NATIVE GRIEVANCES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 50, 27 August 1920, Page 8

NATIVE GRIEVANCES

CASES HEARD BY COMMISSION.

The Native Land Commission Hearing Natives' grievances is still sitting at Wellington. A' Gisborne case, already partly heard, roferred to events, which took place in 1868 at Poverty Bay^ .when the loyal Natives ceded their lands to the-Govern-ment for tho purpose of having military settlers • placed among them for. protection. Liter the gift was confined to a ■limited area, but the Natives claim that tho Government took about four times tho area tho Natives hid agreed to, and they seek compensation for tho excess area. ■ •. ' ■ . ■■ ': ■ '. ■ ' '

Another case, a Hawkes Bay one, threw a side hg'ht upon a purchase made by the Crown about 1853. 'Tho Natives allege that thero was a dispute; about this, which was arranged by exempting, a block called Aorangi, of some 7200 acres, from the operation of the sale. The next thing they, knew was a European produced a Crown grant for the land in question* and ousted them out of possesibn. They suggeßt some mistake has been made, and seek reparation..

A third case refers to a reserve iof 700 acres, which now forms ipart of the town of btratfcird. The land being required foi the Csrown, the Native reserve was shifted elsewhere. without the Natives'consent. The Bell-Fox Commission of 18S0 reported on it aa a very high-handed proceeding, and.sought to rectify any injustice by granting- a further 300 aores. ihe Natives complain that there is a great disparity between the value of the land taken . from, them and' that given in oxohange by tho Crown. t All these matters have been the subjeot otcontinual petitioning: by tho Nati?6s. Captain Pitt represented tho Gisborne petitioners, Mr. Myers and Mr. Moran (of Masterton), the Hiiwkest Bay Natives, and Mr. Myers the Taronaki one?. Mr. is.nignt_(of Auckland) is watchin? tho ■Crown interests. , '