NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10361, 16 May 1895, Page 3

NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION.

! (Per United Fbess Association.) : ■■■- Gisboene, May 15. Argument has been proceeding all day before Mr Barton, registrar, sitting as judge, in the application of M'Nicoll Bros., Waikato, to have Wi Pere, M.H.R., adjudged a bankrupt. Mr Rees, for Wi Pere, argued that the several documents in the case were informal and illegal, and, that being so; there was no proof of an act of bankruptcy. Wi Pere, examined on Oath, said that he made au agreement with M'Nicoll to purchase the Wairakei reserve for £4-250 and paid him £250, but had cot been able to find the balance o£ the money. He had received no assignment or conveyance from M 'Nicoll, though he still held the property, nor had they paid him a shilling's worth of rant. When1 in Auckland last month he saw one of the applicants, and arranged that on his' paying £500 proceedings would be postponed till after the session of Parliament;. The idea was to enable part of the Native Land Act to be repealed,'mainly that part which prohibited the sale or mortgage of Native lands. He had been assured by the Premier that next session that would be done, and told M'NicoH that the Premier had consented to remove that restriction. Estimates had been made of the value of his properties. The value oF land that had besn awarded him was £60,000. His total liabilities amounted to £15.000. He;told M'Nicoll he had applied to the Government lending board for the money to pay ofi these liabilities, and the Public Trustee,had coosented to advance £13,000. Witness was unable to raise Hie £500 required to stay proceedings. Mr Nolan, for applicants, replies to Mr Rees's argument on Friday morning. Until then, the case has been adjourned.