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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 23 January 1862, Page 3

To the Editor of the HaioJce's Bay Times. Sir, — I shall feel obliged if you will kindly spare a little space in your valuable journal for a few brief remarks on the subject of the public meeting on Wednesday last. It seems evident to me that the great body of the people interested in the small farm question were willing enough to rent Maori land for this purpose, if the Governor or the General Government stood between them and the natives ; and failing this, even, if the Provincial Government, or a recognized body of influential settlers occupied the same position, there being a well-grounded fear of insecurity to the small farmer in the direct dealing with the native, and not only insecurity, but a necessity for submission to demands of an exorbitant extent. This feeling I have called well-grounded, and I believe, correctly, though I am well aware that there are those who would tell us that there could be no insecurity, as the natives would be held to their bargains by the Runangas, such bodies being legally constituted courts. Would they? I, for one, would be very unwilling to trust to this. Why, the Runanga to which the oppressed small farmer would have to appeal for justice would be the very same Maories whom lie appeals against, who doubtless would always consider themselves in the right. Some of us have a pretty good idea of what Maori justice is, and if we had not before, the other day gave us one, and that not altogether Maori justice, but what may be called mixed justice. For my own part, before I would appeal to a Runanga against a Maori, I would submit to whatever demand was made upon me, or the best terms I could make with the natives, being convinced that the first imposition and loss would be the least, and that the only result to be expected from appeal would be to give the stamp of right and legality to this imposition and loss. Now, if it is the intention of the Government to “ bind us, neck and heels,” and hand us over to the tender mercies of the Maories, it seems to me that we ought as a body, to reject the great boon we are offered, and utterly refuse to have anything to do with direct dealings with the natives for their lands, as such course would at all events save us a world of trouble and annoyance. My candid opinion of the matter is, that a man might as well commit any act of folly and extravagance to the ruin of himself and substance, as to hold a farm under the capricious tenure of native landlords. I am, sir, Yours &c., No Maori Tenant. 20th Jan. 1862.