OTAKI JUSTICE AND BREAD AND BUTTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 7, 24 September 1880, Page 2

OTAKI JUSTICE AND BREAD AND BUTTER.

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE MVKAWATU HERALD. Silt,—Give in j :3tico. Give us men who will see justice before justice s eL'B them, aud cries dhime to their teeth, and who hang ther luuidsnt their own cruelty. Have they a bean of human race, or is it not the hoait of a lion, who will tuke a rush at liU own brethren without a moments consideration;? It appears two young men of rather high connection, money in pocket, were travelling, dqwu thp coast a few dnja ago. After (ramping hard for about be~ twecn 30 or 40 mile", they readied as far as an old digger's hut, who is in the employ of Mr. Hidfield. On, reaching the hut, wet, cold, and hungry, they asked this lovely gentleman of standing colour if ho would give them a mouthful to eat, or a shake down. Tho nigger, taking fright, at once told them to clear off. They asked him again if they could boil their billy, *9 they were wet and cold. Ho ut once took to bis black heels, most.Hkq his brethren iu .AAUtraKn.' T-ho ,'tinru j hungry : travelled quietly sat dtfwn to; rest' outsiae the, whjarej apd called out to-the cu'ritd comß-.ibaek. Tho} r rested a considerable time, and seeing no signs of the nigger returning, they looked in at the door (which was wide open) of tt)U uncivilised lint. Thay spied an old tinful of cold ten, and an old " go shore" with thvoo cold spuds,' which" were siy^tfor the nigger's dog, on tho lloor of tho hut ; an I of course, hunger templing them, they quietly took one'each of tl»«o spuds and a *t!ice of dirty damper, and then travelled on until, M>«y rosobud an old wool-shed some tulle* nlonfc tho bench. They quietly laid down to tako t!io night out. Next morning thoy trumpi'il on for lVilukariki To their surprise) they were Inr.ied back by tho polu,*m.iu, who overtook them. This suid njggor, who madu straight for Otaki, with .fritflit, informed bis employer that bo had been sturtlod from hi* hut by iwo htrauqers, who a«ked him for a mouth fill, nnd ho refuse;!. .JThuAo said travellers were inarched b ick to Otaki by tho Constable, reached Uuki, and wore tried n few ruii>ut6B after, their arrival by J»K»Vflinioox and Hewsbn,'|Vroseeuted by H tufted, J.P., who, without any witiiea*, gave the poor uufortuimte>» trueo months iti Wim»fcnui Gaol, with haul labour into the bargain; and when tuked how ■ thej caino to bo ao esevoro on tho nu'ii, «nid they meant doing this to pnteot tho oouutry and outsettlers. Now, 1 ask them how many oases of outrago, lioiiHobreukinjr, thoftt*, or ouoos of any serious ohurrcter, have been se.:uou this Coast ? Has it not been tho onso of the ourliost Hottlera on this Coast up till this date, to give to any man" who passed tho door; to ask him if he required u mouthfull, or if he asked for it to jgive him a mouthful.With pleasure P • Thu least oodid have dono was to lot them off with a caution, and not three months' bard labour. Is it not enough to drive any young man to tho bad P Is it not the oase that it is preached day by day by a nioVdber of the said J.P.'s family to clothe the neked, to feed tho huugryP The said persons have been working at Horowhenua for '.some' months past, and are proved to be steady, Hober, and bighly«oonnected young men, who, having rooeived news to their advantage, were on their way to Wellington when brought to this severe trouble. Their character is proved -to be and is

hi < character to be condemned by a mortal whose fellows are till this date cut down with cutlasses in their own country, and reckoned as wild beasts t With this said nigger tod men who are closely connected with the Bible do we, or aro we not going to cry for justice ; to pitv the tired and •weak j to feed the hungry, to consider their ' actions. I'hU step could not have been more severe if the men had broKea into the house, stole a half ton of bread, damaged the place, &o. Show me the uncivilised Maori or Now Zeaiander of any kind heart who would give a man three months' hard labour for a slico of bread and butter. ' / Justioe. Justice. They might as weJThavt told them plainly to go and join the late Kelly firm at once. Is it not enough to make them. I am, &0., «....^w^^,- r .- Hj Hi M'DoifAiD. Otaki, September 20, 1880.