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Star (Christchurch), Issue 431, 1 October 1869, Page 3

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♦— ; Wellington, Sept. 30, 4.50 p.m. The Government has tc day received an intimation that the Otaki Hau-haus, whose claim to any part of the Mauawatu block was ignored by the Native Lands Court, have decided on leaving the West Coast district and returning to their former home at Maungatautari, in the Waikato country. Judge Manning delivered the formal judgment of the Court on Saturday last. It ia now published, and is very elaborate and exhaustive, and coming as. it does from the pen of one so well known aa the author of " Old .New Zealand," will be read with general interest. As an historical record it is a valuable contribution to New Zealand literature. The judgment of the Court was ..the result of six weeks' patient investigation of the whole question. Between forty and fifty witnesses were examined, and every facility was afforded to the dissentient Natives of proving their claims, even to the extent of advancing money from the public chest for the support of their witnesses, &c. The decision of Messrs Fenton and Manning, thus carefully arrived at, is a3 thorough avindication of DrFeatherston's proceedings as could have been desired, and establishes beyond question the validity of the Manawatu purchase. To those claimants who were recognised by the Crown, and who had not signed the deed of cession, an award has been made of 6200 acres, corresponding almost exactly with the quantity of land (6000 acres) set apart by Dr Featherston, three years since, to satisfy tbe claims of dissentients. The native title is now to, be declared extinguished. 7.30 p.m. The Ngatiraukawa dissentients are greatly dissatisfied with the award iv the Manawatu case, and declare their intention to return to Tokangamutu where they originally came from. Eight hulk prisoners were brought up to-day, and the trial is still going on.