TROUBLE AT MANGAPEEHI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2261, 22 April 1926, Page 5

TROUBLE AT MANGAPEEHI.

TIMBER COMPANY AND NATIVE OWNERS.

NATIVES ISSUE ULTIMATUM

It is reported that the native owners of the Mangapeehi timber blocks which are being worked by Messrs Ellis and Buruaud, are very much dissatisfied with the attitude the Company has adopted to them,. Mr Gabriel Elliott, agent for the natives, in conversation with a Chronicle representative this morning, recalled that as a result of a petition to Parliament,- legislation was passed in 1924 permitting a new agreement between the parties—mainly in respect of the royalties to be paid by the Company. The matter was then arbitrated upon and it was agreed that the Company should pay a 2s royalty for totara and lOd for all other timber in lieu of the old royalties of Is and 4d respectively, aud that the native owners should be supplied with timber at cost price. These undertakings, Mr Elliott stated, the Company had not carried out and for the last 15 months royalty at the old rate only had been paid. Mr Valder, the Company's manager, had been asked tot attend a gathering of the owners at Mangapeehi yesterday, but according to advice received by letter from the Company had been unable to be present on that day. A resolution was passed by the meeting yesterday requesting Mr Valder to attend a meeting on a day convenient to him bcfoi-e Wednesday next, failing which the owners would take strong action.