The Confiscated Lands Question.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2926, 30 August 1879, Page 2

The Confiscated Lands Question.

"WELLINGTON, this day. Tun Committee appointed to test tho validity of tho confiscation, has issued ft circular to tho Maori pooplo, in whtoh they sot forth : That an Act was passed by tho Oenoial Assambly in 18-3, providing that tin Government could tako any lands owned by natives engaged in vohelliou. givinß compensation to natives who had not boon so concerned in tho war. Th,U lar<e diftrlcts had been taken under those laws, anil that though tho Maoris hai ]irot-»to<!, they had not taken any stops ta test tho validity of tho lftw. 'I'lio of>nifnitteo tiieroforo, lieiocj nppoiotod for that purpose, had learned 'that tha proper courso for objoctinK natives to tako was to apply io tha Supronio Court of tho '"olony to tost tho following questions :— 1. Whothortho Acts of tho General Amembly aulhorisiiKtheconflscition of tho Maori lands aro vali.i Act) or noU 2 Whether those Acts, if va id, authorised tho Government to coansote any of tho Maori lands by reason of wara which happened after tho third d-.y of December, IS6I i S. Whether thoso Acts, if valid, authorised tho Government to retain any of tho lands within the proclaimed district which had not been specillcally set apirt as sites for settlement before tho third day of D-combev, 1807} i Whether tho proceedings of th-VGovornin'ent under thoso Acts have b,eeli regular and proper, so as to bind ihe native owners of the lan'ls takeni '5, ■ Whotho , if thoso Acts bo valid, proper compensation has bean mudeto thosa who hn.a not been engaged or co ■ corned in tho wars 2 JJia circular says: ''These ara the principal questions whieu we havo been advised by our lawyers to bring before th-j Supreme Court, but thoreara many others In connection therewith which will alsi havo to bo decked, and all s.ii<h question? will bo duly raised in tl,e interests ot the Maori pcoulo. Wo \\k\-* also boon ailvisod tint it wo aw not siUisfuM with tha dooiHion of tho bunrcme Court upon any of these qucs'ions, wei shall bo entitled to nnpe.il to the Great Court of the Queon in Knglanu, by which tho caso will t ion bo tolly hoard ani decided: Now, in order that thoso thiiigi may bo properly done, we (tho committee)call upon you to assure tho Government that you will not commit any deed of yiolcnoo or attempt to assort your claims to thoso landa by force, mid that you will leave your rights to bo settled by law, Hnd not by tho sword, and WO will uge upon tho Government ou tho othnr hand not; to prooeoit with the disputed lands until tho law hat1 decided tho question wo havo m respect of tho suno, and wo further mako known to you Unit, acting in tho belief.that it is your'wish that these things should' bO peaceably dono, wo iiitenrt at 'o.nco to. take slop i for bringing all qu Stions louchimc your claims lotho OonfUcated Innds before tho Supronio' Court "• Iroin the com i inntoe-Ho>l Koroi Talaroa, M.L.C. (President); WU^rata to Ivakakura (Secretary!; Wi TakoNgatata, M.L.C. fMokcna lvphprc jVI.L.C; llonaro Tqnpaim, M.H.R. • Hon Karaka Tawitl, 1U1.H. ; Ihaia Tainiv M.H.K.; Mail\l Pariiono Kawiti, Kcopn to Kang.l(i\vimii, Major New ' SJeala^d Militia, Potto foAweawe.