LATEST FROM WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 29, 12 August 1871, Page 8

LATEST FROM WAIRARAPA.

DEATHS BY DROWNING. A large number of persons will, this season, have to be added to the melancolony return which was published last year by order of the House of Representatives of those who have met theii deaths by drowning in New Zealand rivers since the foundation of the colony. Tt was only last week that we heaid the sad tidings of the death by drowning, near Tauranga, of Mr G. R. Hall, a telegraph line-man, who was a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and good character. On Monday morning news reached Greytown that a saddled horse, which had been evidently under water, was seen near the banks of the Ruamahanga river, which was subsequently found to be one belonging to Mr W. Ronald, a nephew of Captain Donald of Featherston, who had been employed at bridge building on the the Lower Valley road, and who started for Featherston early on Sunday morning, and had not since been heard of. Enquiries were at once instituted, and the river searched for the body of the missing man, but up to Wednesday morning no positive evidence could be obtained relative to the painful subject, but it is of course generally concluded that the poor fellow has added another name to the long list of victims who have found in this dangerous river a watery grave. Parties are now out dragging the river in those parts where it is thought probable that the body may be found. NATIVE LANDS COURT. The sittings of this Court at Greytown suddenly and unexpectedly terminated on Tuesday last. It opened its proceedings after the long interval of fifteen months had been allowed to elapse since the former sittings of the Court, and the native claimants then, dissatisfied alike with the constitution and proceedings of the Court, withdrew, I am informed, the whole of the remaining cases from its adjudication. The two most important enses were rehearing ef claims upon which a decision had been given at a previous sittiug of the Court, and which decision, I am assured, gave general satisfaction to the whole of the natives of the valley, except of course two or three parties to whom that decision was unfavorable. These cases related to the ownership of two valuable blocks of land at Papawai and Ahikouka, both in the vicinity of Greytown, and which had been much enhanced in value by their close proximity to this flourishing township. Owing to the absence of E Toko, or a second native assessor as required by law, the hearing of the cases had been adjourned for three days awaiting his arrival. On Tnesday the claimants applied to have the cases adjourned, in order that they might be investigated by a native, or some other tribunal in which they had more confidence. The application could not be granted, as the claims had been gazetted for re-hearing by an order in Council, which had been fixed to take place some time before the 25tli of September; but the Court intimated that if they desired that the whole of the former proceedings should lapse, and a fresh application be sent in, it would be competent for the judge to grant such a request. After some hesitation and grumbling, the owners under the former award consented to the adoption of this course, under the expectation that the constitution of the Native Lands Court will be altered in the ensuing session of Parliament. They wish to have native titles investigated by runangas or committees elected by themselves, to be presided over by some representative of the Government, who should have the assistance of two assessors, who, after hearing the evidence, should give their decisions and report the same to the Government. These runangas, or committees as they themselves call them, would occupy the position of jurymen rather than as witnesses, and who would aid the chairman and assessors in arriving at a decision agreeably with nalive custom. The natives propose to hold a large meeting on the subject, which will be attended by those residing on the East Coast as well as by those resident in the Wairarapa. This new system, it is thought, will be much more economical than the existing one, and will be more likely to give satisfaction.

EDUCATION. At a meeting of the committee of the Greytown School District held last week, two applications were read in reply to their advertisement for a master and mistress for the Greytown school, when that from Mr Morton, late teacher of the East Masterton school, was, after some discussion, accepted. In the meantime Mr and Mrs Poole, the teachers appointed by a former school committee, are in possession, and as a large amount of salary is alleged to be due to them, they will probably want some kind of settlement before they quietly give up possession, and consent to be left out in the cold. The question whether an incoming committee is liable for the debts contracted by an outgoing one does not appear to have been contemplated uuder the old Education Acts ; and the question is whether, since the late Education Act was assented to, by which those acts were repealed, those acts are now in operation. It puzzles people here to know why an Education Act was passed at all, which was not to be brought into operation until after the next session of the Provincial Council. It has had the effect of placing schools and school teachers, instead of a better, in a much worse position than ever.