THE LAND QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 94, 25 July 1879, Page 2

THE LAND QUESTION.

During the past year or two a good dealJias been Said over the Canterbury leases. Sir George Grey has repeat*, edly denounced the manner in which those leases have been handled and manipulated by a section ot Parliament, who have kept t\ie power once gained He has defended his action in endeavouring to " burk " the Land Bill of 1877, on the ground that it proposed to perpetuate in Canterbury what was a crying injustice to the people of the Colony. For the conduct, of Sir George Grey on that mati ter, we offer no defence, as it was ua* constitutional, but with his strong feelings of indignation at the manner in which the public estate has been dealt with in Canterbury, we have every sympathy. This has been intensified by the publication of a recent return, giving " a summary of the larger holdings under the pastoral leases iv the Provincial District of Canterbury." From this we learn that 1,868,383 acres are in the handsof only 17 persons or companies, and that the total amount of rent they pay for nearly two millions of acres is only £35,305, or a fraction over 5d per acre. The largest acreage is held by the New Zealaud Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, being 646,537 acres, at a rental of £9.464; the Trust and Loan Agency Company of Australasia stands next with 427,427 acres, rental £8,472 ; W. Gerard gets 143,309 acres for £2,301 ; the lJauk of New Zealaud tniy.s £222 per an nura for 19,788 acres; whilst- Mr Murray- Aynsley pays £237 for 15,722 acres. A. memo from the Commissioner of Crown Lands is attached to the return, in which he states — " There is in some cases but a small advance on present rates ; this applies to the back country of the Timaru district and the neigh bonr hood of the Lakes about Mount Cook. In other casos the new rates are three times or five times the present rates ; this applies to the Plains and the ruus on the eastorn seaboard." He explains the advance as follows :— " All previous legislation regulating the rents to be paid for runs in Canterbury have been b\sed on an uniform acreage rate, without regard co locality or relative value, and hence the very wide difference between the amount of advance in one case an j in another." The return throws considerable light on the question of Canterbury leases, aud we think its flication will bo another nail in the a of the " landocracy." ndbd Store. — We understand the store „ ...essrs Thynne, Linton & Co., adjoining their premises on Main -street, has been approved as a bonded store.

Bankrupt. — It will bo seen from our advertising columns that Mr O. Retter, settler, of Sandon, has filed a declaration that he is unable to meet his engagements with his creditors. Mr Prior, of Snudon, is the debtors' solicitor.

Ecclesiastical.— His Lordship Bishop Hadfield will hold the annuiil meeting of parishioners at Foxton on Saturday evening, at 7 o'clock, and will conduct Diviue Service at All Saints' Church on Sunday.

The BAR.—When the Jane Douglas crossed on Tuesday morning, Captain Fraser found 12 feet of water on the Foxton bar.

Bibds oi; 1 Passage. —In last issue, we mentioned that on Monday afternoon ft couple of suspicious characters were about town, one of whom had bean caught in the act of "jumping" Mr Whyto's counter. L iler in the Jay it appears they were haunting Mr Lioudon's store, and when a favorable opportunity presented itself, one of the pair seized, and attempted to make off with, a coat. One of the employes happened to notice the game, and went out at once to wrest the article from the thief, but tlio impudent fellow struck an attitude, and let out with his fists at the " left eye" of the shopman. The frannent was recovered, and the blow foiled, but the pair made off. Constable M'Auulty was 0:1 the alert during the remainder of the clay, but they kept quiet, and mads themselves very scarce, However, the astute offtuer rose early on Tuesday morning, and started by the 7.5 train for Carnurvon, feeling certain they had made off iv that direction. He was rewarded by success, for about 1^ miles on the Foxton side of Carnarvon Station, the two were seen " legging " it Vigorously. The constable, on reaching the station, sat down and waited till his prey walked up, when, with slight ceremony, he infortnad them thi-.y were his prisoner-*, and invited them to rest until the arrival of the down train, by which they enjoyed a cheap ride back f 0 town. They were comfortably lodged in the look-up, and in due course brought before the H.M. Court. Great creJit is due to Constable M'Anulty fo r his energy in the arrest of these tramps, as " kleptomania " seems to have been developed considerably in them, and had they remained at large, it is almost certain th^.y would have practised their art upon the outlying settlers. HoitowiiGJJiTA agaih. — The natives at Ilorowhenua appear to be a litigious lot. For months past they have regularly appeared at the Foxton Court, an 1 more cases are pending. Two charges of assault and wounding 1 stand adjourned until next Court clay, and we also hear a oivil case is likely to "come on then* It app.iar.s there is a large reserve at Horowheuua, givea by Sir Donald M'Leaii to some natives, the principal of whom is a relative oi: Alateua Te Whiwhi, named Rangi. This luiid has been fenced for years past, and used by Rangi and his people. A short time ago part of the fence broke down, and somo timbar for use in repairs was carted on to the grouud, and laid near llunia's timber, over which, most of the quarrelling has occurred. When Kangi went to remove his timber for use ia fencing, several of the Muapoko Maoris, concluding that he had made com non cause with Hunia, towards whom they have a great hatred, determined to treat his posts the same as they had dom Hunia's. They accordingly impounded them, and refused to allow them to be touched. Bangi came up to Foxton last Court day to take out a summons, but accepted the advice given him to refrain from cbing so until it waa ascertaiued whether the Muipoko people would surrender the timber. We understand that on his recent visit to Otaki, Mr Baker ascertained the rights of the case, and informed the Horowhenun, people that they were acting wrongly in detaining the timber of JJiiugi. A3, however, they still remain stubborn, we hear the case will be brought before the Court, in an action for detinue and damages sustained. Music. — From our advertising columns it will be seen that Air GK W. King, music ieacher, and tuner of pianos, &c.., ha 3 determined to visit Foxtoii every Tuesday by tho midday train, for the purpose of giving instruction to pupils, and doing other business connected with his profession. Air King, although but a short time in the district, has gained a considerable number of pupils already at Palmerston, showing that he is highly appreciated there is a music teacher. We also hear he has given great satisfaction in Foxton, and as his charges are moderate, parents who desire their children to be instructed in the " sweet art," or persons whose iusu'uments are out of tuue, would do well to secure h s services. Orders may be left a 5 the Mayawati; Herald Office

