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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 705, 2 August 1869, Page 3

On DIT in Dunedin that an action will shortly b« enteivd in the Supremo Court, d images to be laid ut £IOOO. The action has reference to Eenianism, and the principals are well known. Extra epinauy Offer. —The following upbears in a Newcastle journal: —" Oreorge Laws is astonished at Joseph Brown wanting to shoot him, when he knows that he can g.n a match for £53 a side George Laws will shoot any man in England for £25 or £SO a side." ! ♦ The Otago Municipal Elections.— f The Echo" (an evening paper recently started in Dunedin) s»ys :—As we reported yesterday, Mr Bi:ch was returned by a majority of 5i for Dunedin. At Waikouaiii, Mr Smith was elected by a majority of 8 over his opponent, Mr Durdwn. Mr Gribbs was elected at Oarnaru by a majority 0 f 69_Mr Luke was the other candidate. At Port Chalmers, Mr I>. liolfe beat Dr O'Donoijhue by 18 votes. And at Queenstown Mr Halleustein polled 64 to Mr Atkins' 42,

THE MA.NA.WATU LA.ND3 CASE. (Prom the Wellington Independent, 27th July.) Since we last noticed the proceeding; of the Native Lands Court, a numbe; of prolix witnesses have been ex amined, and the dreary sittings stil continue. We understand that some twenty or thirty natives have got to be examined on the side of the claimants ; after that the Attorney-General will open the case for the Crown and commence a fresh list of witnesses Yesterday morning Mr Travers put in a list of the claimants-in-chief and coclaimants fot' whom he appears. But he stated that there were many other members of the Ngatiraukawa tribe for whom he was not instructed to ap pear, but whose right to share in the block was recognised by his clients The learned counsel contended that the Governor had exceeded his power under the Act in referring to the Court for adjudication all outstanding claims, and that in terms of the first order of reference the Court could only entertain such claims as were actually preferred by the natives themselves. He argued, therefore, that the Court had now only to deal with the claimants whom he represented, leaving other claim ants to any remedy they might choose to adopt. His Honor the Chief Justice ruled that the Court had no power to do more, but expressed an earnest hope that no claims would be held back, as it was desirable on every ground that there should now be a final adjudication. Mr Travers declined to do more than represent his immediate clients and those claiming under them ; at the same time expressing his own conviction that the attempt to effect a final settlement of this question would prove abortive. To what purpose, we may ask, is the Colony being put to this heavy Court expenditure ? If at the close of this long, tedious, and expensive investigation, when the present claims have been disposed of, another crop of claimants may appear to demand a fresh Court, and then perhaps another, it is difficult to foresee the end, unless it be an arbitrary intervention of the Government to extinguish the Native title altogether. It would have at length to effect by political interference what ought rather to be the result of a fair, judicial enquiry. Those who denounced the Manawatu purchase clamoured for. the Land Court, and a fair hearing of their cause. The Land Court was given them, and for six weary weeks three Judges sat at Otaki, and sifted the whole matter, regardless of the strict rules of evidence. Although the counsel for the Crown denied that the deed of purchase was in'issue, the Court took evidence respecting it, and Mr Fox then told the story of the purchase in an eloquent speech, which was read throughout the Colony. But the verdict was not satisfactory to the Ngatiraukawa claimants, and the whole question is now again before the Land Court. Two able judges, in whom both the public and the natives have; confidence, are engaged in a patient! and impartial enquiry ; and the colony has a right to expect of those who are advising the natives in this matter that they will act in good faith, and bring their whole case forward. We have reason to krjow that Mr Tracers is anxious, as a politician, to get this vexed question finally settled, and is exerting himself in that direction ; but acting professionally, he can only, of course, represent those clients for whom lie is instructed to appear. The matter is, in fact, in the hands of those who advise the natives. If left to themselves, all bona fide claimants will avail themselves of the present, sittings of the Court, and will come in. But unfortunately other influences appear to be at work. A very significant admission was made by Archdea con Hadfield in his evidence yesterday. In reply to a question from the Attor-ney-General, he stated that the Ngatiraukawa had promised a grant of ten thousand acres in the disputed block to the Church ; and in reply to a fur ther question he stated that he considered the matter only "in abeyance for the present," and that he fully expected the natives would yet fulfil their promise ! In justice to the Archdeacon we would add that no one will for a moment doubt his assertion that he has no private or personal interest in the matter of this grant. Bui the fact of the " promised land " mains, and we are tempted to asli whether it would not have paid th<

province in the long run to have bought up this Ngatiraukawa opposi tion by giving the Church the coveted ten thousand acres? Once more, in the name of the public, we say that it is high time this Manawatu question was for ever settled; and that nothing can hereafter be urged in favor of natives who do not avail themselves of the present opportunity of proving their alleged claims.