THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3236, 3 July 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1879.

The repeated declarations of Te Whiti and his follower* that their object in ploughing the lands occupied by settlers was to substantiate their claims,to such lands as their's —promised years ago by the Government'to them, but which promise had not been fulfilled. That the natives have some grounds for these claims, a history of the transactions of the Compensation i Court by which' the lands in question were awarded may be worth considering. The Oakura Block, on which the ploughmen were arrested, was confiscated on the 30th January, 1865. It belonged to the Ngamahanga, and contained Jsome 27,500 acres. It was known at the time of confiscation that a section of the Hapu had been loyal, and fought on the European side during the war; consequently a commission was appointed to investigate who were loyal and who were rebellious lin the. Hapu., The Court consisted of j Judges Fenton, jßpganj. and Monro, who sat from June;! to July 12/18(56,! at New i Plymouth, and was called the Compensation Court. It found from the evidence of experts that 8000 acres in the Block were worthless for cultivation, being on the Egmont slope, thus reducing the block to 19,500 acres of land fit for agricultural purpossg. The Court had 285 resident claimants on the block, 115 of which were found to be loyal, and for the purposes of adjustment the Court ruled all adults as having an equal claim to equal acreage iv the block, and, from the computation, the Court found that the loyal Natives were entitled to 7,400 acres of the available land. The Court having made this tentative award, found that only 2500 acres of available land were left that had not been either given to military settlers, - laid aside for' reserves, or open for sale. The Court being compelled to give compensation in land had not sufficient j for the award, not having the power id use the Government reserves and land open for sale, or authority to eject the military settlers. This being the position, the Court decided to send Judge Rogan to Wellingto i to consult Mr Russell, the NatiTO Minister, as to what course should bo adopted. Mr ilussell went to New Plymouth and authorised the Crown Agent

bloclt, the land open for sale, and the Government reserves as full compensation for all claims. Mr Parris, then Native • Agent, on behalf of the natives accepted tho offer, on June 29th, of the same year. and Crown grants were promised to the natives for the land, Mr Parris subdividing it among the claimants. These grants have never been issued, in fact, no grants have been issued on the coast on confiscated lands. From the foregoing it will be admitted that some in justice has been done to the natives proved to be loyal during the late war, and who for their loyalty were promised certain areas of land, in compensation for that confiscated by the Crown for the rebellious action of a section of their tribe. While other means might have been taken to prove their title to such lands, still some consideration is due to them, under the circumstances, and their wantof knowledge as to the proper course to take. . .