ALEXANDRA NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2320, 24 May 1887, Page 3

ALEXANDRA NEWS.

On .Saturday last at the Native Lands Court being held here, .the Court gave its decision' as to the ownership of the Manuaitu . block, Aotea, which-has for so long a time been before the court. The court .was open punctually at 10 a.m. by which time the hall was most densely crowded by intensely interested natives, and the greatest decorum was observed. The judgement was a most exhaustive one, the com t going fully into all the evidence adduced by the various counter-claimants and those of his people. The decision in' Maori was read out by the Assessor, Mr Paratini Te Ngata and took fully an hour and a half in reading, but little feeling was expressed when tho decision was known, those whose claims were ignored bore their disappointed hopes most storcally. The Ngatihournas, Te Awaitai's people a strong contingent, were, evidently anticipating a favourable verdict ; they all came to the court dressed out in ; their best mats, shawls, feathers and paints, but their claim by right of conquest ~not being allowed by the judges, they found themselves out of it. '■ The Manuaitu block consists of some 8000 odd acres, and the decision of tho court gives it to those only who enjoyed tribal rights and occupation. Te Pepond, who conducted the claimants in To Pouwhare s case, did so throughout in a most skilfitll manner. Opposed as he was to so old a general in the Land-Court business as Major Te Wheoro, vvhp represented several of the Waikato hapus, who, however gejt a share of the land. Ahipene Kaihau's claim was not allowed, and many others. The decision is not yet translated into English, and I faticy would be almost too long for the columns of your paper. Many here thought there! would bo somo excitement ainongat the natives afterwards, but nothing of the kind! occurred. Old Whitiora invited them all to Whatiwhatihoe to talk it over, and some went. A gi'ciit number «it. once left for tlieirhonieSj and the township at five o'clock in the afternoon was as quiet as ever. In the evening the usual dances and hakas took j place in the hall, at Is tickets, 1 and was fairly attended. A fire took place at tho Mangapoun, near Alexandra, on Friday evening last, which consumed a house belonging to Mr Robert Ormsby, the schoolmaster at Hatrtapu, but lately in the occupation of a man named Daniel Coe and family. Coe is absent at work atTe Kuiti, and Mrs Coe and family were away in the bush for wood, and on her.return found the house and contents entirely cousumed. She has a jfamily of five young children, all left homeless and entirely destitute of clothing and : blankets. Mrs J. C. Gnerson kindly took them m and gave them a shelter, aa they had nowhere to go to. ■ - ■ .