G.—2.

requirements of the statutes then in force (but now repealed) regulating the sales of the said interests in the said block. 2. It is further declared that the said several contracts are contracts which, irrespective of form, had they been made between Europeans, concerning lands held under Crown grant, would have been valid and binding contracts capable of being enforced in the Supreme Court. 3. It is further declared that the said contracts were not in any respect contrary to equity and good conscience. 4. It is further declared that the said several contracts w ! ere fully and perfectly understood at the time they were entered into by the contracting parties, and were fair contracts for reasonably sufficient and lawful considerations at the time, and under the circumstances under which they were made.5. It is hereby ordered and declared that the said applicant, Edward Murphy, is entitled to an estate in fee-simple in possession, free from encumbrances, in a block of 1,280 acres, more or less, part of the said Panikau No. 3 Block, situated in Block XIV., Uawa Survey District, to be hereafter known as Panikau No. 3b Block, being all that parcel awarded by the Native Land Court of New Zealand on or about the 3rd day of February, 1887, on a division then made between sellers and non-sellers to the several Native persons, the said sellers whose sales to the said applicant are hereby validated. And being all that parcel known as Panikau No. 3b, containing 1,280 acres, as the same is more particularly delineated on plan No. 356, deposited in the District Survey Office, Gisborne, and which said parcel of land is shown on the plan indorsed hereon and thereon edged with red lines. To hold the said parcel of land to the said applicant, his heirs and assigns absolutely 6. It is further ordered and decreed that all other titles to the said parcel of land known as Panikau No. 3b above particularly described shall henceforth be void and of none effect in so far as they affect the said Panikau No. 3b Block, whether the same titles be now vested in the said applicant, or in any other person whomsoever And that the registration of all the said other titles shall be cancelled and of none effect in so far as regards the said Panikau No. 3b Block. Witness the hand of his Honour George Elliott Barton, Esquire, Judge, and the seal of the said Validation Court. G. E Barton, Judge.

PANIKAU No. 4 BLOCK. In the Validation Court at Gisborne. In the application of Edward Murphy, of Te Arai, sheep-farmer, claiming validation of fortytwo contracts for the sale of the freehold in certain undivided shares and interests of Natives in Panikau No. 4 Block. Tuesday, the 4th Day op September, 1894. Upon reading the application filed herein, and upon due proof of service thereof upon the objectors named in the said application, and upon reading the documents exhibited, and hearing the evidence adduced before the Court, and upon hearing Mr De Lautour, of counsel for the applicant, and there being no objectors present or represented, the Court doth hereby order, declare, and decree as follows: — 1. It is declared that the several contracts made by the following Native owners in the said Panikau No. 4 Block—that is to say, Eameka Ma.kuru, Taopoaka Pipi, Matire Eangi, Tiopira Tahore or Kaitara, Tahauru, Katerina Wairoro, Hohua Kawhia, Tame Whano,Ema Whango, HeniEakaia, Wiremu Kahure, Peta Kahure, Tiopira Potango, Ihaka Marino, Te Matenga Tamaroki, Eauhania Karaka, Eutene Kuhukuhu, Atareta Maitai, Eiria Merengi, Hakopa Tora, Katerina Moko, Hone Hira te He, Hariata Eotuhanga, Mere Meihana, Pirihira te Kuru, Paki Amaru, Eutu Hape, Harawira Tupara, Ani Piwaka, Hemi Kaitara, Hepeta Maitai, Iritana Pukepuke, Tainihana te Aotata, Miriama Poraku, Anaru Taruke, Mehaka Ngahue, Heremia Pouhene, Hataraka Eangi, Hori Karaka te Tou, Hana Kaara, Eutene Koroua, Henare Euru —for the sale of their respective freehold interests in the Panikau No. 4 Block, are contracts invalid and incapable of being enforced without the assistance of this honourable Court, by reason of their having been respectively made not in accordance with the requirements of the statutes then in force (but now repealed) regulating the sale of the said interests in the said block. 2. It is further declared that the said several contracts are contracts which, irrespective of form, had they been made between Europeans, concerning lands held under Crown grant, would have been valid and binding contracts capable of being enforced in the Supreme Court. 3. It is further declared that the said contracts were not in any respect contrary to equity and good conscience. 4. It is further declared that the said several contracts were fully and perfectly understood at the time they were entered into by the contracting parties, and were fair contracts for reasonably sufficient and lawful considerations at the time and under the circumstances under which they were made. 5. It is hereby ordered and declared that the said applicant, Edward Murphy, is entitled to an estate in fee-simple in possession, free from encumbrances, in a block of 927 acres 2 roods 30 perches, more or less, part of the said Panikau No. 4 Block, situated in Block XIV., Uawa Survey District, and Block 11., Whangara Survey District, to be hereafter known as Panikau No. 4b Block, being all that parcel awarded by the Native Land Court of New Zealand on or about the 3rd day of February, 1887, on a division then made between sellers and non-sellers to the several Native persons, the said sellers, whose sales to the applicant are hereby validated, and being all that parcel known as Panikau No. 4b, containing 927 acres 2 roods 30 perches, as the same is more particularly

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