A MAORI CLAIM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2690, 21 December 1909, Page 5

A MAORI CLAIM.

ARAWAS CLAIM LAKES ROTORUA AND ROTOITI.

[Pint Pit css Association.'! AUCKLAND, Dec. 20

An action is being brought by the Arawa tribe, Rotorua, claiming the ownership of Lake R Rotorua and ltotoiti. The nature’ of the ownership claimed is that the land.covered by the lakes in question is Native land, within' the meaning of the Native Land Act of 1894, and that the (plaintiffs, occupying large tracts of land adjacent and bordering have the right by law to have the title investigated and the ownership ascertained by the Native Land Court- As a separate claim the Natives claim that, according to Native custom, they are entitled to establish their tJitle to their lands under such establishment, to have the fee simple vested in them, and, upon such vesting, they become entitled to the fee simple of a definable portion of the lakes. Further, that they have the right to such portions of the lakes according to the lands already vested in them. As a further claim," they claim all rights to such portions of -the lakes, or at least the whole of the lakes in common with others whose lands are bounded thereby, to the exclusion of all others. It is understood that the actions will affect the titles of all other inland lakes in New Zealand. Mr. Skerrett, K.C., of "Wellington, and Mr. F. Earl, of Auckland, are acting for the (plaintiffs.