A Big Claim

Manawatu Herald, 16 June 1892, Page 3

A Big Claim

The following cablegram was sent from London the other day, but most beautifully hashed up on the road. The Government of the United States propose to submit to arbitration an ancient claim made on behalf of two American subjects for compensation from Great Britain for the seizure of 500,000 acres of land in New Zealand, which they claim to have purchased from a Maori chief. The Otago Daity Times gives the following particulars : — The Webster claim, to which the message evidently referred, is now ancient history. It was fully investigated by Sir Robert Stout as At fcorneyGeneral in the Stout- Vogel Government, and his memo to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the matter stated that he was " satisfied equally with Lord Carnarvon that Webster had been treated with liberal justice, especially seeing that awards were made in his favour, or in favour of his acknowledged assigns, of every single acre which the native owners admitted, whether claiming as a British subject or an American citizen." Webster's history is that when a young man he came to this colony with §6000 invested in goods to trade with the Maoris. He purchased from them the right to set up a trading station at Coromandel, and was the first white man to settle there. He learnt to speak the •Maori language, and largely increased his capital by trading in pork, timber, and other productions. Be bought land at or near the present site of Auckland, and was the first white man to settle there. As he prospered he increased his land purchases, established a shipbuilding yard, and generally claims that he was the pioneer of civilisation in that section of the country. He sought to convey to the United States the Great Parrier Island, then largely resorted to as a whaling station. Flo claims that when Great Britain took possession, his lands and other property were worth one million sterling. The treaty concluded deprived him of this property. His , land included 850 acres at Coromandel harbour, 2500 acres at its head known now as Taupiri, and 1000 acres known as Waiau, 1500 acres on the Thames, 8000 acres on the Piako river, 20,000 acres being tha whole of the Big Barrier Island. Areas in other districts and other Islands bring up the total to about 500,000 acres. Webster, after, losing his property, as he alleges, by the British Government assuming sovereignty over New Zealand, went to the State to assert his rights, and fell into poverty. In his petition to the United States Senate he claimed an indemnity of $78,145 for loss and damage up to January, 1840. The United States Senate, it may be stated, passed a resolution that the claim for indemnity wag founded on justice, and deserves the cognisance and suppoit of the Government of the United States, and the President was requested to take such steps as he thought proper to secure William Webster a just settlement and final adjustmeut of his claim against Great Britain.