Horowhenua Commissioner's Report.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7651, 9 June 1896, Page 3

Horowhenua Commissioner's Report.

Wellington, to-day. The report of the Horowhenua Commission was available late last night. The general tenor of the report is unfavorable to Major- Kemp, whose demeanor impressed the Commissioners as not being honest, and who is found to owe the tribe some £1500, and possibly other moneys. With respect to Sir Walter Buller'a dealings, section 14 of the report Bays : — " The only conclusion we can oome to is that Sir W. Buller knew prior to leaving in 1886 for England that the whole block was held by Kemp under one title in trust for the tribe, and on his return to New Zealaud, he, without making enquiry if the trust existed, purchased part and leased other parts of the trust proporty," The Commissioners recommend proceedings to test the validity of these transfers, and if set aside that the Crown should acquire the property i that on payment of £4000 to those of Huoia'a representatives who the Native Land Court may find entitled, the State farm be vested in the Crown ; that unless Kemp's accounts for the moneys due by him — some £2000— be paid, a statutory charge be placed on the lands he owns. The names of those Natives who the Commission finds entitled to ownership in various sections are attached to the report.

fit The report of the Horowhenua Commission stateß that Hunia, who sold, or professed to Bell to the Government portions of the block in- 1886 for £6000, for which he got a payment of £2000, waa a trustee for the tribe, and that be appropriated this payment to bis own uses.