The New Native Land Commission.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 460, 29 May 1890, Page 2

The New Native Land Commission.

The Commissioners (His Honor Mr Justice Edwards and Mr J. Ormsby) appointed under the Native Land Court Act, 1889. opened the Commission Court in Wbinray’s Hall yesterday morning. Judge Edwards appeared in wig and gown, and the members present of the Bar also appeared robed, and with the exception that Commissioner Ormsby and Mr Clerk of Commission Wilson were not in robes, the sitting was very similar to an ordinary Supreme Court sitting. That it was intended to be as such was vary evident when Mr Gannon applied to be allowed to appear for one of the parties, and was told that only professional men and the parlies themselves would be allowed to appear, Lieutenant-Colonel Porter acted as Interpreter. The first matter called on was the Tokomaru application by A. C. Arthur. M.H.R. Mr Skeet appeared and applied for that application to bs allowed to stand over until Jane 5, which wae granted, and further time was given in which to lodge objections. Mr H. J. Finn then made an application on behalf of Rhodes’ Trustees, in respect of six small blocks of land in which they were interested. He asked that the formalities required by the rules as to giving notice and advertising, etc., ba dispensed with in these cases, and the final certificate of the Commissioners be issued according to the justice of the case. Thsse matters had been before the Trust Commissioner and the Native Land Court, and an order of freehold tenure had been issued to the purchaser. Owing, however, to technical objections it was found that the title could not be granted direct to the purchaser, and it was arranged that the title should be issued to the natives and the purchaser’s deeds registered against it’ A Land Transfer Title was according issued, but the District Land Registrar refused to register the deeds because they were dated prior to the certificate of title. Under the circumstances of the ease, every opportunity having been given to teat the bona ftdee of the transaction, Mr Finn suggested that it waa a case for the Commiaaionera to exercise the disoretion given them by Parliament, and instead of going right back oommenee where the Native Land Court had knocked off. There oouldbe no possible objection to it, and it would save a vast expense which would eat up any value there waa left in the land, fitis Honor said although it was expensive Mr Finn must comply with the rules and make the application In the ordinary course. Mr Finn’then asked if that were so waa it not possible to have these six small blocks included in one application, instead of having a separata application for each block as required by one of the rules laid down by the Commissioners ? It could be easily done, and would help to save expense. The Commissioners ware, however, inexorable, and the applications will require to be made in each block, and all the work of the Trust Commissioner and Native Land Court gone over again. The ComuuMiott Ceurt then adjourned.