NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2508, 8 April 1878, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Waio Matatini, Near Waiapu, East Cape. The N ative Lands Court opened here today, 22nd March, and sat up till the 26th. But one block was put through the Court beside successioniat claims. On the 27th, the Court began on the Papatipo block, Avhich is about 2,000 acres, in area. There are several separae claims in this block, all differing from one another, but the Court is gradually getting through them. Some' two years ago the Government advanced money on this block and others at the same time, and the block would have been settled this timelast year if it had not been for a dispute amongst the natives at the time the other blocks were passed through the Native Land Court, which the Government advanced money on. The deeds have been all completed. The Court is expected to last here until the latter end of the first week in April. PRESENTATION TO MAJORROPATA.

On the 26th of {March at Waio Matatini, in the Court-house,Ybefore Judge Heale, Native Assessor (Mita I Kairo), and some Europeans, and a great many natives of the Ngatiporou tribe, S. Lock Esq., of Is apier, presented to Major Ropata, of the Ngaiiporou tribe, on behalf of the Governiuent, the New Zealand Victorian Cross, for his services at Ngatipa, near Poverty Bay, just after the Poverty Bay massacre, and at many other places. Major Ropata and a part of his tribe caught Keriopa, the Opotiki murderer. There is not another native, I thiak, in New Zealand that has done more for the New Zealand Government, both in the field and out of it. Captain Porter, of Poverty Bay; since has been Government agent for this district ; has done a great deal towards opening it, and in a many other ways.

THE PREMIER'S VISIT TO WAIKATO

Sir George Grey, and the hon. the Native Minister, will leave town to-morrow morning by train for Hamilton, where they will be entertained at a banquet by the settlers. The affair is in the nands of an efficient committee, and will be one of the most successful public events ever got up in the district. The attendance is expected to be rery large, and to include all the most influential settlers of the Wnikato. From Hamilton the Ministerial party will proceed to Te Awamutu and Tamahere on public business, and at the latter place the hon. the Native Minister will meet th« natives with reference to land questions. It has not yet been decided whether or nx) Ministers will proceed onwards to Hikurangi to meet Tawliiao and Rewi, and the Ngatihana and Ngatimaniapoto. We understand that the natives are preparfng food for the approaching meeting, and that the arrangements so far are satisfactory. The Ngatimaniapoto, who are at Te Kuiti, will return thencG £in time for the meeting.