(Jhoral CoycmtT. — The Foxton Choral Society will give its last concert for the season at the Public Hall on Wednesday evening. Although it is only a few weeks since the last concert took place, the Society has been assiduously practising in the interim, and has now mastered several capital choruses and glees, including "When winds breathe soft" (Webbe), " Hail to the chief," " By this hand " — quartet and chorus from '' Miritaui" — " Behold the morn," — barcarole and chorus from " Masaniello," and other equally good pieces. Several excellent duets are also in active rehearsal, also the splendid trio " This Magic Wove Scarf," from " The Mountain Sylph." The usual practice was held on Wednesday evening, when a large muster took place of performers ; in fact, the largest we have seen for months. Excellent work was done, the whole of the choruses going in magnificent style. Tlie rehearsal to take place on Tuesday evening will givo tho '" finishing" touches, and we can safely prophesy for Wednesday next one of the most successful amatuur concerts evor given in Foxton. Au the close of the c mcert, which will bo the last of the season, the Socioty will give its annual invitation ball.

Justicr Delayed. — The two men, Barton and Smith, who were arrested by Constable M'Anulty on Tuesday morning, have been enjoying a comfortable " 3pell " owing to the law's delays. It aeoms the offences witli which they are charged must be dealt with by two Justices of the Peace. Mr Thynue, one of the Justices mo3t frequently called upon, has happened to be out of town for several days, and in consequence tho Court officials have so far been put to great straits. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr J. T. Stewart was the only Justice obtaiuable, and thu c msoquence was the men wero remanded until yesterday. When the Court opened, however, yesterday morning, it was found that only one J.P. was available, Captain tiobinson being the sole 00-.upant of the Bench. The prisoners were therefore remanded for the second time, owing to a lack of judicial power. They will be brought up again this morning, and if the cases are not dealt with then, we think thj R. t| . should be specially imported for the occasion, as it is not fair to the men to keep them in suspense so long. If they hip pened to be innocent of the charge, their detention would be a serious matter. Probably it may be found necessary to appoint another Justice of the Peace in Foxton. Dr. Kookstrow has hitherto acted as a J. P. in virtue of his Coroaership, but having resigned that office, he cannot of course sit any longer on the Bonch.

Wood v. Buu,ek. — This case was ho .rd at the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Monday and Tuesday last, and resulted in a verdict for the phintiff. It was heard before the Chief Justice and a special juryconsisting of the following gentlemen : — Messrs L. Levy (foreman ), G. V. Shannon, J. Chew, G-. N. ( "ampbell. W. Hutchison, J. McManaway, B. Holmwood, P. John ston, J. R. Blair, E. O'Malley, — .Morgan, and S. Carroll. Mr Connolly, with, him Mr Pitt, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr W. T. L. Travels for defendant. In this case the plaintiff sought to havo certain documents, purporting to bo absolute conveyances, declared to be siinplo deeds of mort.

