NATIVE LAND COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2203, 29 May 1908, Page 2

NATIVE LAND COURT.

SITTINGS IN GISBORNE.

The Native Land Court commenced the Gisborne sittings yesterday morning, before Chief Judge Jackson Palmer and Haki Kiuika, assessor. - Succession was granted in a number of minor cases.

In the case for succession to EVana Kuln, it was announced that no arrangement could be come to between the beneficiaries and the trustee, and the case was adjourend. The afternoon was occupied with the hearing of the Kopa-a-Tuaki case.' This was an application under section 6 of the “Maori -Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1006,” to ascertain whether Teira lopa te Hau and Rangikokera te •Ivaui are entitled to (and, if so, what) portions of the Kopa-a-Tuaki block, and if necessary, whether the Crown is interested or not, to amend the original' title and revise the subsequent partition of the land accordingly- . Air. J. Sheridan appeared, for the Crown, and Hon. AVI Pere for tlie interested natives. AYheu the case was called on Air. Sheridan outlined the scope of the enquiry, and stated that in the origiml title there were -54 names, and on the partition the shares were deemed to be equal. ißy adding tlie two proposed names to the title there would be 56. On partition the Crown took 1118 acres, and the natives retained 1461 acres. By increasing the original shares to 56, an individual interest'would- amount to 46 acres. He hid agreed to reduce the interest of the Crown by a share to provide for the interests of the two natives in the application. He had arrived at an agreement to this effect with Hon. AVi Pere.

Details of the proposed division were then gone into, and the Hon. AVI Pere said that he had talked with the representative of the Crown, and had coma, to the agreement stated. They, had also talked on other matters, and lie believed that there were 400 or 500 acres taken which rightly belonged to the natayee. and that a large quantity of it should bo returned to them. He had heard tint the Council was applying for portion of the block, and he asked the Court that the land be held and not passed into the hands of the Crown or anybody else. The Court- adjourned at 3.30 p.m. until this morning.