MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE CLAIMS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7778, 4 February 1891, Page 6

MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVE CLAIMS.

COMMISSION AT KAIAPOL

' y As a result of the reports of the joint Committee of the Legislative Council and (■Bouse of Representatives, which has met from time to time to consider the Middle Island Native Claims, regarding Kemp's purchase, as.well as the Otakon and Murihlku purchases, Mr Alexander Mackay is now on a visit to the Kaiapoi Maoris, in pursuance of a Royal Commission directing an enquiry to be made Into the cases of Natives alleged to be unprovided with land, and whether the lands hitherto set apart are adequate for the support of the Natives. Under what is known as Kemp's deed of the purchase of the Middle Island over 20,000,000 acres was for £2000, with a condition that the Natives were to have ample reserves : made for them to provide their mahlnga a term used in relation to cultivations, hunting grounds, places where fern xoot grew, wild berries abounded, and eel weirs. It appeared that they received About ten acres each, which was subsequently enlarged to fourteen acres, together with a few small reserves Jtor .flehlng. Theee the Committee of tfte General Assembly have been Informed are insufficient, and hence reported that they were of opinion," that incases where tfcs descend entß of the vendors are unprovided with land reasonably sufficient for their support, it would not be creditable to the colony to refuse them assistance. The Committee strongly recommended that any lands allotted, should be made inalienable. ,.

. This covers the matters to be dealt with |n the holding of the Commission. On Tuesday the Commission was formally opened in the Runanga House, and the exact nature of it explained to those present, of whom there appeared to be about sixty or seventy men and women. Mr H. K. TsJaroa, M.L.C., and Mr Tame Parata, M.RJC, were present. The Natives requested to have » copy of the Commission translated into Maori, which was ordered to be supplied. Mr Mackay intimated that he should take some of the business next day and then adjourn to the South, in order to reach the Natives there before they started out on the mutton-bird catching expeditions.

The proceedings were adjourned till this morning. During the evening a Native meeting was held to consider the claims and place thvm before the Commission. The proceedings of the Commission will hardly have any public interest, dealing as it will with individuals, upon whose cases an exhaustive report will be formulated.