NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 956, 27 June 1890, Page 2

NATIVE LAND QUESTION.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Gisborne, June 19. The Native land commission inquiry into the matter of the Tokomaru Block, which has occupied the attention of the Court for several weeks past, has been finished, and Mr Skeet, fcr the applicant, applied for a certificate under section 27. Air Justice Edwards raised the point whether the commission has power to issue a certificate, the deed of purchase not being approved by the Native Land Court under the provisions of the statute of 1873. It was clear that the Legislature intended to get over suoh difficulty where this sanction has not been obtained, but owing to the blunder of the draughtsman the provision was not defined in the Act, and section 27 wa3 probably slipped. The point was serious. It affected all cases whioh would come before the Commission. The Judge said not a scrap of evidence had been brought to impugn the honesty of Arthur’s transactions, and it was quite clear on its merits that Arthur bad a good title, though, owing to the blunder on the part of the draughtsman, they could not issue a perfect title. After argument the Court decided that a certificate should be granted, which will not be issued for twenty-one days, in order to allow objectors to move the Supreme Court on prohibition, so that the point may be settled. The Judge said if the matter was finally decided as he had indicated, the Commission was perfectly useless, and the Act would have to be amended. The Judge reiterated that no transaction could be fairer, aud that Arthur’s purchases had been before the Native Land Court on three different occasions and once before Parliament, and the Native vendors never impeached his purchases.