Uproar At Native Land Court Sitting

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1940, Page 6

Uproar At Native Land Court Sitting

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] DUNEDIN. This Day. A sitting of the Native Land Court was adjourned in uproar yesterday morning as Judge Shepherd left the courtroom amid scenes of violent altercation between the parties concerned in a case having to do with the Waikouaiti 'foreshore reserve. Application hdd been brought by the Under-Secretary of the Native Department. Wellington, to have the reserve vested in the native trustee, as recommended by Judge Harvey when a dispute concerning the reserve was heard by him in 1937. Three Oppose Application Three persons appeared in court to oppose the application, and „a n argument between two of them, who were constantly interrupting each other’s statements to the judge, reached such proportions and received so much support from relatives and friends at the back of the court, that the judge adjourned the sitting until the afternoon. After he had left the court the dispute became even more heated, and two women actually came to blows before being separated.

After several more minutes of shouting and arguments peace wafj restored, and the disputants dispersed until they met again in a calmer atmosphere in the afternoon.