LAKE OMAPERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 72, 25 March 1936, Page 10

LAKE OMAPERE.

OWNERSHIP OF BED.

CLAIM MADE BY CROWN.

IMPORTANT APPEAI: CASE,

The business of the Native Appellate Court, which opens u sitting at Auckland on May 25, will include the hearing of a most unusual action in which the ownership of the bed of Lake Oniapere, North Auckland, is in dispute. Situate between Ohacawai and Okaihau. Lake Omapere is a shallow body of water, and the Maoris claim that the bed of the lake was originally a dry area, but as the result of fires the surface was lowered and became covered with water.

Some years ago, when the matter came before the Native Land Court, Judge F. O. V. Acheson gave judgment in favour of the natives. The Crown is now appealing against this judgment, and the appeal will be heard by a full Bench of Native Court judges.

The Crown claims that the area has never been native land, but an area that has always been under water.

In the preliminary stages of the appeal the Chief Judge, Mr. li. N. Jones, expressed the opinion that the questions involved were so important that he would arrange for a full Bench of Native Court judges to assemble for the hearing.