RANGI KEREHOMA'S LANDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 160, 26 March 1918, Page 6

RANGI KEREHOMA'S LANDS

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY i THE EUROPEANiSATION PROCEEDING Tho Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the young Native, Hangi Kerehoma, and especially into tho dealings in land between him and two other persons, W. S. Beard, solicitor, and Yv. 13. Chennells, sometimo agent, for the Public Trustee, both of Masterton, and into the Europeanisation of this Native, was resumed last evening. Mr. H. W. Bishop, Commissioner, presided. Mr. C. B. Morison, K.Q., ivith Mr. D. 11. Hoggnrd, appeared ifor Mr. J. T. M. Horiisby, Ml'., at whose instance the Commission was set up; Mr. C. P. Skerrett, with him Mr. M. J. Crombie, for Mr. W. B. Chennells; and Sir John Fjndlay, K.C., with him Mr. H. F. von Haast, for tho Public Trust Onice. . Michael Gilfedder, Judge of the Native Land Court, gave evidence regarding the application which came before him for tho Europeanisation of Rang! Kerehoma. Mr. W. G. Beard appeared for the applicant, and the usual clarations were, put in, showing that the applicant had reasonable _ educational qualifications, and showing also ills means. Kerehoma appeared, and said that he was twenty-five years old. He (witness) •questioned Kerehoma closely upon what he had done with the sum of £11,000' received when he became of age. Mr. Beard pointed out that if Kerehoma spent all his money he would still have the income on £25,000 held by the Public Trustee. No information was given to the Court regarding Kerehoma's habits" with regard to drink or anything of that sort. Tfio application was not opposed, and the Europeanisation was gazetted in April of that year.

To Sir John Findlay: He .did nob make any inquiries from the Public Trustee.on his own account. At the time of 1 the application he knew nothing of the proposed dealings by Chennells and Beard in KercJioma's lands. Had he "smelt" anything of that sort Kerehoma would never have been Europeanised. He did not know of Chennells at all in connection with tho matter.

To Mr. Skerrett: The prices at whicli land was purchased by the Grown from Natives rarely exceeded the Government valuation.

To the Commissioner: He did nob think the legislation permitting the Europeanisation of Maoris was safe or proper. He did net approve of the taking away of all safeguards from Maoris. This case of Rangi Kerehoma was the first in New Zealand.'

John Strang, of Gladstone, sheepfarmer, said that he had leased certain lands, 2100 acres in area., held in trust by the Public Trustee fur ltangi Kerehoma. He had been asked to renew his lease by the Public '.trustee, and he had agreed to do so. iir. (Jhenneils. had told liim that tho iease would be "all right." Cuenneils did not let him know :.hat 'he had a power attorney for Korehonia. (Jhennells's con* uuct, also that of BearU, was consistent with his belief that they weieacting for him 'in trying to get N the lease for him renewed. He (witness), was at'length tola fouit- he csuw nave only 040 acres of th« block, and lie protested strongly against this, making, it clear to Uiwuieiib and lieuru tlniu he considered that bo had been badly treated All this while ho did not know that ChenneUs aisd Beard had ■purchased from Rangi Kerehoma. Ho did not 'know that u'«r:iia:its was not acting for the .Public Trustee until Mr Donaldson saw him about the matter. Ho wished to havo the lease renewed because the block was necessary to give proper pjcess to another block held by witness. This was all the evidence called by Mr. Morison.

Dr. Fitchett, lately Public Trustee, was called by Sir John l-'indlr.y. A long affidavit" made by Dr. Fitchett the Beard case ii: the Appeal Court, was put in, and taken as read. Dr. Fitchett, giving evidence, said he was appointed Public Trustee in 1910, so that he was not in the position when Rangi Kerehoma attained his majority in 1909, and before Chei'.nells obtained his poWof of atcorney from Rangi. If that pwver of attorney had been to the Public Tnistee_ the, officecould have carried on ail Kerehoma's affairs. In the case of an agent for the Public Trustee such as Ononnells. was, it was distinctly irregular for him to accept a power of attorney for himself and not for the office. \Vituess had no knowledge of the power of attorney until he made an inquiry upon it, as the result of information received. Khe had known earlier he would have demanded an explanation, at once. His.(witness's) opinion wastbat Kerehoma, did not appreciate the differenco between a power of attorney to the Public Trustee and one* to Chennells. He had heard the ■statement that Chennells told a member of the Public Trust Office staff that ho had received a power of attorney from Rangi, but witness bad been uuablo to discover to what member of the staff any isuch statement, fra.s made. The power of attorney actually made was a most profligate arrangement, for under it the unhappy young Maori might be asked to pay 10 percent, on all moneys passing through Chennells's hands. Had witness known, of tho contents of such a document he could never have approved of it. Ho knew nothing of Chennells's letter stating that bis family arranged to purohase some of Kerehoma s land. "that letter, which came to the office, should have come to lira, but it did not. Tho letter was dealt with by Mr. Roiialdson, who put on it a minute to the effect that Kerehoma. owned the land and was free to do as he liked with it. He knew nothing or the proposal to Europeanise Kerehoma. A letter on'this subject, now on the office file, did not come to mm. He knew something of Rangi Kerehoma s character, and if he had known anything of the Buropeanisatioji scheme lie would have conveyed fins information to the Court. He admitted that it was not easy for the Public Trustee to get all information regarding this matter. AH letters could not come under his e> To Mr. Skerrett: Chennells was a~ cood agent for tho Public Trustee in Masterton for a period of twenty years. Chennell.vwas paid wholly by commission Nevertheless, he considered Chennells to bo a public officer, under tho control and direction of the Public Trustee. He had no knowledge of whether Chennells even so much as saw Rangi Kerehoma during the period of the latter's -minority. Agents for the Public Trustee, had the right of private practice, so that there was nothing irregular in Chennells s conduct in this regard. Tho commission adjourned until W.io a.m. to-day.