CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 28 August 1862, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the E-Jit or of the Hairke’s Pay Times. Dear Shi, — Will you oblige me by inserting the following lines in your next issue? I find in Mr. Crosbie Ward's report to the Governor, the following statement: — I then returned to town, found (hat the preliminary steps in Shirley s case had been taken, and arranged for the sitting of the Court on a certain day, Tuesday, (he 1 -!fh instant. Captain Curling, the Resident Magistrate, Air. G. S. Cooper, a Maori linguist, and Mr. J. Anderson, a Justice resident in Shirley's neighbourhood, sat to hear the case, I appointed Tureha, Renata, and Karaitiana, the three leading chiefs, to he the Assessors. This was in fact merely 7 complimentary 7 pi ml a matter of policy, as the appointment in no way alfectod the constitution of the court. 1 had no scruples arising from their interest in the case being satisfied of their independence from the fact already mentioned, that, on violence being used, they had abandoned their own claims in the matter. Now, sir, in the first place, was Tareha, Pienata, or Karaitiana, at the court at all? I answer, No. Then who were the Assessors appointed by Mr. Crosbie Ward as a matter of policy ? Why, the very men who gave orders for the forcible seizure of the cattle—l’aora Kaiwbatu and Paora Toratora. Secondly, Mr. Crosbie Ward states that lie caused Allo to be paid to me on account of the loss I had sustained by the detention of the cattle, which be says was A 54, but not a farthing of it I ever saw ; and charging me A 24 for my obstinacy in refusing to break the law. I was advised by several parties, previous to all this, to pay the Maoris, and have nothing more to do with it. I had not the money in the house at the time, but I told them that at the sale they should stand by the auctioneer and receive the money as it was paid to him. This they would not consent to, but proceeded to knock down the fence, and afterwards, when I opposed them, they knocked me down also, and several members of my family received injury in the struggle, and eventually they succeeded in driving off 21 head. Nino head of cattle grazing on the Plains were seized the same day. Those same 9 head I have never seen from that day to this, and I suppose 1 never shall. I have been given to understand that the Maoris have received the money, but I have not yet seen my 9 head of cattle. I paid the same Maoris that seized the cattle A 4 for horse hire to search for the missing cattle, and when I delivered the horses back, they told me that they would show me where the •cattle were tor one pound a head, which I refused to give. The consequence is, that although I have hunted high and low, ] have

"ever been able to find them. I find also the following statement in the above-named lying report:— I took care also that the Natives received the amount ot damages awarded them; and both parties were satisfied. Now, sir, I state most emphatically that I am not satisfied, never have been satisfied, and never shall be satisfied—for how can a man be satisfied when be has not even the semblance of justice awarded him ?—and when a gentleman of Mr. Croshie Ward's position can stoop so low as to make such a lying report to the Governor ? It is evident that it was intended from the first that I should be sacrificed to please the Maoris and their sympathisers. Tiio-mas Shirley, sen. Tutael atri, August 25.