NATIVE LAND COURT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19423, 7 September 1937, Page 4

NATIVE LAND COURT

SITTING AT MANUTUKE WELCOME TO JUDGE k ■ A sitting of the Native Land Court was held in the meeting house at Pahau, Manutuke, yesterday, Judge H. Carr presiding. A large number of interested owners was present. Before the court commenced its business Messrs. P. Moeau, W. Paputene and M. Paratene extended a welcome to the judge, expressing the thanks of the tribe. In reply, Judge Carr said that it was very nice to hear expressions of appreciation from the speakers. "It is not always convenient for some of you to attend in town," continued the judge, "and when in town most of you have other things to attend to, which often means delay, but to-day you are all here on time and bright and fresh, and I sincerely hope that the business of the court will be quick and satisfactory to everybody and conducted in the best spirit possible." The section of land under consideration is known as Tuaraki, wh!ch is subdivided into smaller sections. Three main claims to it are being made by different parties, besides other individual claims. The parties are represented by Messrs. H. Matanuku, M. Pere and M. Paratene respectively. It was generally accepted that the party represented by Mr. Matanuku should make the claim and all others counter-claims. The case then proceeded. Hati Nepia was the first witness, and the whole afternoon was taken up in lengthy evidence which consisted mostly of claims made under different ancestors. A feature of the case is the remarkable ease with which several speakers are able to trace their ancestry back for many years. The adjournment found the same witness being crossexamined by those who are counterclaiming.