THE HOROWHENUA BLOCK

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 50, 27 August 1895, Page 3

THE HOROWHEN UA BLOCK

» Another phase of the condition of things in regard to the Borowhenua blook was brought to light in the Supreme Conrt this morning. In 1874, after the bulk of the Horowhenua block had been awarded to the Muanpoko tribo, a number of the sncoesifnl olaimanta — instigated, it is alleged, by other? — set fire to (he wbares of the representatives of Te Whatanui, then living: on the blook. Arms were reBortod to by both aides, though there was no bloodshed. Sit Donald M'lein, then Native Minister, visited the locality, and held meetings of the natives, and eventually arranged -with Major Kemp that the Muaupoko should give up 1300 acres of land near the Borowhenna Lake to the representatives of Te Whatanui. This was done, but the names of Te Whatanui's representatives were not settled. Subsequently, as those claiming to be his descendants could not agree amongst themselves as to the ownership and division of the block, the matter was referred by Order-in-Cooncil to the Native Laiid Court. The Order-in.CouDoil gave the Native Land Court jurisdiction to enquire and decide what descendants of Te Whatanui were entitled to the .land. When the dispute occurred in 1874 none of the descend-ants--of Te Whatanui were living on the. land, but descendants of his sister were, and these, it is claimed, were the. people on whose account the cession from the Mnaupoko was arranged by Sir Donald M Lean. Recently the matter oamo before the Native Land Court, when the residents on the land were opposed by lineal descendants of Te Whatanui through a. daughter at the Bay of Islands. A partial compromise was come to before Judge Maokay, but subsequently an appeal was made to the higher Conrt by the d*soen-" dants of the sister, when the Judge awarded the descendants of the sister half of the blook, being 200 acroß more than the amount awarded through Judge Maokay. The lineal descendants of Te Whatanui next moved for a writ of prohibition on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction under the Order-in-Counoil to award anything at all to descendants of the sister. The Chief Justice this morning granted the writ, at the same time expressing regret that the proceedings had been taken, and intimating that probably the Executive would interfore to prevent what was obviously a miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin appeared for the lineal descendants of Te Whatanui, and Mr, Moriaon for the descendants of the sister. We understand that representations will be immediately made to the Eieoutive, asking for the issue of a fresh Order-in-Counoil, so that the intentions of Sir Donald M'Lean may be given effeot to.