MAORI ASKS FOR A MOUNTAIN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18928, 17 February 1927, Page 8

MAORI ASKS FOR A MOUNTAIN.

CLAIM TO EGMONT. ALSO SEVERAL TOWNS. MISS ASSOCIATION- TTLfOmv 1 NEW PLYMOUTH, February 16. An unexpected claim was made before the Royal Commission for the investigation of Maori land grievances at vVaitnra this morning, when a Native asked for the return of Mt. Egniont to Maoris. Kupenga Kaliao was the Maori who made the extraordinary tcquest, tho object of which is apparently to obtain the fees which are collected there. In giving his evidence to the Commission he asked that the mana of Mt. Kgniont be returned to the people in ihe territory from AVaitotara to White Cliffs. He asked that it lie returned to the chiefs with a provision that the Government be trustee to control the affairs of the mountain, and that Maoris receive the tolls for their people. There wa.s a pa belonging to them, he said, just on the Bnow line, railed "Maru." There were people killed and buried there during the Native trouble between the Waikato and the Taranaki Maoris. He also asked for the long and permanent residence of tho elders at Cape Egmont, which was confiscated. H« nsked for the return of this place, which was about eight acres. They had to bring sand in baskets on thefr backs to improve the soil there to grow kumaras. There were also lamprey weirs there, which were now being used by the Marine Department. Other petitioners sought the return to tho Natives of the towns of Hawera. Patea, Waverley, and Mokoia, and various fishing grounds and pas in various parts of the province. It is probable that the Commission will complete its business in Waitara bv Saturday. It will then return to Wellington, where on February 23rd it will hear Mr Taylor in reply to the arguments of Mr Smith on the first enquiry in the order of referent.— whether the confiscations exceeded in quantity what was fair and just. The next sitting will commence at Opotiki on March 23rd. The Commission has to present its report to the GovernorGeneral by June 30th.