SALES TO CROWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 11

SALES TO CROWN.

ROTORUA TOWN SITE. CIRCUMSTANCES QUERIED. NATIVE COURT INQUIRY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day. An inquiry of considerable interest to the Ngati-Whakaue tribe and to the Rotorua borough as a whole was opened at Ohinemutu yesterday before the chief judge of the Native Land Court. Mr. R. N. Jones. The inquiry concerned the circumstances of the sale of land which is the present site of the borough by the tribe to tho Crown and recalled many interesting facts of early history, going back to the original foundation of tho settlement.

The inquiry was instituted as the result of a petition to the Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives by ifiO members of the tribe, and it is expected that it will occupy over a week. Mr. H. O. Cooney, of To Puke, and with him Mr. Thompson, of Auckland, represented the tribe, and Mr. V. Hubble, of Auckland, and with him Mr. O. A. Darby, of Auckland, appeared for the Crown.

Mr. Cooney submitted in the course of his opening address that under the terms of the original Thermal Springs Act, the Crown had undertaken to act as trustee for the natives and that in spite of this it had influenced them to sell their lands to itself. He contended that the price at which the Crown purchased the block was q\iite disproportionate to its value and that the Crown, by virtue of its obligations had no right to act as a purchaser.

In support of his contention counsel quoted telegrams which passed between Mr. R. S. Bush, S.M., who acted as the Government's agent in the sale, and the Native Department, which, he contended, showed that the Crown had taken advantage of the natives' economic position to drive a hard bargain.

When tho inquiry adjourned, Mr. Cooney had concluded his opening address and Had indicated that he proposed to call evidence in support of his contentions.