THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1885, 9 March 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

[By Telkgbaph.] [yaOM OUB OYTS COEBESPONDENT.] WAITAEA, March 8. The Commission closed its sitting here today. One case of injustice has transpired. A native claimed the Titokorango block. Friendly natives lived upon it formerly, but_ the Government got them removed three miles away so that the block might be occupied for military purposes. The Government afterwards placed military settlers upon the land, and offered compensation to the Maoris, which they refused, as they wanted that particular land. Evidence was given that the late Sir D. McLean considered them hardly dealt with, and the opinion of the Commission was, that it was something like flagrant robbery. The matter will be laid before the Government. Sir W. Fox addressed the natives, explaining the object and scope of the Commission. In the course of his remarks ho ridiculed the pretensions and powers of To Whiti. He pointed out that by following To Whiti’s advice the Maori wives will be made widows, and their children orphans, and if Te Whiti’s advice was still followed their lands might pass away from them altogether. He scouted the idea of the Governor taking the least notice of the vagaries or words of Te Whiti. March 9. The Boyal Commission has left for New Plymouth, where a sitting will be held this afternoon, when Mr Humphries and other persona will be examined respecting Native land matters. The Natives have all gone back to their homes, and Waitara resumes its normal quiet. A crowd of Natives passed through early this morning on their way to Parihaka. A great many spots about his place possess historical interest, and yesterday a party went to visit Pukerangirangi, where, in old limes, the Waikatos, 6C30 strong, invested the the Ngatimutu pah so closely that at last the besieged and starving Natives jumped off the cliff on which the pah was built, which to over 200 feet high, into the river, sooner than be captured by the Waika f os. It is said that over two thousand were killed, and at last the river became so full of bodies that many who came last survived the dreadful jump, and crossed the river on the dead bodies.