MAORI CLAIM

Grey River Argus, 18 January 1939, Page 11

MAORI CLAIM

North Auckland Land EARLY DAY CROWN DEAL QUESTIONED. [Per Press Association.J WHANGAREI, January 17. Involving possession of the Mokau Block of 7000 acres in the Puketi State forest, an action was commenced by a sub-tribe of the Ngapuhis at a sitting of the Tokerau Native Land Court at Kaikohe to-day. The area concerned contains some of the_ finest kauri trees left standing in New Zealand. Judge F. O. V. Acheson is presiding. Mr Hail Skelton and Mr E. C. Blomiield are representing the Maoris. Mr V. M. Meredith (Crown Prosecutor, Auckland) is conducting the defence. The sitting is expected to last several days. The natives claim that the place names defining the boundaries of the Mokau Block are out of position on the maps, and on the deeds held by the Crown, some being between three and eight miles away. They also contend that the deal was contrary to instructions issued by the Marquis of Ormandy to Captain Hobson on August 14, 1839, and which laid down principles under which native land deals were to be conducted. The Crown states that the area was purchased in consideration of a (Ash payment of £250 in 1850,