The Native Feud

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 July 1888, Page 1

The Native Feud

The facts connected with the native despite in the north are stated to be as follows : —The dispute about this block of land has lasted for a considerable time. Taurau Kukupa is willing that the land should be surveyed, and the title adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court, but Eru Hiri and party are averse. They state that the reason why they are averse is, because the Native Land Court sat on a disputed, block some time since. Taurau claimed, although he had no right, and through his influence was admitted, and has received a full share of the proceeds. They 4reftd that, if this block is adjudicated upon, the Court would award. Taurau'' a large share. Mr Samuel Bawnsley leased the block now in dispute as a gunifieid. Some time since a payment was made af several hun. di>cd pounds, and Eru Hiri says that Taurau got much mope than he ought, in fact, that he ought to have got nothing Jat all. On this last payment hecotningdue Eru Hiri took the money, nnd took care that his people should have thft lion’s share. Hence the tro übla. On a previous occasion when troi \ble threatened, Mr Clendon, Resident' Magistrate, recommended that an eq ijwl should bemade to the Court. Taura a was quite willing, and sum. mouse v w«re taken out by him against some of the opposite parly. When, however. Constable Gordon went to serve the summonses, the natives threatened to shoot him, and he' had to leave them uuserved. The wh dispute shows that it is quite a mistakd’ to leave any land with a disputed title. It has frequently been represented to the Government that persons should be made commissioners for different districts, to settle the titles of all the native land in New Zealand, making inalienable such portions as are most suitable for native reserves. If this had beed done, such a disturbance as this in the North could not have arisen.