ORAKEI LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23080, 4 July 1938, Page 14

ORAKEI LAND

CROWN AND MAORIS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY SITTING OPENS THIS MORNING The Royal Commission appointed by the* Governor-General, Viscount Galway, to investigate grievances alleged by Maoris concerning land at Orakei, will begin its sitting this morning at the Native Land Court. Mr. J "^ e Kennedy will preside. In all probability the commission will formally open its proceedings and then adjourn to Orakei. All interested persons have been invited to attend the sitting and to bo introduced concerns about four acres of land on which is a house blocking a roadway that serves the State housing subdivision. This piece of land was serve granted by the Crown to Bishop Selwyn for a burial ground and the endowment of a nat.Ve scbool. tion in 1925 authorised the sale of the area to the Crown. Another matter in dispute is the Maori settlement on the a Orakei. Several years ago tbo settleis there petitioned the Government for the return of 40 acres on which part of the settlement exists. This was originally held by the Crown. The commission will also be asked to decide the future of about 60 acres of land over the hills. The Crown been asked to relinquish land valued at about £SO 000 for building sites, the area a present being used chiefly for grazing PU Other S 'points to be investigated are whether the Crown paid to vendors fair and reasonable prices for their_ interests, and whether the Purchase money had been paid to the native vendors; whether the Maoris who occupy Actions of the land bought by the Crown have any right or justification for continuing to occupy the land and for refusing to vacate it so that the Crown may secure vacant possession. The commission will also in <l u "" 0 whether certain promises were made by any official or agent of the Crown, and whether, if they were made,theywere made with the authority of the Crown i and were morally or legally binding.