RATANA’S PATEA VILLAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 9

RATANA’S PATEA VILLAGE

TENANCY OF LAND DISPUTE TUEI MEMORIAL PLAN IMPEDED. LEASE TO PATEA BUTCHERY CO. COURT MAY BE ASKED TO DECIDE. Legal difficulties threaten to impede Wiremu Katana’s project of a model Maori village at Patea on the site of Turi’s original encampment. It is understood that the tenancy of the land is in dispute. The Patea Butchery Company holds a lease of an area of land at the heads of the Patea River, including the site of the Ratana party’s encampment. This lease, according to Mr. F. Ramsbottom, Mayor of Patea and principal of the firm, has still four years to run and has been approved by the Native Land Court. The land is used as a holding padock for itock to be slaughtered. When Ratana and his followers, numbering over 60, camped in this paddeck Mr. Ramsbottom took objection as the presence of such a large number of people might have a detrimental effect on the stock. He discussed the question with Ratana, who showed a disinclination to leave, and the interview was not a, particularly calm one. Eventually it was agreed that the natives should remain until Ratana’s claim to ownership had been investigated by Mr. Ramsbottom’s. solicitor. The natives in turn promised to look after the stock and keep the gates closed. Ratana claims that the company s lease does not include all the land as he himself has not signed it. The whole area is held by several natives, including himself, and though the others have signed he contends that this does not make the signatures complete. His claim is basec upon direct descent from Turi himself. It is' believed that the whole question will have to be investigated before the Native Land Court.