NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1925. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 154 OF 1924, OF RERE NICHOLSON, RELATIVE TO RAUMATANGI (HOROWHENUA) BLOCK.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1926 Session I, G-06e

G.—6b

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT AND NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT ACT, 1925. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON PETITION No. 154 OF 1924, OF RERE NICHOLSON, RELATIVE TO RAUMATANGI (HOROWHENUA) BLOCK.

Presented to Parliament in pursuance of the provisions of Section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1925.

Native Department, Wellington, 26th July, 1926. Petition No. 154 of 1924.—Raumatangi Block. Pursuant to section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1925, I forward herewith the report of the Court hereon. I think that it errs in two respects : (1) I can find nothing in the report of the Horowhenua Commission of 1896 which shows that the Commission made any recommendation as to the title of this block ; (2) I cannot find anything to warrant the allegation that Raumatangi was awarded to effect a compromise. The land covered by the compromise to settle disputes was Horowhenua No. 9 Block, and that was awarded some years afterwards. However, I agree with the Native Land Court that the matter should be reopened. I therefore recommend that the application for investigation of title of Raumatangi be reheard. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge. The Right Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.

In the Native Land Court of New Zealand, Ikaroa District.—ln the matter of section 34 of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1925 ; and in the matter of Petition No. 154 of 1924, of Rere Nicholson, praying that the Native Land Court be empowered to determine the persons properly entitled to the Raumatangi Block. To the Chief Judge, Native Land Court. I have the honour to report that the Native Land Court, sitting at Levin on the 27th and 28th days of April, 1926, inquired into the merits of the claims and allegations contained in the above petition, No. 154 of the session of 1924. When the title to this Raumatangi Block was being investigated, along with a considerable area of the Horowhenua Block, in 1873, there was much ill-feeling and a great deal of quarrelling between the Ngatiraukawa and the Muaupoko hapus in the district; and the Native Land Court, in order to effect a compromise and allay inter-tribal hostility, awarded the greater portion of the Horowhenua Block to Major Kemp for his Muaupoko people, and gave Raumatangi, containing 100 acres, to Te Whatanui and those Ngatiraukawas who were claiming under him. Subsequently a list of names was submitted, and it was ordered that a certificate of title be issued to the following : Waretini; Waretini Tuainuku ; Ranginui; Whioi; Teri Tuainuku ; Honi Witi; Ngawiki; Hitau ; Matene ; Hukiki. A certificate of title was issued accordingly on the 27th June, 1881. There was much dissatisfaction expressed regarding the proceedings and findings of the Court in 1873, and this was intensified when conflicting orders were signed on the 19th September, 1876, one in favour of the above-named ten persons, and the other in favour of these ten with the addition of Arara and Watene. Some of these names are duplicates, and some of the persons named never occupied. The Horowhenua Commission of 1896 recommended that the title of Raumatangi should be in the names of seven persons: (1) Waretini; (2) Te Wiiti; (3) Ngawiki (Tautelca); (4) Kararaina; (5) Watene te Waewae ; (6) Hitau ; (7) Erena te Rauparaha. These names correspond with those in the former orders when duplicates are eliminated and those without occupatory rights are removed. Nothing was done to give effect to the recommendation of the Commission in respect of that part of its report that deals with the title to Raumatangi. As there were errors and probably irregularities connected with the consideration and passing of the list of persons entitled to be included in the certificate of title, I recommend that authority be conferred on the Native Land Court to determine the persons properly entitled to the Raumatangi Block. M. Gilfedder, Judge.

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