MAORI LAND QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14099, 19 July 1911, Page 11

MAORI LAND QUESTION.

THE WAAHI MEETING. (PKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) , AUCKLAND, July 18. A matter which excited a good deal Of interest at the Native meeting at Waahi to-day was the election of a committee to administer the lands, or moneys if money wero given in lieu of land, set aside for tho purposes of the mana. The following five were finally elected: —Mahuta Te 'Marae (Mahuta's wife), Henaro 'Kaihau ; M.P., Ahuriri (Mahuta's Prime Minister), and Hori Herewini (Chief of tiie Central Waikatos, and next in importance as a rangatira to Mahuta). It was decided that Mahuta's should bo a life apiwintment, while the others should 'be elected annually. Mr Kaihnn to-day received a telegram to tho effect that Sir James Carroll was leaving Wellington for Waahi on Friday next. In the course of an interview Kaikau stated that the intention was to decide at this meeting the procedure to be adopted in connection with the salo of tho lands., as specified in the Order-in-Council of December,' 1910, to the Government for settlement purposes, as well as to enable the native owners to decide upon tho areas to be cold to ihe Govenimentj those which were to be retained by themselves for Maori occupation, and those which might bo offered for sale to private individuals. Already it had been decided that the Moerangi Block, situated between Antra and Waipa. and embracing 45,000 acres, shouid bo sold to tho Government. Other large blocks would be dealt with later on.

■ A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that some important business connected with the settlement of various areas of native lands in the King Country was transacted at a meeting of the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board, which has just been concluded at Te Kuiti. The number of dealings total 118, and the aggregate area of tho land is 46,733 acres. The Board confirmed 33 sales, aggregating 3769 acres, and 50 leases totalling 17,847 acrea.