NATIVE LAND COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6652, 28 October 1908, Page 11

NATIVE LAND COURT

) A NOVEL POINT. Probably the first point o£ the kind in the history of the Native Land Court has been brought before the present sitting of the Court in We] iington. It is of considerable importance to Europeans, as it raises the point whether, in certain cases, tho Native Land Court has jurisdiction to deni with Europeans in respect to certain transactions in native lands. Confirmation was sought' of the lease of section.sß, subdivision 15, Taita, from Annie Matene and Alice Mary te Puni to Annie Eeckstpn. Sir Levi appeared for Annie lleckston and Mr McGrath opposed the eonflrmatioil on behalf of relatives. . Alice Mary te Puni is the European wife of the late Atauatau te Puni, who left his wife a lifo interest in tho property. She and Annie Matene executed a will in favourof Annie Deckston. The relatives of Atanatau te Puni opposed tho granting of. the lease, Mr McGrath raising the important point whether tho Court had jurisdiction to hear an application for confirmation of a lease from one European to another. Even if the law allowed a European to execute a lease ho or ehe only had - a lifo interest in the property. . Moreover, was there any Act which enabled the Court to’allow a European to execute a lease of Maori land? Tho case was adjourned to enable the Court to look into the matter.