OPENING THE MOKAU COUNTRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 172, 14 November 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

OPENING THE MOKAU COUNTRY.

On the Bth November, the Mokau chiefs, Te Wetere, Takirau, Epiha, and Heta, came to New Plymouth for the purpose of consulting Mr. Kelly, M.H.E., in reference to the sitting of a Native Lands Court for the Mokau country. Mr. Kelly received the natives at his private residence, Bell Block. Epiha said that the natives had unanimously made application under the Native Lands Act, 1880, to Chief Judge Fenfcon, some months ago, for the sitting of a Land Court, but they had received no reply to thoir request, neither could they obtain an answer to their telegrams ou the subject. They now requested Mr. Kelly to move in the matter for them, and" obtain the sitting of a Court without delay. Te Wetere said that he wrote to the Government asking for the Gouvt to sit at the White Cliffs, and a reply had been received from Mi\ Rolleston approving of the request ; and he had seen Mr. Rolleston in New Plymouth, and the Minister stated that the matter was in the hands of the Chief Judge, and that the Government would consider the matter ; but there was so much .delay that the natives wer,e getting tired of waiting. Mr. Kelly asked if the native owners were aIL unanimous, and if the natives inland were likely to raise any objections V

Te Wetere replied that they bad settled those things before asking for the Court. There would be no trouble.

Mr. Kelly asked what position did Rewi Maniapotft take in the matter. Takirau replied that Manga had

handed over all the business of Mokau to him and' Te ■ Wetere,' and produced a letter under ! Rewi ? s seal stating that •Te 1 Wetere and Takirau were to manage all-the affairs of Mokau With the Europeans. Mr. Kelly asked to be supplied with a tsopy of the letter, -which was done. Mr. Kelly asked if there would be j any contested ownerships in the lands requested to be put through the Court ?

Te 'Wetu replied : Yes ; there may be other claimants for a piece at Waipingio, but let- the judge decide the ownership. I told these words to Mr. Rolleston. 'I do not' Wish you to listen to What i you hear from other people about'Mokan j it is in toy hknAa. I do not knowwhy the Government do not listen to me.

Mr. Kelly — I would do all in my power to help you to get a railway to Mokau if the time has arrived.

Te Wetu— That is well ; but let us ■commence with the Land Court. The railway comes next. Epiha — There is a good way for the railway to go to Mokaa.

My. "Kd\y-re<s2b& that h<? was toty glad the natives had waited on him, because 'it enabled him to 1 form his own opinion of the native mind between Taranaki and Waikato. He need not say that he would do all in his power tcf forward the opening of that country. The request of the natives was one that he felt justified in urging upon the notice of the Government, and he would at once communicate with the Native Minister on the subject.

The natives thanked Mr. Kelly for his consideration, and retired.— JHeraW.