MOHI V. CRAIG.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 563, 30 October 1871, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOHI V. CRAIG.

To the Editor of the Evening Star

S IR ,_'I be letter of Mr. H. H. Turton, in this morning's issue of the Herald, in regard to the glaring case of justice perverted, Alohi v. Craig, fully bears out the facts of the case, and I feel myself called upon, in the common cause of justice, to corroborate Mr. Turton's statement so far as I know.

I was employed by Mr. Craig, in 1862, to purchase for him the timber on tiie Opitonuiand Waitekuri blocks, at Whangapoua, and paid the first instalment of £50 to Hiria Pouau, Paora IVlatutaere, and W. Hobson, when I went over the boundaries pointed out by the abovenamed natives. I was also present when the other payments were made in Auckland to Wi llobson and, Paora, and the timber was paid "for in full. The transaction was bona Jlde, md fully understood by the natives, and I can confidently assert that do man could have made a fairer purchase than Mr. T. Craig did, who, I must say, in all the native transactions in which I was concerned for him, always fulfilled any arrangement that he entered into to the letter.

I may remark that at that time the natives in the Wangapoua district received Mr. Craig with open arms, and made him frequent offers of all the bush between Wangapoua and Mercury Bay, and I consider that he has been shamefully used throughout this transaction. And I, having had much experience amongst the natives, do not believe they would hare acted as they have done towards Craig if they had been left to themselves. A.nd, indeed, I have heard natives connected with the matter express great surprise at the decision in Mohi's favor. —I am, &c ,

Chables De Thiebbt, Licensed Interpreter September 19, 1871.