THE WHAREKAHIKA JUDGMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14017, 25 June 1913, Page 3

THE WHAREKAHIKA JUDGMENT.

(Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, June' 24. With regard to the Whaiekahika judgment, delivered at Wairoa a few days ago, inquiries show' that the action of the Native Appellate (.'part in upholding the decision or Judge Jones will be regarded with much satisfaction by the European lessees who have taken up the land. Had the judgment been, reversed• and• the redifctrihutiqit of the,, interests of the native owners, been ordered, : it would certainly have'.beeji; a'serioiispnatier. jvith those who have' entered, jupoii/ efleetcil. substantial .'improvements without anything."in the shape of a title other than the mere arrangement made with ."the Maoris respecting the leasing of their! ancestral rights in the. block, subject, of .course, to confirmation by the Pairawhiti Maori Land Board. From the lessees’ point of view ; and the early settlement of the block, the. judgment which has been hanging for so long must he regarded as satisfactory, the only alteration being in respect of throe -acres. The whole circumstances in connection with-the. settlement of Whaiekahika appears to have been most unfortunate, and it is stated that so discouraged have home of the intending lessees been by the delays of the past couple of years that they have actually

thrown up their interests! The. delivery of the judgment will'now enable the subdivisional .surveys to be prosecuted in accordance witli the partition'orders of the. Court, ami when this is done the settlers will be able to ascertain finally whether the tentative boundaries they have taken up are correct, and subsequently approach tiie Hoard for- confirmation-of the lease.