A TITLE TO LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12201, 28 July 1925, Page 6

A TITLE TO LAND

PETITION FROM MAORIS. ’ For a long time the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland has been trying to obtain possession of certain lancT at Takapuna. to which he holds the title, but which certain natives decline to vacate. Lately proceedings were taken against them, but judgment waß. reserved to enable them to petition Par-: liament for an inquiry into their claim to the rightful owners. of the land. ; The petition was presented to Parliament by the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare. It is a picturesquely-worded document, which begins:—“Greetings—We, the heirs, chiefs, and survivors of our deceased forefathers, laden - with grief, pain, and disaster, brought upon us by qur younger brothers the pakeha, do hereby pray to your honourable House to hear us with your) wise judgment in the matter of our grievances. We, your humble servants,., are true descendants of the- several tribes of the Hauraki Gulf—namely, of Paoa, Marutuaba, Tamatera. and Whanaunga, and we are residing at Awataha, in Takapuna. We are living op! this land as our forefathers did of-old, and the chain of occupation from them tb. US at the present day has never been broken,: with the knowledge that this land belongs to our forefathers, with all'.its rights, and to «a, their true descendants; at the present dav.” ' ' • The petition Roes on to say that the land-title held by the Catholic Church Bishop is . invalid, and that the land Was not sold by the forefathers of the Maoris.