KING MAHUTA AT THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10454, 28 May 1897, Page 5

KING MAHUTA AT THE THAMES.

NATIVE LAND COURT BUSINESS INTERRUPTED. THE MAORIS WITHDRAW THEIR CASES. •f TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. Kixg llahota, attended by his miniates, and about one hundred followers, arrived here on Monday, and on the Mowing day » Urge number of inland Maoris came. The main object oi the visitors wa» to endeavour to persuade the local tribes to withdraw all their cases from the operation of the Native Land Court, which has been sitting here continuously since January. To-day, after the Court had delivered judgment, rsgarding Mangawbero, a block of 700 acres in the Piako district, several chiefs addressed the Court, (rating they had_ decided out of compliment to their distinguished visitor to withdraw all their claims from tho Cnurt. On being asked by the Court for the reason of such an unusual proceeding, they seated that Henare Kaihau had been olected to Parliament at Mahiita'e instigation, and he and they were in great hopes than mom just laws for the Maori people would bo enncted by the next Parliament. In the meantime, at Mnhnea'n urgenb solicitation, they hud consented to abstain frem passing any more land through the Court.

The Judge (Major Mair) advised them not to be led away by false hopes. There was very little probability of their member, Henare Kaihiui, being able to effect any radical change in the native land law*, and if each individual who had claims advertised came forward and withdrew them, then their olaima would all lapse, and it might be years ere they could bo re-gazetted, and a fresh sitting of the Court held in the district.

The natives were evidently unwilling to stop the Court), and explained that, according to Maori custom, it would be a groab breach of etiquette to refuse their honoured guest anything he wished, and they had no othor course but to consent.

They then withdrew. About a hundred returned to Paeroa this afternoon by the p.». l'.'itiki, while Mnliuta nnd the remainder travelled overland in coaches and buggies. It will be a mutter for regret if Mahuta's visit proves the means of breaking up tho Court, which has been doing a great deal of useful work, and there was every possibility that in a short while the whole of the remaining native lands in tho district would have been investigated, and the titles settled permanently.