THE POUTUTU COMMISSION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 383, 28 November 1889, Page 3

THE POUTUTU COMMISSION.

His Honor Judge Barton and Mr Tata Tamaii, Native Assessor, acting as Commissioners under the Poututu Jurisdiction Act passed last session, yesterday morning resumed their enquiry, pursuant co adjournment made on Wednesday of the previous week. Yesterday was the appointed time for all natives who had sold to Mr William Cooper to appear, and if they thought fit enter any protests against the sales claimed to have been made. His Honor took special care that, apart from the required statutory notice other notices should be sent to the natives, so that all parties having claims of any nature whatsoever should not be debarred from staling their claims before the Court.

On the Cour: opening yesterday few natives appeared. Mrs Mary Anu Brown stated that the natives were fully aware that that day had been appointed for enquiry into the claims of all those natives who had any objection to raise against their sales to Mr Cooper, She did not, she stated, appear on behalf of any of the natives, but they were fully aware of what was taking place. Mr DeLautour, upon whose request the time of adjournment had been extended, said he considered that all objections with regard to the three blocks, A, B, and C, should be dealt with by the Court; that notices had been sent to the natives, and if they did not appear the responsibility rested with themselves. Mr Gannon replied that so far as the Poututu C interests claimed by Mr Cooper were concerned no objector had appeared ; that the bona tides of the sale of their interests to Mr Cooper had been en-

quired into by Judge Brabant; that it was agreed by all parties that the evidence taken at former enquiries was to be accepted as that given iu the present enquiry; that practically no objection was offered to the purchases made by Mr Cooper in C block, and that the Court was, by the Act passed last session, to deal with the case on the grounds of equity and not strict law. His Honor replied to this purport: Apart from the statutory notices required to ba given, other nonces had already been sent out, informing the natives that that day had been Kt apart for hearing any objections they had to make in regard to the interest of Mr Cooper in the Poututu Blocks A, B, C. That no possible opportunity might hereafter be offered of any objection being raised, the Court—although by law not required so to do—decides that further notices will be sent to natives to raise any objection they may have, Therefore the Court would be adjourned until Friday next to give any natives who wish to appear before the Court a further opportunity to represent their claims in the blocks. The natives should distinctively understand that than would be absolutely no appeal from tbe decision come to by the Commission. On Friday the order in which the cases would be hoard would be settled, but tbe Court thought tbe Poututu C should be beard first, there being fewer owners in that block and consequently less delay likely to take place in the bearing,