GL—6h

Session 11. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LANDS CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1919. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 212/1917, RELATIVE TO SUCCESSION TO HOANI TATANA (DECEASED) IN PARIWHAKAOHO SECTION 101, Z No. 2, Z No. 3, NELSON TENTHS," AND ARAREKE BLOCK.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1919.

Office of the Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Wellington, 7th April, 1921. Re Hoani Tatana (deceased) — Petition 212/1917. Pursuant to section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Lands Claims Adjustment Act, 1919, I forward the report of the Native Land Court. In order to relieve the injustice disclosed by the report, I recommend that legislation be passed authorizing and directing the Native Land Court to rehear the applications upon which the undernoted orders made in respect of the succession of Hoani Tatana (sometimes known as Hoani te Keha) (deceased) are founded : 10th November, 1893, for Ararepe No. 1 Block ; 4th July, 1901, for New Zealand Company's " tenths " ; 24th September, 1913, for Pariwhakaoho Z 2, Pariwhakaoho Z 3, and Pariwhakaoho Section 101 : with power to the said Court, if it thinks fit, to cancel, vary, or amend any existing order, or to make such new order as may seem just: Provided that no valid alienation or proper payment made in good faith prior to the passing of legislation shall be invalidated or otherwise prejudicially affected. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge. In the Native Land Court of New Zealand. — In the matter of section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1919 ; and in the matter of Petition No. 212 of 1917, of Hoani Meihana and others, as to succession to Hoani Tatana (deceased) in re Pariwhakaoho Section 101, Pariwhakaoho Z No. 2, Pariwhakaoko Z No. 3, Nelson " tenths," and Arareke Block ; and in the matter of a reference by the Chief Judge to the Native Land Court for inquiry and report as to the claims and allegations mentioned in the said petition. I have the honour to report that at a sitting of the Native Land Court held at Nelson on the 18th November, 1920, I made inquiry into the claims and allegations mentioned in the said petition, and desire to report thereon as follows : — Mr. J. H. W. Uru appeared for the petitioners, but unfortunately the respondent Miri Tatana was not present or represented. It appeared that on the 24th September, 1913, at New Plymouth, on the evidence of Miri Tatana, claiming as a niece of Hoani Tatana or Hoani Tatana te Keha (deceased), the Native Land Court appointed the said Miri Tatana sole successor to the said deceased in the following lands : Pariwhakaoho Z2, Pariwhakaoho Section 101, and Pariwhakaoho Z3. No objections were made at the time of these orders being made. (Taranaki Minute-book 20, folio 86.) A further succession order was made at Wellington on the 4th July, 1901, for Hoani te Keha's interest in the New Zealand Company's " tenths " in favour of Miri Tatana.