SOLD AGAIN!!!

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 31, 30 January 1862, Page 3

SOLD AGAIN!!!

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sir, —Robert Donaldson, the “lion. Secretary for the Committee of the working classes of the Napier District,” has “ been and gone and done it” with a witness. Hearken to what he says for us to his Excellency in our memorial “ And they beg to offer you their sincere and •warm thanks for the opportunity afforded under the District Runanga system of rendering the valuable Plains of Ahuriri (the qualities of which are well-known to your Excellency) available as agricultural farms, capable of maintaining a large industrious working population. And they further beg to express their heartfelt pleasure at the prospet of peaceable relations with their Maori neighbors. _ In order to prevent further illegal leasing in this district, your petitioners would respectfully solicit, as soon as it may meet your Excellency’s views, the appointment of a qualified officer to preside over the District Runanga, as both Pakeha and Maori are anxiously awaitingthe commencement of the small farm system. And, in conclusion, your petitioners beg to assure your Excellency of their firm faith in, and earnest desire to forward and act up to the line of policy as laid down by your Excellency. “ And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. “ In the name and by order of the Committee of the working classes of .Napier District, ■■ IvOßekt Donaldson, Hon. Secretary.” Here we are made to warmly and sincerely thank his Excellency for the runanga system to express our heartfelt pleasure at the prospect of peaceable relations with the natives, which prospect we have not at all, but

rather one of endless squabbles, disputes, and confusion, and at last we are actually made to express our firm faith in His Excellency’s policy, when we don’t believe in it at all. Well, we could not expect anything else from him, and must e’en submit to his leading since we have allowed him to be our hon. secretary, which office he so kindly consented to fill.

Mr. Editor, I have heard a whisper to the effect that he is not altogether disinterested in his efforts to get the working classes to lease the Maori lands—that visions of good round sums dropping into his pocket in the way of commission for his agency in the affair, from the hands of one or both parties, have their influence. I have an idea that I have seen in the Herald, a good while ago now, a letter signed by him, in which he warns us of the mischief likely to result from the leasing of native lands; but his views are wonderfully altered of late. Perhaps this Is an instance of the truth of a quotation you once gave us of the power of .£2OO a year to make a dbetrine plain and clear. Yours truly, A Working Man.