MAORIS INVADE LAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16704, 23 July 1928, Page 10

MAORIS INVADE LAND

AND BURY THEIE DEAD PURCHASER OBJECTS When a. number of Maoris sold a piece of land to a butcher at licrepeehi they were uitdcr the. impression that the sale did nol preclude, their right to bury dead members of the tribe there. A Maori (lied, and in due course the relatives invaded the butcher's property, (lug a grave despite his protests, and interred the body. That was ou August 22, 1927. Since then Iwo other natives have been buried iu the same property. Seeing prospects of his holding being transformed from his own farm to somebody else's cemetery, the butcher invoiced the aid of the law. This, m effect, was the story told by Reuben Conner in the Supreme CVuit iu Auckland to Mr- -Justice Mae Gregor, iu asking for £IOO damages from Tiimeliana Peeke, Paratcne Hoiene, Mark Burton and Ernest Barber, laborers of Kerepeehi, and an order prevent ing further burials. The plaintiff Conner said that when the Maoris came on to his i'and and began to dig a grave he called the local constable, and in his presence ordered the natives away. The majority went, but some refused absolutely to leave. To bring the body to the ground, it had been necessary to remove part of a fence. Since the issue of the writ, tw i more bodies had been buried iu the same grave When he bought the block Conner said lie ordered the Maoris to remove certain buildings upon it. This had been done.

"It is quite clear the Maoris have trespasser!, and apparently continue to trespass," said His Honor. "As regards the damages, there was very little destruction, but the trespass was all ag-

gravating one. The court issued an injunction as desired. The plaintiff was awarded £25 damages.