NATIVE LAND LAWS COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1891, Page 8

NATIVE LAND LAWS COMMISSION.

MEETING WITH THE NATIVES

(HT TEI.EURAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otorohanua, this day. Messrs Kees, Carrol, and Macky, Native Land Laws Commissioners, held an important meeting with the chiefs of the Ngatimaniapoto, the Native Land Court adjourning for the purpose. Mr Rees addressed the natives at length, explaining the purpose for which the Commissioners were appointed, and inviting an expression of opinion on the following uubjects :—

- (1) Tribal dealing with land as against individual dealings, except in cases of lands in close proximity to town ; (2) setting apart reserves for the use of native owners; (3) leases or sales and loases ; (4) education reserves ; (5) settlement by native committees or runangas in conjunc* bion wibb the Government ; commissioners of bribal and hapu boundary, when such settlements are voluntarily arrived ab, bo be confirmed by the Native Land Court; disputed cases to be settled by the Court. Mr Carrol also addressed the natives, pointing oub that if they did not furnish the Commissioners with their opinions upon the matters submitted with a view to future, legislation Parliament would probably be obliged to legislate on its own responsibility. Taonui, the leading chief of the Ngatimaniapoto, expressed his satisfaction with the visit of the Commissioners and a full explanation was made. The Ngatimaniapoto desired the restrictions removed from their land. Should thab be done he would be in favour of leasing bub not selling the land. Tho time for paying for the surveys should be extended beyond tho two years laid down by the late (iovernmenb ; all individual dealings should cease and tribal,Or hapu dealings be substituted. Uahanui also expressed pleasure at the visit of tho Commissioners, and on his'sug-" gesbion the Commission adjourned until bnis»feveningj to allow an oppo-rtuniby of tbeir talking matters over.