Total Of £45,600 Compensation For Maoris In Taupo

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14860, 23 December 1948, Page 3

Total Of £45,600 Compensation For Maoris In Taupo

Land Adjacent To

Lake

Decision Of Special

Court

{ P.A. ) Wellington. Dec. 22. A total of £45.600 has been awarded by the Lake Taupo V\ ater Claims Compensation Court in respect of land adjacent to the river and lake beds proclaimed by the Government in 1926 for fishing. The claims before the Court totalled £71.900. One claim for £SOOO was dismissed. The Court took into account amounts allowed by way of interest, although in individual awards the proportion thus allowed is not separated. Instructions are also contained in the award for the division of sums allowed on each claim or group of claims among the parties interested. The Court further directed in certain cases that the sums awarded be payaole to district Maori Land Boards for distribution. Owners entitled to compensation money are the owners of the date of the proclamation. October 7. 1926. No account is to be taken of subsequent partition or alienation Boards are to deduct pro rata from sums and amounts payable to claimants’ solicitors and in addition any amoiMt pavable b v the Crown when the amount of such additional costs has been agrood on or fixed by the Court. The Commissioner was Sir Harold Johnston. K.C.. with whom Judge E M. Bcechey. of the Maori _ Land Court, sat as assessor. The hearing was in Tauoo from November 1 to November 12. The commission's task was to assess the compensation payable to the Maori owners of banks of rivers and streams for damages suffered bv them in the use of their land and loss suffered b> deprivation of the right to lei for camping sites or for fishing purposes any pari of the land mentioned.

“Without question the right the Maori owners enjoyed prior to the proclamation of reserving to themselves or their grantees the right of access to fishing waters was a riglv of very considerable value.” the award states. The claims were brought under the Native Land Amendment Act, the Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1926. and the Native Purposes Act.