NATIVE LAND PURCHASES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4459, 5 July 1875, Page 3

NATIVE LAND PURCHASES.

A special telegram from Napier gives the text.of the following important letter, on the discreditable land transactions, sent to the Native Minister by Mr. Hamlin in 1869, and referred to by Mr. Travers on the examination of Mr. Hamlin, in the Omaranui case : Napieb, 20th September, 18.69. To the Native Minister, Wellington. Sir, —Before entering on the subject I am about to write upon, I would explain that I feel great delicacy in the matter, and would ■have felt it a great relief had some other-per-son taken such in hand. But as delay is dangerous (as is inevitable in the present case), I feel it my duty to bring the subject to your notice, hoping, at the same time, that no offence be cast on me for so doing. I have now, however, respectfully to bring to your notice the wholesale manner in which lands are being alienated from natives, under a deceptive cloak of mortgage. Mortgages for some time past were entered into for the sake of protection to merchants for outstanding debts, and up to the present time have been carried on with a view indirectly to disinherit natives of their possessions; also to deprive them of yearly rents which they have heretofore been in the* habit of receiving. I would not omit to state that this scheme is not a general thing, but only practised by one person in particular, Sutton, who is assisted by G. B. Worgan, everyone else having set their faces against it. I may add that the bare-faced manner in which this trade is carried on is beyond credence. Several natives have come in to town, without the slightest idea of treating for land, but have been watched by Sutton, who had Worgan within call, and the natives were decoyed away and introduced to a glass or two of spirits, then into his shop, where he or she was invited to take an unlimited quantity of goods, at the same time deeds are introduced and requested to be signed, which, considering the state they are in, is not generally refused. I must not forget here to add that some of the most foolish and delusive ideas are put into the natives’ heads. Some .of them have an idea that' by forfeiting their respective shares of rent for three years everything they draw in the shape of goods (for which they seldom see money, thus giving about 10s, in the £ in reality), will be paid off and be ready to re-mortgage. Others hold the idea that they will still receive this yearly share of rents, and by some unaccountable device their' respective debts be paid off in .the space of three years. In some instances many of them don’t really know what they have signed away. To such a pitch has this traffic been carried on, that in one instance I could relate where a native had secured his creditors by mortgaging to. them his interest in certain blocks of land, and had the deed registered, the native was requested by Worgan to execute another deed in favor of Sutton. In this the native deserved great praise, as he said he could not split his land in two as he had signed one deed, and he would be acting wrong if he signed the second, deed for the same land and for the same purpose. To which Worgan, in a reproachful manner, said (alluding to the native interpreter who had been engaged in the former case), “Te rangatirallawateTangata •Kohouina hoki kaldno mau rawaike auaKupu.” To say the least of this it is teaching the natives to be unprincipled, I am happy to say that in this respect the natives have up to the present period behaved in a most creditable- manner. The effect of this iniquitous and baneful traffic has yet to be felt by the province and country. The natives will bo made destitute, and will consequently resort to stealing and highway robberies, together with all other attending evils, and I fear the terrible consequences will be infinitely worse, namely, bloodshed, &c. I perceive by the late amendment of the Native Lands Act that some alteration is made with to undivided grantees dealing-with respective interests, but I fear that while such an unprincipled mode of dealing has already exhibited itself, the mamrity of the grantees will bo overcome. The power given to licensed interpretere to act in such cases is unlimited unless his own conscience prompts him that acting in such a way will bo injurious to the colony. I allude to the wholesale manner

in which this has been and still is carried on. To my certain knowledge, deeds are at the present. time in the course of preparation for the further transaction .of the-above nefarious traffic. .1 would therefore bring under your notice the necessity of witholding his license as Native Interpreter from that gentleman (Worgan), at all events for a time, pending your pleasure to again re-grant it at some future period. If this is not done, I fear there will be no redress, or redress will be too late. E. Hamlin. The Hon. Native Minister, Wellington.—l certify that -the within is a true copy of the original letter. John Sheehan. June 14, 1875.