THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1884, 8 March 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

[By Telegeaph ] [FEOM OUE OWlf COEEEePONDBNT.] WAIT AR A, March 8, Nothing much of general interest was elicited in the evidence given to the Commission on Saturday, although a great many Natives were examined. Amongst those who gave evidence was Teira, who is famous through having caused the Waitara war by selling land here against the wish of Ihia and the rest of his people, land which under the common system then prevailing, could not be said to belong to him any more than to any of the others. Even now, many of the Natives have strong objections against the individualisation of titles. They like to see the old customs retained, by which they are in a measure able to move from tainga to kainga, and live upon their relations as long as there is food to be eaten and the well known hospitality of the race enables this to be done, though the practice of it often brings great distress to those who act the host. Although it has hindered the progress of the Natives, it is retained in consequence of this practice of the idle and careless quartering themselves on the industrious. Teira’s claims on Saturday amounted to very little indeed, and the same may be said of a great many more at other meetings. There were several claims of a spurious nature, but the intimate knowledge of the Natives, possessed by Mr Parris and Major Brown prevented the Commission being hoodwinked by the disappointed applicants. They took their discomfiture pleasantly enough. One Native who had been one of the crew of a pilot boat at Manukan heads on the occasion of the wreck of H.M.S. Orpheus, applied for compensation for saving the life of young Barclay, on the ground that, though a humane society’s medal had been promised him, he did not get one or receive any other compensation, although young Barclay wrote informing the Government of the service rendered in saving his life. The Commission promised fully to lay the matter before the Government. The Commission fully expect to finish here to-day. Very little more is remaining to bo done. There is a rumour today that the Natives intend to oppsse the advance of the constabulary to the other side of Stony river to-day, but those whose opinion on Native matters is of value consider the rumour mere bunkum. Indeed, to a casual observer of the demeanour of the Natives along this coast, it is in the highest degree improbable that they will ever venture on hostilities. The old men who have fought in the early times seem unequal to taking tho field again, while the young men are displaying such a partiality for beer and tobacco and the small dissipation of township life that it makes it extremely unlikely that they would face the hardship of campaigning.