G.— 6a

2

At the next sitting of the Court at Ohaeawai Mr. Webster and his witnesses were present, but neither the petitioner's representatives nor Mr. Blomfield attended. Mr. Webster urged that as he and his clients had been put to considerable expense in attending as agreed, the Court should strike out the inquiry. The Court declined to grant Mr. Webster's application, but stated that it would consider the question of the expense he and his clients had been put to when the inquiry was again before it. The inquiry has since been advertised for Kaikohe on the following dates : 28th September, 1921 ; 6th December, 1921 ; 24th May, 1922 ; 27th September, 1922 ; 4th December, 1922 ; and 23rd May, 1923. Although Mr. Webster has attended all these sittings, Mr. Blomfield failed to appear. The petitioner himself died on the 12th December, 1920, before the inquiry was advertised for hearing. Mr. Webster has regularly applied at each sitting of the Court that the inquiry be struck out. As 1 am not in full possession of all the facts relating to this matter I am not in the position to report upon the merits of the petition. I am, however, of opinion that, as neither the petitioner's representatives nor his solicitor has since the opening of the inquiry taken any interest in the proceedings, the petition should be disallowed. A copy of the minutes taken at the opening of the inquiry is forwarded for your information. I have, &c, The Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Wellington. A. G. Holland, Judge.

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