C ORRESPONDENT.]

Tuesday was a very wet and unpleasant day hero, yet notwithstanding the natives assembled here were all at an early hour present in the Public Hall, prepared to hear the Judgment of the officers of the Native Land Coiut as to who were the owners of the large block of the King Country called flobepitii. At 10 o'clock a nic-sage was delivered from Judgo Mair and the Native Asses or, Mr Paiatini N<?at<i, that the Court wero slot quite prepared with their deoivon, but, that if the weather cleared, the Court would bo nponp.i at 2 o'clock. Thi-* being done, smoke oil ! and ho-ne practical joking with a native lately ai rived from Kihi Kihi passed the time for an hour or so, tho rain falling heavily. Wetere Te Iterenga then proposed th.it as the weather w,^ s > bad it would be better to ask the court to 'adjourn until the next d.iy so as to enable all interested to be present. This wes agreed to by taking a show of hands. Wetaro To Rerenga, who w a Native Assessor, then stated, that there were several native summonses i-suod, and that he would now hear those case**. So pipe-, were put out, and due decorum preserved, several small debt cases were heard. Each side having a lawyer (native) to represent them and duly dUptH'jd of. Another case was heard subsequently privately or amongst the friends of the parties intoiested only, in which a woman had Minr.n msed her husband and a young girl for being on toj familiar and intimate terms against her will. The case was heard and I am told, on good authority, tha girl "as fined in the sum of £1."), and the husband £"), both sums to bs paid over to the wife, also court expenses. This judgment I am informed was based upon European law, Tnis morning at 10 o'clock tile * was punctu tlly opened, tniug' already filled by intensely interested natives, who listened, apparently with.mt excitement, to the \er diet cf tho comb, which was read by the assessor, Mr Paiatini Ngati, in a clear and distinct voice from beginning to end. Tne lcsult I ha\o ahcady forwarded by wire. The Xgat'haua were unsuccessful in their claim-*. Mijor Te Wheoro's claim on Kawhia agaisist the Xgatihikairo was not conhide ted g"<>d, only as far as tho^e Waikatos who had permanently resided there. These come in as part owners. The piiucip d part of the block goes to the Ngatim unapoto. Ngatinuikawa, Tv Wharetoi, Wanganui, and Ngitihikaiio Tumuhu'jra, thiough lvlatioiiihip t> liauliauru, gcii two thousand acres, and Mihi Pepene and her people f:ct the like quantity. Thosi who Wvmo not fortun\te in pio\ing their claims took iheir defeat, ai I have already intimited, with the greatest equanimitj', and dispersed with the greatest decorum. It is not known when the court leases here. This pl.ie? is greatly pioffrehsing. T>usincss appears to bs briak, and more buildiug.s are going up.