G.—6a

1920. NEW ZE A L AND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1919. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF PETITION No. 336/1919, RELATIVE TO THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON TO WHOM THE NAME OF "TERE KEETI" IN THE TITLE TO POKURU BLOCK BELONGS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1919.

Chief Judge's Office, Wellington, 20th May, 1920. Re Pokuru — Petition 336 of 1919. 1 FORWARD herewith report on above, matter, and beg to make the following recommendation : — That legislation be passed authorizing and empowering the Native Land Court to inquire and determine as to whom the name " Tere Keeti" in the title to the Pokuru Block belongs, and to make order accordingly; and thereupon the Court (and the District Land Registrar, as far as necessary) may make all consequential amendments in any order or title affecting the said block which may seem to require amendment. Provided always that if the Court should find that the person in the title is not the same person as signed Memorandum of Lease No. 4333, such lease shall notwithstanding, during its currency, be deemed to have been signed by the proper person, but the rents and profits regarding that share shall enure to the person in whose favour the Court declares, in such manner and from such date as the Court shall order. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.

In the Native Land Court of New Zealand, Waikato-Maniapoto District.—ln the matter of section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1919, and of a reference by the Chief Judge to the Native Land Court for inquiry and report as to the list of owners of Pokuru Block (Petition No. 336 of 1919). The matter having come on for hearing before Robert Noble Jones, Judge, on the 28th January, 1920, the Court submits the following report: — 1. The petition claims that the name "Tere Keeti " in the title belongs to lionare Waitere Keeti, called "Tere Keeti," a male. 2. Although due notice was given, no one appeared to question this, but it is evident from the records that one Mere Tori Keeti claimed the share as hers. 3. The. title to the block was investigated about the Bth June, 1889. 4. At subsequent dates lists of names were handed in, and one containing the name of Tere Keeti, and showing that person to be a minor, was submitted, passed on the 16th November, and finally passed on the 20th November, 1889. This list contained no particulars as to ages and sexes of the persons whose names were submitted. 5. As far as this Court can ascertain this order was never completed, but in the engrossment prepared for signature Tere Keeti is described as "f., 15." which means that the person named was a female fifteen years of age. 6. The Court is unable to find from what source these and similar particulars were obtained, but it is quite evident that they are in some cases faulty. 7. On the 25th May, 1889, the block was partitioned into Sections A to N, and the relative interests of the owners defined. In the engrossment of these orders the name '-'Tere Keeti, f., 15/'