NATIVE LANDS COVET AT ROTORUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6758, 16 July 1883, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS COVET AT ROTORUA.

Ohinemuto, July 10. The Native Landa Court has now commenced to drag its weary existence along, and will doubtless prove most tiresome and tedious to all concerned. Upon the opening, Rotohiko Haupapa .iddressing the Court, said, that it was the desire of the Arawas that lawyers should not be permitted to appear in any Court sitting within the boundaries of the Arawa Country. His reason for making this application, he said, was that the Maoris were quite able to conduct their own cases, and that in Cambridge they had seen the evil done by lawyers. If they were engaged by a single individual for the purpose of conducting a personal claim, it was not of much consequence, for the lawyer could only take the land of one man in payment of his fee, but when employed in behalf of a hapu or tribe, they swallowed up their entire possessions; and the lawyers invariably lengthened the proceedings to suit their own endß. The Court, in replying to Rotohiko, said that as no application had been made, it was hardly necessary to entertain the question at present. About twenty-two counter-claimants have entered their names, so it will probably be a hard tussle for the Ngatiwhakaues to get even a third of what they claim. The chief, Te Kiri, occupied the Court all yesterday and to-day in trying to assert his widespread claim, and it is unknown when he will stop. He may go on for another week, and others will follow equally long-winded, making the duration of the Court interminable. The obsequies of the young chieftainess Rangimawhiti were conducted in a very impressive manner. The Sunday-school children (amongst whom she laboured with so I much zeal), followed two by two, strewing flowers by the way. It was the poor girl's dying request that each of the children should receive a present after her death, which was faithfully carried out by the Rev. A. Fairbrother,- who was requested by the tribe to read the burial service, and to offi ciate generally on this occasion. She was Mr. Fairbrother's principal teacher in the Sunday School, and in many ways assisted that gentleman in overcoming the many difficulties which beset his pith. Mr. Fairbrother, after holding service at Te Wairoa on Sunday last, rode over here and conducted two services, one in Maori, in tho afternoon. The other usual European sorvice took place in the evening. It is hia intention, I believe, to continue this during the winter. We all sadly feel the want of a church.—fOwn Correspondent.]