THE ACTION CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1944, 28 November 1906, Page 3

THE ACTION CASE.

The following is the full text of the lettor written by William S A ckin to Mr i> gj fj —j have decidsd to go to Mount Eden Gaol and remain there UDtilreleused by death or uneonditicna ly by the Government rathor than accept Mr Justice Edwards' larger prison of 20 miles radius. There, 1 the world forgetting, by tho world forget.’ State-paid officials will bo responsible for mo, aud no one will risk any moo'-y on my good faith. I should feci aad bad I not past experience to comfort j me. It has been my lot ere now to hove norpla cro33 the street rather than meet me, yet. after many years, they have come up to congratulate mo on tho stand I have It« kon. It is only six years Bite 3 I took up tbo cudgels as now in a matter concerning the honor and wc-11-b irg of tho State, and I bad a bad time of it. Oar Agent G moral dubbed me an I ignoramus, and another Agent Genera', lacking argument, said I was soutri Ion?, although I had not referred to individuals, only principles. Next year or so the Commonwealth incorporated my idea in its law, and negotiations between

the Commonwealth and its States are also ! based upon it. The States Victoria, for instance —arc adopting it, and lastly, although Sir Joseph Ward denounced it vigorously previously, in the session just eruled lie introduced and adopted it. Such experiences tend to confirm mo in my belief that I am right and tho numerous < other fellows ’ wrong regarding the Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905. You stated to His Honor that I held peculiar views refunding the Treaty of Waitangi. For the I gakc of the colony, it is to be hoped they are not peculiar. Surely good faith and straight dealing ought not to be peculiar. I urged that the dealings with the Maoris bo such that no man need be ashamed of his country. I am only asking that Queen Vioiuria'a premiss to tho Maoris that they should have undisputed possesiiw ef their lands until they wets di.-posed to sol), shoull be kept. In tho Maori Land Sostlcmiit Act, 1935, that p.omiao is ruthlessly broken, with the cormivacco of tho Beoreta'y cf State for tho Colonies, I am tbo tKvto feiona of progress, not tho Gov-

I orntnont, beoouso I want the colony to [ tmvo friendly and willing not sulky aud dissatisfied natives to deni witb. With I regard to Mr Justioo Edwards’ remarks about a 1 bee in my bonnet,’ I rrjoioo that I it i i there and hopo that it will buzz on I until every brain in tbo community is iuooulatod wish its honey—tho honoy of honesty, honor and goodwill toward all mankind, eepooiaHy tho 40,000 helpless Maoris whom it is proposed to, putting it mildly, eooioo by Aot of Parliament. His I Honor’s platitudes I uord not discuss. Ho j had to say something. Ho sooins a gonllo manly, painstaking judge. I placed myI self withiu reach of tho law, and must accept tho oonsequonoo. Tho decision was as liberal as uoutd bo expected under tho | eiu'utujiauoes, and I have no cause for oemplaiut. But if I am to mix in tho community again, it must be as an unfettered mat). I hive notified tho two gentio men who volunteered to not as bondsmen that they need not appear, and I intend to surrender myself at she Conrlhouso between 3 and 4 thi- afternoon.—l am, sir, yours faithfully, Will S. Aickin."

THE CONDITIONS ACCEPTED

Auckland, last night. William Stevenson Aiokiu, tho Auckland sharebroker who pleaded guilty to a charge of sending a ihroasoning hitler to the Premier, was brought before Judge Edwards at tbo Supreme (Joint to day. Ho oonsonSt'd to the semis originally proposed, and vra? accordingly bound over in keep t ie peaoo !o: three years in his own recegnisarico of £.1009 and two sureties of .€SOO ooob. One of the conditions imposed was that ho should not go beyond twenty miles radius of Auckland city.

Aiokiu asked what would happon if at any time ho wished to go to the Thames, or To Arulia, or Woihi, or other place outside of the limit on buffoons. Could Bay arrangement bo made for permission to do so?

His Honor said ho supposed this might be arranged with tho oousent of tho Grown solioitor or of himself if-ho were in Auckland.

" We don’t,” he added, “ want to lie you up,” In reply to His Honor, MrTolo, Grown solicitor, said ho anticipated there would bo no difficulty. His Honor : Thero will bo no objnotion about anything reasonable, Aickiu. No one wauts to restriot your freedom so long as the public are safe. Certainly wo don’t want to send you to prisou. A'ckia : I am sure Yaur Honor has been very kind. His Honor : Well, now, put the whole thiug out of your head, aud go away and attend to your sbarebroking. Aicken smiled aud nodded Affirmatively, and loft tho Court with his bondsmen.