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The grievance illustrates the different methods adopted by the Courts at investigations of title. Formerly the Court would find for a particular ancestor, and the successful party would submit names and shares as a whole. Latterly a new method came into vogue whereby the award to the ancestor is followed by repeated awards to the various descendants of that ancestor right down to the present generation. This system naturally found much favour in the eyes of those who could connect with many heads on account of intermarriages. In Maraehara the first system was then current and it apparently satisfied the Court, the conductors and elders of that time. The petitioners advocate the introduction of the other method, and want a special award to " Hikitai," of Whakaohonga descent. They are thirteen in number —they received one hundred shares (as individuals), but now ask for an award of seven hundred shares to their ancestor. Of the thirteen persons referred to, nine inclusive of Henare Matanuku and Panikena Kaa, the chief petitioners, have on consolidation transferred their values out to different areas. The Court is unable to make any recommendation in the matter, for the following reasons : — (1) The claim of seven hundred shares now asked for is unwarranted ; this large increase cannot be justified by the occupation. (2) The system of allocating shares was the then recognized method, and, taking all factors incidental to the hearing of claims and attendant expenses, it satisfied all parties then before the Court. (3) That too great a disturbance in values and locations would result in the consolidation scheme now pending and in course of completion. For the Court. [l.s.] H. Carr, Judge. The Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Auckland.

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