gago. The following statement of the case was made by counsel for tlio plaintiff and reported in the Now Zealand Times :— Mr Wood in 187 > wa3 tha possessor of a farm at Motoa, in the neighbourhood of Foxtou, having an extent of 430 acres. This land was of very great vililo, and tho plaintiff had refused £-2500 for it, believing it to be •worth half a 4 much again, viz., between £3000 and £1000. Tha defendant was well acquainted with the land and its value. In the year inantionod there was a moitgage 01£ 1200 upon ft. About that time Wood had incurred losses which placed him in straitened circumstances. Ho had been engaged in tho work of flax-making, which had proved a failure, and caused him to be very short of money. Having known Dr Buller before he went into practice as a solicitor, he went to him on the subject of raising money on the land to pay off the mortgage, and also some further liabilities which he had incurred ; in fact, the land was in November of that year about to be sold in Wellington. The defendant knew that he had deceived £2500 for the land. He proposed to buy the property" from the plaintiff. He declined to lend the money on mortgage, but propose I a plan by which ho should purchase the property, entering into an agreement to sell it back again to defendant any time within three yearsi He was to pay the mortgage of the land and other liabilities — in all, to the amount of £15 M). Plaintiff was uuder the impression that it was to be an ordinary mortgage. Defendant said, "If I buy the property in | this manuer you rrust give mo £1000'" 1 Plaintiff, however, refuse. l to do so, and I said he would only give 1 0 per oent on the amount of tile purchase money. Doth : plaintiff Mid defendant went to the office of ' the auctioneer and withdrew the property ■ from sale, and defendant agreed to buy it : on the terms mentioned for the sum of ; £1500. Subsequently the plaintiff signed a document which he thought was an agtec ; ment in all iespests the same as the verbal , one, but he found it Was not— =>that it cut off i four acres of the land, aad tint ha (plaintiff) was to pay for the property to get it back half as much again as Dr Buller had given for it. He believed tho document was not read over to him, and when he signed it he understood it to be sub3tau- ! tially tho same as the verbal agreement. ; The jury retired to consider the issues on i Tuesday evening, shortly before 10 p.m., j and after an absenc3 of 2^ hours, returned to the Court a little past midnight, w'aen the foreman said that on sonia of the issues I they were Unanimous, and on others only ! three-fourths of the jury had agreed, or j "were likely to, if shut up for a month. j Counsel on both sides having consented to I accept the ver lict, as if unanimous, the ' replies to the fifty-two issues were read out j by the Registrar, a large number of them I having been previously admitted by de ! fendant's counsel. The finding of the jury I is substantially in favor i,-f th-3 plaintiff, on I the grouud that hi did not unlerstand the I true purport of the deeds exeauted by ' him, although there waj no intentional j misrepresentation on the part of the defendant, and no actual fraul. The foreman added that on this point the j ury were i from the first unanimous After the verdict on the issues had been recorded, his Honor said that he entirely concurred in the view taken by this jury, and that it was a matter of extreme gratification to himself, as it must be to all parties concerned, that Dr. | Buller's professional character was in no j way affected, or any improper conduct im- , j puled to him iv relation to the matter. Mr Levy said — I wish to repeat, your Honor, that the jury were quite unanimous throughout that there was no intentional , misrepresentation, and no fraud whatever on the part of the defeadant

Ornithology. — We were on Wednesday last shown a very fine specitnon of a bird seldom seen. Scientific inea call it tha Rallns Phlllippensia; the Maoris call it the Moho Pataitai, or Molio Parent', whilst ordinary Pakchao call it the Striped Sail. The b ! rd is small, but exceedingly handsome, its plumagj being a perfect marvel of bounty. The 3pooim.li) wo saw was shot by Mi- Ingram, near Foxton. Captain b'r isor, of the Jane Douglas, took it down on his last trip, with a view of presenting it to the Colonial Museum at Wellington.

Foxtox School. — We hear it is likely the appointment of mistress of tha Foston girls' school will be conferred upon Miß3 Patrick, of Hokitika. The lady referred to is a Victorian teacher of great ability, and is at present in charge of the Hokifcika Infant School, which contains some 200 children. Although appointed the head teacher of the girls' school there, Miss Patrick w?s at her own request drafted to th 3 infant department. Sp jakiag f ro:a personal knowledges, wa think the appointment woull prove very satisfactory.

Native. — More native arrests. The Native Minister announced on Wednesday last that 24 more native ploughman had been arrested.

A Refutation. — In Wednesday's Wanganui Herald we notice an able letter from a Foxtoa Gominitteom m, who completely refutes Mr Watt's assertions from the chair of the Kducation Board, as to tho actnuof the Local i.'ommitteo.

Telephone. — The telephone is now in active use tis a branch of the telegraph service Jof New Zealand. The offijjrin charge at Foxtm yesterday inform jI us he had received notioe that a telephone s>tation had bsan opened at Portobollo, near Pji'fc ohalui3is. This is probably the ba ginning of a rovolutioa in tho telegraph service, as it indicates that tho telographist of the future will be — not a man with a delicate touch and ear, but one with a hoarse vofoe.

