NATIVE LAND COURT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 22 July 1881, Page 3

NATIVE LAND COURT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The Judges of the Land Court must be aware at last of the injustice of having fixed the sitting of the Court so far away from town . The Natives are unanimous in condemnation of the locality fixed by the Judges. If the Court had been sitting here, all the cases in the Gazette could have been disposed of, but, owing to the inconvenience to nearly every one interested, the greater part of the cases are to be heard at the nearest places to where the land is situated. I have never kn jwn the Natives so much disgusted. The business so far has not been of much importance, and has consisted mostly of succession claims and rehearings. Some of the latter have been confirmed, and others have been adjourned for a few days, in order to give absent claimants an opportunity to attend. The Court has seen fit to prevent agents from acting, and have thrown all the work into the hands of one lawyer (who says it is a very good rule), thereby increasing at least twofold the expense to the owners of the land. The fact that Judges have large powers ought to make I them consider well before they establish a rule so arbitrary and of such questionable utility. It was understood yesterday that the celebrated Murimotu Block case was to come on to-morrow, but to the surprise of everyone it was called to-day, when a few names were handed in as the sole owners of the block, notwithstanding the fact that 209 names were given in by the same Native as owners in 1873 ; and to show you that he wished to protect the orphans and widows, the names submitted to-day were all uncles, cousins, and aunts of each other. If there had not been a few objectors present, this large block of land might have passed into the hands of one family. This could not have occurred if the deluded followers of Kemp could be induced to think and act for themselves, and attend the Court. If Kemp and party do not put in an appearance, the Court ought to close before the end of next week. — Yours, &c, AT AVI I AX All AERE . Wanganui, 21st July, ISSI.