CONFISCATED MAORI LAND

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 20 August 1910, Page 3

CONFISCATED MAORI LAND

AN OWNERLESS SECTION

AUCKLAND, August 19. At a fitting of the Native Land Court at Cambridge a matter of interest not altogether within the jiirisdictkm of the court came into prominence. It had reference to section 169 aof the Tamahere parish. This is a section that was within the confiscated boundary at tho time when certain lands were taken from the Maoris after the waT, but for some unexplained reason it was not allotted to any individual or body. It remained unoccupied for some time, but when the Natives observed this fact a section of them under Wiremu Te Whitu squatted on it, and set up a pretended possession of it. This was brought under tlie notice of the Government, which derided to dispose of the land by giving it to landless Maoris, and the Native Land Court was thereupon deputed to hold an enquiry and report as to landless Natives to whom the land miglit be given. The section, which is situated at Matangi, contains about 200 acres, and is reported to be worth £20 per acre. Curiously enough there are hosts of applicants, amongst the number being one lady who is reputed to be a large land-owner. This Native land hunger will no doubt occupy much of the time of the court officials before % Hnal settlement is arrived at.