THE ORAKEI BLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10338, 13 January 1897, Page 6

THE ORAKEI BLOCK.

The Native Lands Court sitting was con-! tinued yesterday morning, at the Supreme Court Buildings, before His Honor Judge Major Mair, hearing being resumed in connection with the Orakei Block. The following memo, of arrangement) come to at a meeting of the owners of the block and their counsel was proposed to His Honor as a ineansof settlement of thequestions arising on the petition of Mr. F. Earl, who informed His Honor that at a conference between Messrs. Dufaur, Hesketh and Richmond and himself, documents had been drawn up, and there was every probability, as far as he could see, of an amicable settlement being come to. It only remained for His Honor to visit the ground during the afternoon, in company with counsel, where they could meet the natives and complete the arrangements to the satisfaction of all concerned, after which His Honor would be able to sign the documents, etc. There were present and represented at th» meeting of owners and their counsel, thr principal owners, including Mere Paora Tu : tiaere and her solicitor, Mr. Sykes (Hesketh and Richmond), Bare Arama Moumo, Hariata Arama, Huia l'ateoro, and Kirihipena Pateoro, with their solicitor (Mr. Dufaur), Hikiera Taierua, Te Watenc Tautari and Hohepa Rewiti and their solicitor (Mr. Earl), Hori VViniata (by his solicitr, Mr. Earl), Paora-' Rewiti ana Paora Kawhara (by Hauraki Paul), Hori te Paerima and Mr. George Brown, native interpreter and trustee for Mere Paora I'uhaere and others. The meeting was addressed by Mr, Dufaur (in Maori), Mr. Earl (Mr. Brown interpreting), Te WateneTautari, Hauraki Paul, Hori te Paerimu, Paora Bewiti and Hohepa'Reweiti, and it was finally agreed unanimously that the following scheme should be proposed to the Court 1. That each of the thirteen persons named as grantees in the existing grant should be doemed to be entitled to one equal thirteenth share. 2. That there were of these thirteen five (5) Taou and eight (8) Ngaoh. (The names of these Were given by To Watena Tautari.- 3. That the'land should be divided by—first: Setting apart a reserve of the land now occupied by the whares and houses on the beach. This is to be held in common— about 50 acres. Second: Dividing the remainder of the block into four parts, or as many parts as may be necessary for the purposes _ of equality or division—the Taou tribe to have five-thirteenths' of the whole included in their area, and the Ngaoho eight-thirteenths, the division to be so arranged as to give each party as nearly as possible a fair snare of the more valuable as well as a fair share of the less valuable portion of the block. 4. The judge and assessor if they approve to visit and examine the land, take any means they think proper of eliciting information, ana the Court to make the partition on the above lines. 5. It is understood that so far as possible any owner who has - any special claim by recent and continued cultivation, etc., of any considerable extent, shall have his share so partitioned as to include the portion so used or cultivated. This is, however, left to His Honor the Judge, to deal with. It is also understood that ' a wife's _ share shall be _ allotted so as to joiu the husband's, if possible. 6. It is understood that the western side of the block is the more valuable. 7. In case this scheme of partition fails the present arrangement and this record shall not be evidence of any kind that the 13 grantees were equally entitled, and shall be entirely without prejudice to any future proceedings on partition or otherwise. The Court adjourned sitting at 12.30, and His Honor, counsel, and others left for the block at 2 o'clock, it being anticipated that they would be able to look over about half of it during the course of the afternoon, the total area having about 650 acres. Sitting will resume this morning, y •