ROTORUA LAKES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 5

ROTORUA LAKES

CLAIM OF THE ARAWAS.

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ROTORTJA. Dec. 14. Ihe conference between the Hon Sir 1 +i.ran, c xs. Bf !1 <T nd the Arawas regarding | the latter's claim to the ownership of the lakes was concluded to-day Mr Earl counsel for the Arawas, stated that when the Government I suggested a conference with a view to ; finding a ground whereon the case could !be settled amicably. Mr. Ngata was j called to assist the Arawas in framing j proposals, who decided that any settlet ment should take into consideration the Arawas loyal services,. and that any money awarded, if their claims were conceded, be devoted to puttie utilities tor the tribe in secondary schools nursing homes assistance in farming, and loans for dwellings. Some differences arose among the Arawas regarding thesterms but eventually the scheme was accepted, the Rotoiti natives stipulating that matters of detail be settled at a, conference with their representative i Mr. .Brown, and themselves on January The Hon. Sir Francis Bell agreed to this and said that Mi. Brown elaim-d the lakes on behalf of the nublic but was impaired to settle out of court if w A awas a? reod among themselves ' what they wanted, but if no agreement fiX™^ nr- Bra^.wa« Beared to ngnt. The Crown owed a debt to the Arawas for their unbroken loyalty The scheme had the merit of subordinating the individual and sub-tribe claims tS the general good He could not commit pro^Xr^abS ™*A SUbmit