NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11141, 3 December 1907, Page 6

NATIVE LAND COMMISSION.

The Native Land Commission sat for nearly two hours this- morning, and adjourned- until ' to-morrow morning, when a sitting will be held, if necessary, prior to proceeding to the Coast. Mr Ngata, M.P., left for Waiomatatini this morning to arrange tlie business for the sitting there. In the course of the discussion, this morning, reverting to the original complaint, Hnpi Hinaki maintained he hact only received, half his money. . His Honor, reviewing tlis statement, said lie had been paid m full, except for the charges, which, should .not have been mode.' Air Jackson's chapge of 5 per cent, amounted to £54, other expenses were £277. He again advised Mr' Jack^son, to point out to the Department the Court had no right to. do what it had done. As regards the Harbor Board, it would be 'better for them,- to get things settled as soon as possible, or there would be troulble ahead. Because it was ai Native matter they had 1 no business to let it hansr over for a year. They should bring m a private Act. This was one of the. curses of / the Dominion. Wherever they " were dea-Hn^ with Native . affairs, it was a case of huno; up, hung up eternally, with no finality. It was prejudicial to the, Natives them/selves, and the race was putting off till to-morrow wfyat it should do to-day, and was dragging the Efuropeans xrito the sajng method of things. They were adrift, adrift, adrift. The master of the Harbor BoaivTs position wns again mentioned, when Mr Ohrisp stated that the block was on the register with the accretions. It had been obtained minder the Land Transfer Act by "Governor's warrant. Hi s Honor remarked the Board was not entitled to get it. He did not know of any power the Government had to do it. Mr Rees added that the agreement was for the piece of, land and the accretion. That it was on the register was news to him. His Honor said it -was clear that if the accretion was gradiial, the owner was entitled' to it. the .same way tlpt he lost it with an erosion. Cases had been decided on. the point. Mr Chrisp snjd the accretion was the result of the Harbor Board's efforts for ten year."?; it wns not gradual. Hi s Honor: Well, that is a different thing. Mr Chrisp added that seven acres had been made m ten rears. His Honor said, the Government could not dispose of Crown land without the consent of Parliament. Eruara Rongomai complained to the Commission thnt he had only received hnlf his money.— His Honor advised the Natives to inquire what was going to be done. — Ernera Rongomai replied that with the Commission's explanation, matters were a little clearer, and they would take the advice given and waste" no further money pursuiug false roads.