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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 172, 22 September 1866, Page 2

A correspondent of the D. S. Cross, writing August 29 says :—Last week a large ruuanga took place at Wharetakahia, not f. r irom Raglan, aud to which all the chief's (laud-owners) where invited. inuring the first day's meeting the ceremony of opening the runauga was performed by Te Wetini Mahekai, who. in a brief address, gave a yery full history of the old system of Jand purchase—when large tracts of laud were bought from the Maoris for little or nothing, for tobacco and blankets. Te Wetini attributed much blame to iiis ancestors, who had thrown away their lands. He said that William Naylor, with his dying breath, confessed to all persous near him that many chiefs hud been playing a foolish game throughout with the Europeans about land, both at Kaglan aud elsewhere. The Marine Board having been done away with, its duties says tbe N Z Advertiser will be performed by the following officers:—Mr. Balfour will be Marine Engineer for the colouy, with a salary of £700 a-year ; Mr. Naacarrow, Surveying Engineer of steamers, with £375 a-year ; and Captain Johnson, late Warden of the Marine Board, will be Nautical Assessor, at a like salary. Mr. Balfour will bc stationed in Wellington ; Mr. Nancarrow will visit the different ports, having his head-quarters here ; and Captain Johnson will be stationed at Nelson. It appears to us that a better selection could not have been made than that, of these three gentlemen, who have all got large experience but we trust that the members of the late Marine Board, and especially Captain Sharpe, the president, who has so long held that ofnce, will notbe suddenly thrown overboard without some provision.

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