THE MAUNGATAUTARI BLOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 202, 27 August 1896, Page 2

THE MAUNGATAUTARI BLOCK.

STATEMENT Btf Tfll MINISTER for lands.

BY, XELEGKArH.-—PAKLIAMENTABY BS'

Wellington, this day. Mr Massey to-day aaked^ the Government whether they ab any time instructed fche District Land Registrar to refuse to register the feible deeds of two blocks df land situated in the Waikako district;, and known as Nob. 1 and 2, Maungatautari, and, if bo, why?

The Minister for Lands, in reply, said fche honourable member could H6fc knew the history of this case, Or be would nob have put the question on the order paper, fie considered it would have been better for him to have allowed sleeping dogs to lia. Ho would, however, take that opportunity bo expose to the House fche job whioh had been perpetrated in connection with these lands. These blocks had been declared inalienable without consent of the Governor-in-Councll. At me time, Sir James Ferguson was negotiating for the purchase of the land in theeo blocks. Ho did nob know whether these negotiations were begun while Sir James Ferguson waa Governor or not. The House was applied to by Sir James Ferguson to grant a title to the land, bub the Native Affaire Committee recommended bhab the restrictions on the land should nob be removed, and that title should not be granted. While Mr Ballanco was Native Minister he upheld this recommendation and refused to grant a title. The Atkinson Government, however, bad removed the, restriction and allowed the title to be registered, though the Registrar objected to regisbration. Sir James Fergnsbn had applied to the Supreme Court ab Auckland for registration of the title, and the Court had decided in his favour, The Government had appealed against this decision, which had; however, been upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The Minister was proceeding to comment) on statements made by the Judge on • the case, when Captain Russell raised" a point of order, his complaint being that the Minister insinuated that bhe action of one of bhe judges had been prompted by members of the House.

In this contention Captain Russell was . nob upheld by the Speaker, and the Minister, continuing, said evidently the facts he was giving were not palatable to the Leader of the Opposition. He concluded by expressing the opinion thab a Committee should be set up to inquire into ■ this case, as he contended the natives had . , been robbed of their lands in an .anjosd. manner, aud were now landless.