A NATIVE LAND CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12589, 26 August 1901, Page 3

A NATIVE LAND CASE.

i [Pm Press Association.! AUCKLAND, August 25. Mr Justice Conolly gave an important decision affecting Native lands in the case Put at aka No. 1 A and B. A lease was granted to Alex Muir, junior, and present; ed to the Native Land Court for confirmation. The Court refused: to confirm, on the ground that the. land was inalienable by section 117 of the Native Land Court Act, 1894. Against this decision an appeal was made and argued before Mr Justice Conoily, the ground of appeal being that land granted under the New Zealand Settlements Act was exempt from the operation of section 117 of the Native Land Court Act. Authorities were quoted to show that the word “purchase” in legal meaning included every,other method 1 otf acquiring land except inheritance. Hia Honor held that the term “purchase” might be interpreted in a more restricted •fjense than the legal definition, but as land - granted under the New Zealand Settlements Act purported to be for good' consideration, the land in question was acquired by purchase, and he would report accordingly to the Native Land Court. This affects a large area in the Waikato, as the bulk of the lands-within the confiscated area are held .by natives under settlements grants, ond ‘therefore in terms of this decision, can be dealt with by lease or sale, notwithstanding the restrictions of the Native Land Court Act, 1894.