THE TAURANGA LANDS AND THE CLARKE INCUBUS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 413, 26 August 1876, Page 3

THE TAURANGA LANDS AND THE CLARKE INCUBUS.

Under the above heading the following letter appears in last Tuesday's New Zealand Herald: —

To the Editor. — Sir, — I read in to-night's Star a telegram from Tauranga, stating " that an adjudication of land claims commences on Monday, and thafe the Tauranga public is sanguine that Mr Clarke's policy has at last got it'a death blow." I regret, sir, as must all who are aware of the magnificent natural advantages enjoyed by the Tauranga district, that at present no such happy occurrence is likely to ensue from the appointment of Mr Brabant as Commissioner of ihe Tauranga Lands — notwithstanding that gentleman's abilities — for the simple reason that Mr Hopkins Clarke, a brother of Mr Henry Clarke, the late Commissioner, who is still retained at Tauranga in some mysterious capacity, in the Native Office there, it is said takes very good care to lead the natives to suppose that the appointment of Mr Brabant as tbe oiEcer to individualise their land titles, is purely of a temporary nature ; and that when Mr Henry Clarke can be spared from the Native Ofiice in Wellington, he will return to Tauranga armed with full power to settle all disputes, and that Mr Brabant will then retire gracefully, I noticed in a recent article in the Bat op Pientx Times, that that spirited local journal accused Mr Hopkins J Clarke of inciting the natives to get up a petition to the Native Minister requesting the removal of Mr Brabant, and the appointment in his stead of Mr Hopkins Clarke and a friend of his (generally understood to be Captain Gilbert Mair), and I believe thafe the acousation was quite true, and tbab, but for the article shewing the matter up, tbe petition would have been signed and forwarded, which under the circumstances it was not. I was quite recently in Tauranga, and I assure you that on every eide I heard ex." pressions of regret and dissatisfaction at the retention in the district of Mr Hopkins Clarke, who was spoken of as incompetent for any Government position. For years past Tauranga has been shut up, literally bo, by Henry Clarke, who, either from natural apathy, or to serve some remote object, has put off from time to time entering upon the necessary investigations into native titles. If our Auckland members w6uld make enquiry into the charges recently brought against Mr Hopkins Clarke, and into general matters connected with his sinecure position in Tanranga, they would be doing the Tauranga district in particular, and the colony in general, good service. I enclose my card, and am, sir, &c, One who Happens 10 Know.