WAIHEKE ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 6

WAIHEKE ISLAND.

■ J LANDLESS MAORIS' PETITION. Short reference was made in the Auckland "Star" recently to probable action being taken by landless Maoris at Wailiekc. A petition (has -been forwarded to I'alriaineiiL apparently i'rnm the landless children of natives who sold tiieir 1 property at U'aihckc Island. As members of the Ngatipara tribe, the |ietitioner-, claim under ancestral and oilier rights to be beneficial owners in WuiIhcke Island. The petition sets forth that in ISUS the Native Lands Court made absolutely inalienable a block of 354 acres, known as Te Hurihi. No. 1. 111 l!Hl.-> the block was divided by the Native Lands Court, and awarded to the owners and their successors. Tlie petition then states: "On December 4th. 1011, the land in question was sold by our parents, whid'n we consider yprv wrong, as wis contend that they were holding the land for tlie benefit of their children." It ialso asserted, that as most, of the vendors had no other lands sufficient for their maintenance, the l-sinds Board should not have confirmed the transfer. The peti tioners quote-froji the Native Lands Act, 1909, that no alienation shall lie confirmed unless the Board or < olirt ia nrst satislied "that no natives will, by reason of the alienation, become landless, within the meaning of the Act." Tlie petitioners therefore pray that something lie done for tlienii under the law. whirfl provides 'That no native will, by reason of the alienation, become landless by disposing of his Papakninga land."