A COMPLAINT FROM MURIWAI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3832, 15 May 1913, Page 6

A COMPLAINT FROM MURIWAI.

(To tho Editor.) Sir, —A matter that calls for instant attention at the hands of those responsible for the working of the Native Land: Courts is the awkward position in which: we Natives of Muriwiai find ourselves at the present moment in respect of certain matters which I will detail on their account. First of all, the Health Inspector has demanded tho building of new residences for some of the Natives, while others have already .built modern residences within tho Health requirements. Now there is a sum of £lO 000 arising from the proceeds of the sale ot the Maraetaha Block, No. 2, which was lately subdivided, belonging to the local Natives, but. this is not available for distribution (although it has. been in hand since 1911) until blac decision of the Appellate Court is made known. This money is urgently needed, more for the ‘erection of dwellings than anything else. The Native Appellate Court, it is honed, will get a move on. Continuing, there aye tlireo small blocks of residential sites here (owned by the local Natives), viz., Te Iviiri (216 acres), Tangotete No. 1 {75 acres), ditto No. 2(5 acres). These are the lands upon which we are urgently desirous oi erecting our residences. Eleven years since the survey of this block was un- i dertaken by Mr Balmeavis, an' authorised surveyor, at our instance, and the matter submitted to tho Native Land Court for confirmation, but although the application that end has been gazetted for eleven years past, th e jj Court has not sat to determine the • matter.

The East Coast Native'Land Trust Commissioner, desirous of furthering the interests of all parties, proposes to erect dwellings in a heap, and farm the rest of the land for. the general

good. We don’t want that; we want th. 6 Court to sit t ao wo Uavo por* sistently asked, and determine our titles to the land and tho money, and each can then enjoy his own.—l am, “NATIVE OF MURIWAI.”