THE HALF-MILLION CLAIM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 4

THE HALF-MILLION CLAIM.

AMERICA N GOVERNMENT INTERESTED. [Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Pit ess Association.) Received September 3, at 5.35 a.m. New York, September 2. The Government- at Washington lias taken up Yvebster's claim for half a million. Negotiations are proceeding in London, Washington, aud Wellington. [The Webster claim had its origin in a speculative purchase of native land in the North of Auckland in the early days by an American citizen. The purchase war, effected by means of a quantity of blankets and beads. This transaction was not recognised by tho Government, though the land was not restored to the natives, but taken by the Crown, and negotiations have been proceeding ever since such State action. The advent of the United States Government raises the affair out of the trivial into the international.]