The Government Stroke. — Constable M'Anulty has a keen idea of tho importance) of utilising the bright and shining hour. Although .Messrs Barton and Smith have not yet either vindicated their inno cenc3 or beea proved guilty, the worthy policeman his boon carefully instructing them iv the importance of physical exercise in its relation to health. Daring Wednesday and Thursday the gentlemen referred to were oug iged in " laying out " the grounds connected with the polioo quarters, an I under the skilful direction Jof " Mac." they succeeded iv making footpaths and other iinpi'ovdments, which doubtless will sava the looal oflfbir some hours of work on cold winter unrninsrs. Their style, however, forcibly suggested considerable praetic3 at the " Q-overnmont stroke." A rather cynical individual remarke I yesterday that " Mac. was determined the G-overnmeat should not lose by those fellows ! " " Certainly," was the reply, " but of course he has got them to do it for the sake of their health." Horn !

OoSr 01' GOVERNMENT IN NeiV SuHTH Walks. — Tlio Sydnoy Morning Herald supplies the following interesting figures :— A population of 700,1)00 people ought not to have a very heavy criminal expenditure, especially where the means of living are so cheap and abundant as they are in New South Walus. But our prisons entail an annual public bur.len equal to 2a 2d por had of the population ; police protection costs a further annual sum equal to 6s 7d por head; and tho administration of justice costs the colony £408,1.94, or a per capita rate of 11s 7d per annum for the whole population. Tho education vote for the year is to be at tho rate of 10s per hoad, and the vtriom charitablo iistitu'ions of the

colony- will absord au ailduio.n 1 sum oqi il to 4s 9i per head, while our military and naval expenditure has rise.i to a per capita rate of 3s 3J.

Te^swos's UxruiiM3irsi) PoEJf .— * K J33ra 0. Ko^a'i Paul an I 00. anmunca for immediate public ition tin only pojni by Me Alfred Tounyson, entitled " The Lever's Tale," w'.iicli lias not hitherto bean included among his works. Two only of the three parts have, says the "Atb.encd.iin," been privately circulated, but the third is quite unknown. Seeing, however, that these twofirst parts have of 1 ite years been reprinted without hia sanction, the author lias determined to suffer the wholj poem at last to came to light, accompanied with a reprint of the seguel — a work of his mature lifa— " The Golden Supper."

Mv SpniiOEON. — A. London paper says : — Mr Spurgeon has been presented by his congregation with a splendid testimonial t commemorate the completion of the twentyfifth year of his ministry— »ihe silver wedding of pastor and church. The ceremony took place in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and was prefaced by the reading of a paper reviewing at length Mr Spurgeon's connection with the Ministry. I\i j total sum of the contributions to the t.vsti.n mial fund was £62 53, of whioh £SJOO had b jen invested in Consols, tile balance re .uaining in the banker's hands.

Ths Price op G-itAi.v. — Farmers ia the district fond of c.iloulatiag, will find it to their advantage to study the values of grain in New Zaulaui and tho adjacent Colonies. According to late3t advices f com England, New Zealand and Australian wheat, becsune ot their suporio' 1 quality, are at a premium in the homo market. vVithout going so far, however, it will ba found by com paring figures that wheat in the New Zaalaud market, scarcely realises two-thirds of the piiie which it fetches in Australia. The price of wheat in this district, fot som j time past, has ranged from 3s 3d to 33 9d. In Victoria it is in good demur! at 5s Gl to 6.6 porbaslul. The cliff jrenje of 2s per bushel ought to recover shipping and other charges, and leave a handsjme profit behind. — Ashburton Mail.

Should thu Spuuiows bs Puotectbd. — These birds (says tlie Scientific Aindricftu ) which have now proved sich a nuisance in America, seem to have no friends at present except thoso few persona who were instrumantal in introducing them. The English themselves warned us ag.unst the pest. Not long ago a outcry was raised against them by the farmers in Algeria, and now we have the same evil vemn of them from the kiugdo n of Saxony. Areoent English paper says " the (Jouncil of Agriculture oh" the litter country has sent a petition to the Government to repeal the law jvhich nukes it au offence to destroy them. Indeed tli3 feeling against sparrows has besoms so strong in some parts that the inhabitants hive decided to destroy them in defiance of the law. It is assarted that a microscopical examination of their crops proves th.it sparrows live upon grain during eight or nine months of the year, and are only insectivorous when reduced to it by necessity. It is the same cry from far and near, from America and Australia, where the ' dissolute, unmusical rover,' has been introduced and protected by stringent enactments, in retura for which he was expected to eat a great many insects and very little else."