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Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1922. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 187/1922, RELATIVE TO SUCCESSORS APPOINTED TO INTERESTS OF RAPATA NEPIA AND MEREANA TE MAROHUIA IN HAUPOTO BLOCK AND LOTS 28b AND 31, PARISH OF RANGITAIKI.

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of Section 55 of the Native Laml Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922.

Native Department, Wellington, Bth June, 1.923. Re Petition 157/1922 — Keita Rangitukia. Pursuant to section 55 of tho Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922, the report of the Native Land Court on the above-mentioned petition is enclosed. The Court is of opinion that the orders in respect of Mereana te Marohuia should not be disturbed, but that the Court should be empowered to cancel the existing succession orders in respect of the interests of Rapata Nepia (deceased). This is not quite practicable with regard to some of the orders, as there have been dealings by the successors, and it would be manifestly wrong to destroy the source of a purchaser's title. I recommend that the order made on 2nd October, 1907, in respect of the interest of Rapata Nepia (deceased) in the Houpoto No. 3 Block be cancelled ; and that the Court shall, have jurisdiction to inquire into the circumstances attending the making of orders dated the 19th September, 1907, in respect of the interests of Rapata Nepia (deceased) in the Rangitaiki Lot 28b and Rangitaiki Lot 31, and, if it is of opinion that any person included in those succession orders was not entitled to be so included, it may order that so much of the share or interest of any such person wrongly included as has not been the subject of a contract for sale shall vest in such person as the Court thinks is properly entitled thereto. Such interest shall thereupon vest in the person so named by the Court, subject to any lease lawfully made prior to such vesting-order. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge.

Office of the A.otea District Native Land Court, Wanganui, 4th May, 1923. Memorandum for the Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Wellington. Petition, No. 157/1922, of Keita Rangitukia. I beg to report that, in pursuance of your reference under section 55 of the* Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922, I held an inquiry into the subject-matter of this petition, at Whakatane, on the 24th ultimo. The petition is in regard to succession orders made by the Court in respect of the interests of Rapata Nepia (deceased) in Houpoto Block and in Lots 28b and 31, Parish of Rangitaiki, and of Mereana te Marohuia (deceased) in the two last-named sections. A copy of the minutes taken at the inquiry is attached. The recommendation of the Court is as follows :— 1. Re Rapata Nepia (deceased). —In this case it would appear that the person properly entitled to succeed is the petitioner. The Court should be empowered to cancel the existing succession orders, and to make new orders accordingly, where necessary. It should be noted, though, that the

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