INTERESTING APPEAL CASE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 187, 23 July 1912, Page 5

INTERESTING APPEAL CASE.

RIPARIAN RIGHTS AT LAKE ROTORUA. Wellington, July 23. Argument was commenced in the Appeal Court to-day in the special ease Tami Hana Kiorokai and others v. the Solicitor-General, raising questions as to the Native rights over Lake Rotorua. Plaintiff is a Native of Rotorua and is acting on behalf of himself and all others who are owners, according to Native custom and otherwise, of land covered by th? water known as Lake Rotorua.

It is claimed by the Natives that the bed of the lake or some part of it is land held in freehold tenure by those natives as accessory to their freehold- title to land adjoining the bed. and is included by implication of law in the Native Land Court certificates of title which have been issued .and in freehold titles obtained by xirttie ol these certificates of titles ; or in alternative it is claimed that the bed of the lake is customary Native land, in respect of which tlie Native Land Court has jurisdiction to make freehold orders under the Native Land Act. 1909 ; or that the lake is subject to certain customarv. exclusive rights of fishing, navigation and other uses xested in those natives, and that those lights are capable in some manner of legal recognition and enforcement bx this court or the Native Land Court. All these claims and allegations are disputed by the Crown.