NATIVE FISHING RIGHTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12283, 9 July 1914, Page 3

NATIVE FISHING RIGHTS.

Per Press Association. Wellington, July 9Tlip Full Court, consisting of the Chief Justice and Justices Edwards and Cooper, is engaged in hearing argument in the case of W-aipapakura versa* 51 r Hempton, Collector of Customs at Xew Plymouth. The appeal is from the decision of Mr Crookc 3 S.M., at Waitara. The claim in the Magistrate's Court was for £lO for damages bv his agents wrongfully depriving plaintiff of the use and possession of 'threV whitebait nets. The nets were seized by the Customs authorities upon the ground that appellant was using them unlawfully in a breach of clause 3 of the regulations under the Fisheries .Act of 1008. v , ,The appellant claimed that she was extu'eising the Maori fishing right and that such right saved her from the operation of the Fisheries Act. The Magistrate held that he had no jurisdiction to determine the existence or validity of native fishing rights, and that- apnellanfc must go.ito the Native Land"Court to have her rights determined hefore suing in the Magistrate's Court. From this decision the present appeal was brought. Argument is proceeding.