NATIVE LAND CASES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 165, 14 July 1902, Page 8

NATIVE LAND CASES.

(By Telegraph.—Press 'Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Argiimcnl bean in the Court of Appeal this morning , in the cases brought by a number of eases against the Assets Conipa.ny seeking , to have the titles of the <lefendaiit company to certain blocks of land in the Gisbonie district; declared invalid. The actions involve titles to three blocks of land known as the "Waingaronna No. 2. YYaing-aromia Xo. :», and Ilan«'atlra, containing- 25.750 acres and 2670 acres respectively. The defendant company, as the assignees of the liquidators of te City of Glasgmv Bank, have held the lands in question for over twenty years, and as regards the two smaller blocks have expended large sums in improvements. The plaintaiffs, however, alleg-e that the persons through ■ Avhom the defendant company derives the title .acted fraudulently.' that they (plaintiffs) never sold their interests or received any purchase money, and that the orders made by the Native Land Court, by virtue of which defendant company obtained its titles, were made without jurisdiction, and were void. Many similar actions had been broug-ht previously against defendant company attacking the titles to its lands held in (iisborne district, some, of them involving- titles to blocks now lief ore the Court, but the plaintiffs allege that matters now alleged have never yet received consideration. The' ea so called on this morning was that of Merc Eaihi and others v. the Assets Co., Ltd., in respect of the block known'as Waingarouiia No. •'{. The en*e is being , heard by Justices Williams, Dciiniston and ConoHy. Mr Skerrett and -Mr l!ee.s are appearing for the plaintiff, anci Mr Bell, Mr DoLatour and Jlr W. Eichmond for the defendant company. A preliminary objection to the ease proceeding; was raised on behalf of the defendant company, and is now being argued. The plaintiffs are some only.of the native.-! originally interested iv the land under the Native Land Court titles The counsel for the defendant company contend that all the natives interested should he joined, so that the questions involved may be settled in the present action by a decision binding- upon all.