WAI-O-HI-HARORE BLOCK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11142, 4 December 1907, Page 2

WAI-O-HI-HARORE BLOCK.

NATIVE LAND COMMISSION TO MAKE FURTHER ENQUIRIES.

■When the Native Land' Commission, met again this morning. Eruera, Rongomiii again introduced, the matter of the Wai-o-hi-haa*ore block, discussed before the Commission yesterday, and asked as to the possibilities o<f the Natives getting the balance, of the purchase money. Air H. C. Jackson, the receiver appointed m respect of this block, stated that as his name had been mentioned freely m connection with the matter, he desired the following written statement to be read out arid recorded m the journals of the Commission : —To His Honor the Chief Justice, President of th© Native Land Commission. Sir,— As the Native owners of the , Wai-o-hi-harore block who aaclressed the Court yesterday seemed "under a. misapprehension sis to the facts connected with the distribution of the money paid by the Government on account of the railway station, I bejf to make the following statement m relation thereto. The Natives themselves decided the number of -shares into which the block | should be divided. That number was 1590, and as there was £798 available for distribution, the value of each share was, m round numbers, ten shillings. The distribution was, however, worked out to minute fractions m every instance, and the amount -coming to Hap i Kineha ' was that which, was paid to him, namely, £7 Is, he holding fourteen shares. Tlvb Natives were mistaken as to my stating that there was any more money coming to them from the railway. All such statements made by me to them had reference only to the money- to be received from the-Harbor' Board unded K the agreement with that Board. The : emphatic assertion made by the Natives, unless explained and' corrected, are calculated to injure me seriously, : and I therefore, place this statement on record ior the information of the Commission and my own. protection," Tthe Chief Justice said he did riofc irn.aerstand there was any reflection insinuated against Mr Jackson m the matter at^allj but he would take a note Of the statement. / . ? Eruera continued his remarks, when His Honor said; he would, take a note and see what could be done about getting the remaining portion of -the compensation. Eiruera further pointed out there. .was a dispute regarding, the ; land taken ,by\ the Harbor Board. Mr Jackson explained the position on a map. A proclamation was issued over the whole block, but at the Compensation, Court Government said they only re quired o,' portion. It was then arranged that the Bbard should take .that to the east of a given line, including the point and the accretions caused by the training wall, for which they were to b© paid ,£550. The Natives were to. take the remaining portion to the east of Low© street, a«.d : betw,een the sea and the Maraetaha road, which runs down the length Of the block, containing 'Belia.; Kerekere's house, including the. accretions m front of it. •■ The Boird were to be allowed ,a chain road, m front of this section on the beach. . The' position, .however, was that the Board had since obtained! a title to. its land, which was on the register, and, it included the accretions m front of Kere l kere's house, to have been retained by the- Natives.. ' " .. .- His -Honor said he wouhi inquire into the matter. '.'■■■' . A TE KARAKA BLOQKJ ■.-,..' . ■/ W. Mlorris brougiht before the Comniission the matter of the Whaitiri blobfc, Te Karaka, which had been sold under survey lien. He wanted tot'know what had since become of the ownership. It was leased to lopa te» Hau, but he could 3oot "get a title, and) it was then leased to a Mr Evans, who had sinee 1 left,; and another main Svas m possession. He had an interest m the folock. through a deceased Native, There was va mortgage on, -it, arid they wanted to know wiat the balance was, as they were not getting any .Tents. "'■' , : . -.- . His Honor said they would inquire into the matter. AD JOURNMEiNT. ; His Honor intimated that the Coimnission would then a,djourn to visit the Coast. He did not know when he would be back, but intimation would be 'given of the next localV sitting 1 .