A BIG MAORI CLAIM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14304, 25 February 1910, Page 4

A BIG MAORI CLAIM.

ACTION AGAINST THE CROW*.

ROTORUA AND ROTOITI WATERS :

The. cases 'concerning the important n«tion of native rights in regard to ] i : Rotorua and Rotoiti, which have b<*n down for hearing at the Auckland Sft Court, will be removed to thoV-SfV Appeal, where the interesting point?- f volved in the claims—which, it.i,,^," I '- stood, will affect all other lakes lip Zealand— be argued. ~ -.- V;

Two actions are, being brought ae ' r the Government on he-half of their ' : tribe, the nominal claimant in reran,"* Lake Rotorua being Tamihana. Kotcwi (the owner of a large area of land bo ; nig on the lake), whilst Tieri te Tit, cupies a similar position, in respect to T Rotoiti. The plaintiff in each cas* i * claim to the land on which the water"cf lake rests, and ako the right to- the »i use of the waters, including all fiC ;■; ferry, and tolls rights appertaining to I* lakes. In regard to the land claimed "iP is urged that the land covered by the water is native land, within the meaning of ft Native Land Act, 1894, and that the claim! ants have a right to have the matter investigated by the Native Land Court. • : 'I Mr. F. Earl, who is annearincr or the native claimants, informed Mr. Justice. Ed wards at the- Supreme Court yesterday that it, had been .agreed between the Crown solicitor (Hon. J. A. Tole) 'and himself that' the case was one that could bo most'.pro: perly tried by the Full Court. It was accordingly agreed that a "case should bo stated for the higher tribunal. The writs it may be mentioned, wVreireued on Dfr ccmber 20, just before the passage of tha new Native Land Act, " under which icuci proceedings would be barred., :\