The Awaiti Block

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1254, 18 February 1905, Page 2

The Awaiti Block

Trouble Amoiijjst the Natives

Tun Awaits block, a portion of which is At present under dispute, comprises 20>00C acres. It was originally eiahned by a untivo chief, Paoioa Twinga and ' others, find subsequently*'' subdivided by order of the Court at -Paeroa, the ' claimant, Faoroa. Turinga, otherwise known as Paul, being granted rather over i 5000 aeros. To another native claimant,' Wani, a similar grant was made. ' The bloel; forms a part .of the ~ Waihou; and Waitoa surveyed districts, about four miles from Paeroa, and , ia largely comprised of swaipp land. A '' portion of the block, isiretching np from tbo banks of tho Waihou River is covered with valuable flax. In thesubdivision, of the block tho land was cut tip intS/eparato blocks, with tho result that a portion of Wani'a land outs in botweeu Paul's laud? . It), is some* whoro in this vicinity that two flaxmilla are operating, one of which ;ia' owned by tbo Paeroa Flaxmill Company, and the other by a man named Bertleson. The company, when negotiating with Paul for the fight of tho fl«, wero apparently, under tho impression that they would bo entitlod to tho whole oftbefluK on the block. Meanwhile the native Wani made it compact with BorW lesen, giving him tho right to mill the flax on the, land. It was at this stage that complications arose which ultimately gave riso to the present trouble., Wani declined to agree to the terms of the other side, and as time went on the rural parties became more and more inconsod. Both flaxmilla had laid tramlines for the purpose of conveying flax to thoir respective mills, and tho mills botween them proyiilod employ* mont for over a hundred natives, including nntiva women, in cuttiu*> and delivcriing tho flax. Finally ;ho natives employed by the fmill owned •by tho Company wero incited to pull up the Dthor man's tramline. At this stago an appeal was made to tho I Pauroa police. Meanwhile tho women (oik of Wiini's party made an onslaught on tho opposing side and practically succeeded in driving Paul's men off, By this time : tho polios arrived on the scone and, after a good doal of parleying,. mana»- .m god to restore some l(iud' of order only to be suocecded by unother outbrouk of hostilities by . Wani'g men returning tho compliment and pulling up the Company's line. The position had ronohed au aouto stago when a 'truce was called, with a viow to getting a survey mado, in ordor to arrive at the boundaries of the respective Unds of tho disputants, and now, ttndor qugagomont to Wani, Mr Nor man 'Ftaird, of Waihi, is busily engaged m dctining tho relative position of tho two properties. He comuionctd tho work last Tuesday, but it is problematical whefiei; this will rostolt satisfactorily to the parties concerned, and, if, withiu the next few deysjtfL amioable • settlement bo not arranged, litigation will follow, ancl the case, we hear, will be fought out at the Paeroa Court on Monday next, 1 Tho uatives engaged in outting flax are' ' being pfiid(223 per ton by the mills, an! aro making a very good thing'out of it.