Manamatu Herald. FEBRUARY 15, 1881. STATION DIFFICULTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 48, 15 February 1881, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. FEBRUARY 15, 1881. STATION DIFFICULTY.

in connection with pilot station j H at length in another still one more illusdisgracefully loose successive Goveruleft native matters on The roads from, the and Otaki and of the different ferries will doubtless recur in this connecnew trouble is of as those with which the Coast are ah'eady It springs from the two systems of Gofrom the neglect by duty of putting all to permanent -nesure foundations. would dictate that ferries were laid. off erected, every care to obtain a perpetual employed, but such been the last thing of the authorities, right was obpresent evil staved care was taken. followed are reaping mismanagement in troubles and present is a case in the wretched bungAkeady the £500 as' rent a slice of the sea to put up a couple of a signal staff upon ! per annum for that! successive Governashamed to continue what we complain have ignored the matdealing with it in a business way, and time. What pro* the natives intend to, of course know, but, experience we may . a tolerably heavy upon the amount received, and knowmanner in which scheme likely to fully expect some caused before the adjusted. If they reason, and are wil. amount to sell a right for the land nesignal station and hope it will be Quiet measures Xf, on the other hand, up an exorbitant; course for the Gois to take the "The Public pay the natives asmay be awarded Here a

fresh difficulty occurs to our iniuc!« The laud not having been passed through the Native Lands Court, it is doufctful if thfe natives who have given nojp&'^o- M&Beabury would have aw legal status at ftjjk aa> |tjj||pugft {ftey ive the " a<&nfowlettged owners, ' 1« is cpiite possible some other 7iapn I might oo&test their right to the land. This need not, however, prevent the matter being dealt with finally under the Eublio Works Act, for in "The , Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1880," section 17, special provision is made that where the owner of land required for public works "is not known," tho Public Trustee shall -wpws«snifir cTaMftnt in thet)bn>~ ponsatiou Court, and any moneys payable as compensation would be paid into., the Pu!>Ho~ Trust office, and retailed by the Crown untif^uwi time as* the owners were fcuowa, or in other words, until the land had been passed through the Nathje Lands Court. The means we have suggested would, if adopted, permanently settle the whole matter, and as the pilot service is of great - importance to the shipping trade of Foxton, it is to be hoped no unnecessary delay will take place in hay- ! ing the matter put upon a firmer footing. One other matter suggests itself. The Government are now in possession of the land, and until the certificate of title has been issued, and the owners ascertained by the Court, it is questionable whether any such j proceedings as ejecting the Pilot and destroying the flagstaff would not render the persons who committed them liable to very heavy penalties under the criminal law.