THE ROTORUA LAKES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 6

THE ROTORUA LAKES

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 36. The long-standing claim by the Natives of the Arawa tribe with regard to’ the Rotorua Lakes has at last been amicably settled. The Arawas, who were a loyal tribe and fought with the British in the Maori wars, had been promised a sum of money by the Government many years ago, but the money was neve/ paid, and the original sum, with compound interest, would now amount to very manv thousands of pounds. Litigation ensued, and a case was before the late Judge Wilson, but it was not concluded before his death. The Government has now agreed to pay the Arawas £6OOO a year, which sum will go towards the education of the children and improving the health of the tribe. In addition, the Government will pay the Natives their legal expenses, amounting to some £2OOO. An increased number of trout fishing licenses is to be granted the tribe, and there is to be protection of the koura, a small fresh-water crayfish, which is _ a great delicacy, and also of the fish indigenous to the lakes. The lakes and lake beds will now he recognised _ as Government property. The claim which successive Governments have evaded has been settled largely owing to the instrumentality of Sir Francis Bell and Mr Ngata, M.P. Mr Earl, K.C., of Auckland, and Mr R. Levin, of Feilding, have also been actively engaged in promoting a settlement.