APPEAL COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10408, 23 July 1912, Page 5

APPEAL COURT.

NATIVE CLAIM TO LAKE

ROTORUA.

Pei; Press Association. Wellington, Jnly 23,

Argument was commenced in the Appeal Court to-day in the special case, Tamihana Korokai and others v. the Solicitor-General, raising questions as to native rights over Lake Rotorua. Plaintiff is S« native of Rolorna acting on behalf of himself and all others, who are owners according to native custom and otherwise, of the land covered by water known as Lake Rotorua. It is claimed by the natives that the btd of the lake or some part of it Is land held in freehold tenure by|those natives as accessory toftheir freehold title to the land adjoining the bed and is Included by the implication of law in the Native Land Const the certificates of title of which have been issued and in the freehold titles obtained by virtue of these certificates of the title or in the alternative that the bed of the lake is customary Native land in respect of wbiah the Native Land Court has jurisdiction to make it freehold under the Native_ Land Act, 1909, or that the lake is subject to certain customary exclusive rights of fishing navigation and otber uses vested in those Natives and that those frights are capable in some manner of legal recognition and enforcement by this Court or the Native Land Court. All-theee claims end allegations are disputed by the Grown.