ROTORUA LAKES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17414, 27 March 1922, Page 6

ROTORUA LAKES.

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT WITH ARAWAS. (special to "the press.") WELLINGTON, March 26. The long-standing claim upon the Natives of the Arawa tribe, as I telegraphed on Friday, has at last been amicably The Arawas, who were a local tribe and fought with the British in the Maori wars, had been promised a sum of money by the Government many years ago, but the money was never paid, and the original sum, with compound interest, would now amount to very many thousands otj pounds. Litigation ensued, and a case was before the late Judge Wilson, but was iujt concluded before his death.

The Government has now agreed to pay the Arawas £6OOO a year, which sum will go towards the education of the children and improving the health of the tribe. In addition, the Government will pay the Natives their legal expenses, amounting to about £2OOO. An increased number of trout-fishing licenses is to be granted the tribe, and there is to be protection of the small fresh water crayfish, which is a great delicacy, and also the fish indigenous to the lakes. The lakes and lake-beds will now be recognised as Government property. The claim, which successive Governments have evaded, has been settled largely owing to the instrumentality of Sir Francis Bell and the Hon. A. T. Ngata, M.P. Mr F, Earl, K.C.. of Auckland, and Mr Levin, of Feilding, have also been actively engaged in promoting a settlement.