NATIVE LAND COURT AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2721, 19 December 1889, Page 2

NATIVE LAND COURT AT CAMBRIDGE.

Tub short session of the Native Land Cnurfc xt Cambridge, terminated on Tuesday, after judgement had been Riven re Mm M.-iu-ngat tutari and WaoUi blocks of land. The laws volutins to Native lands are " fearfully and wonderfully mv.le ;" and the lariuiw Acts relating c)u;ret<>, with the amendments that have from time t> time been added to them, render the whole such an intricate and complicated business, that it requires an individual of more than ordinary ability to arrive at anything like an equit'ible solution of the cases coining before tho Court. Native bu.-ines-f and matters that are contingent upon it, are somctiui'M such as—to quote Lord Dundreary—" No fellah can uudor.-stand." Being aware of the very loose way in which native lands are dealt with at some uf the Courts, whereby atfuirs get muddled up in a manner which leads to interminable litigation with its attendant costs, r-qually unsatisfactory to both Maori and European ; it affords us pleasure t;i bear testimony to the impartial and skilful way in which the officers of the Court that has just risen conducted the business The judge, Major Mail-, is an excellent Maori scholar, a qualification that should be a sine qua non with all who have to adjudicate upon I native uff iirs. How frequently have wo heard the judge, when, as in this case in point he was a good Maori linguist, correct the interpreter, when translating frwni English into Maori ; and yet there are people who contend that it is unnecessary for the judge to understand the Maori language. j\Lijor Mair is also well acquainted with the manners and customs of the aboriginal race ; is well versed in their traditions and battles, the latter being a most important point, as the ownership of large areas of land frequently hangs upon a tribe being victors or vanquished at certain engagements, Our views on this question are evidently shared by Chief Judge Smith, who, since his appointment, has been studying tha natire language, in which, we are informed, lie will soon be proficient. Paratene Ngata, the native assessor, is a wellediicited man, who takes more than a pass ing interest in tha business. He takes voluminous notes, and frequently questions the witnesses in a pertinent manner. As a rule the native assessors appear to be more ornamental than useful, as they sit like dummies apparently taking not the slightest interest in the proceedings. But such was not the case at Cambridge, for there the judge and assessor were continually consulting ; and we venture to predict that the judgments given by them on the muchvexed question of Maungatautari lands, will not easily be upset. The remaining officers of the Court. Captain Percival and Mr Johnson, the clerk and interpreter respectively, performed their duties with such urbanity tliat they won the good will of all parties. Wo have had a fair amount of experience with L-md Courts, but the one as constituted at Cambridge is, so far as we can judge, the model one. The original survey of Mataigafcautan contained 49,000 acres, of which the mountain was the centre. It was afterwards sub-divided, about 20,000 acres being awarded to the Ntfatikoroki tribe. This again was resubdivided, 10,000 acres being sold, leaving a reserve of about 15,000 acre- , . This was divided into two blocks, in order to include the Aratitaha settlement; No o.\, 14,500 across, and No. So, 717 acre, the settlement being in the latter, and the same people owning both blocks. A portion of the owners reside at Mamigatautari, while others live at a distance, and there has been continual warfare between the lesidents and the outsiders, the latter wanting it subdivided so they that could sell and the former wanting it kept intact. Numerous applications for a sub-division have been made, but the residents have always succeeded in quashing them until the present instance, when the outsiders proved successful and the land belonging to the hapus of the now residents has been ■ awarded to them, and has been cut off from the Ngatikoroki blocks. Tha Ngatiwhawhakia were represented by R-ilca Hnpere and were awarded 507 acres ; Mita Karaka appeared for the Ngaiiwhare. and obtained 080 acres. In the block No. 8., Waotu North, 40 acres were awarded to Cook Brothers, one share (25 acres) went to 20 grantees, and the remainder of the block was awarded to Hari Katera, Whiripo and Hakari. who represent about 60 natives. Iα both cases judgment was given by Paratene, who dealt with the matter at length, and in such a manner that even the dullest Maori could not fail to understand. The business of the Court was conducted by Major Mair in a manner that met with the approval of everyone ; aud, as we before stated, the cases adjudicated upon by him appear to bo settled in such an impartial and equitable way, that there is no chance of them being reheard. Mr Browning presented the fish to Mrs Gwynne, who, with her usual hospitality, invited a number of gentlemen to dinner. The fish, however, could not be considered in good condition, the flesh, instead of being pink, was of a pale yellowish white colour, and the general opinion was not unanimous in declaring it the delicacy that was anticipated.