PORT AWANUI NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9143, 10 May 1901, Page 3

PORT AWANUI NOTES.

Awanui has presented quite a busy appearance for the last three weeks, due to the session of the Native Land Court. It is quite a common occurrence to see at least a hundred "Ngatiporou ponies" tied up outside the Courthouse. Over three hundred cases have already been disposed of, the Court being at present engaged ia ascertaining the title to East Island, and deciding wnat amount of compensation should be paid to the owners, the island having been taken under the Public Works Act for the lighthouse. This case appears to be creating) a lot of interest amongst the Natives, and is being keenly contested. ' Mr Thompson, of the Department, arrived by the Omapere on Monday last to represent the Government on the question of value. Mr Price, of the local Survey Department, has been here for the last few days putting a number of survey lien cases through the Court. The Court officials were much amused at a letter which appeared m the Herald about two weeks ago referring to the building which is being used as a Courthouse as "a miserable, pokey Httle room, about 16ft by 12ft, attached to a hotel, and utterly unsuitable for holding a Court m, etc.," whereas, as a matter of fact, it is a building over 30ft long by 15ft wide, about forty yards away from the hotel, and has been fitted up by Mr Butler with .every convenience for Court purposes, and the Judge and staff have expressed their entire satisfaction with its convenience and comfort.