G-.—6g

1924. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1922. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 118 OF 1922, OF ATA TAMIHANA, TUROA KUPA, AND ANOTHER, RELATIVE TO WAIMARINO AND OTHER BLOCKS.

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

Native Department, Wellington, 19th August, 1924. Petition No. 118 of 1922, regarding the Exclusion of Rora Kupa from certain Titles. Pursuant to section 55 of the Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922, I forward herewith the report of the Native Land Court herein. I recommend that legislation be passed enabling the Court to admit Rora Kupa's descendants into the Waimarino, Urewera, and Raetihi blocks. Any adjustment made should only affect family interests. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge. Wanganui Minute-book 78/340-7. The Native Land Court of New Zealand, Aotea District.—ln the matter of section 55 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922 ; and in the matter of Petition No. 118 of 1922, of Ata Tamihana, Turoa Kupa, and another, praying for inclusion in the Waimarino, Urewera, and Raetihi blocks as successors to Rora Kupa (deceased), which petition has been referred to the Native Land Court for inquiry, and for report to the Chief Judge. The Native Land Court, after inquiry into the above matter, begs to report as follows : — 1. Evidence was taken at Wanganui in open Court on the 15th May, 1923 (M.B. 78, folios 340-7), the petitioners being present in person and also represented by Mr. Morison, solicitor, Wellington. Mr. Jack was present on behalf of Mokopuna Tira Koroheke, one of the principal parties adversely affected by the claims of petitioners. 2. The evidence adduced, together with the information available from the various Court files, satisfied the Court that one Rorp Kupa, the mother of petitioners, had been wrongfully left out of certain Waimarino, Raetihi, and Urewera blocks on investigation of title, though she had a right to inclusion similar to that of certain near relatives of hers who were awarded substantial shares in these blocks. 3. The Court was also satisfied that the two petitioners were the persons rightfully entitled to succeed to any interests which Rora Kupa might obtain in these blocks. 4. The Court found, however, that very numerous partitions had taken place, and that a number of subdivisions had been sold. Consequently a most exhaustive search of the titles was required before the Court could say to what extent it might be possible at this late stage to do justice to the claims of Rora Kupa's children. The Court came to the conclusion that Rora Kupa's near of kin should now give up certain shares in the various blocks to Rora Kupa's children, but the exact manner in which this might be done presented serious difficulties.