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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4772, 8 July 1876, Page 2

A few days ago an Opposition paper published an article in which it was stated that the Government had "lately purchased from Mr. William Aitken between 2000 and 3000 acres of land on the left bank of the Waipa," and that the Government had purchased about the same time "400 acres from Messrs. Jackson and Russell.". Upon the supposition that these lands were lately purchased, our contemporary evolved from its inner consciousness a theory that they were acquired by the Government in pursuance of some private understanding arrived at between the Native Minister and Tawhiao at the recent interview; and drawing further upon its imagination, our contemporary represented that the Waikato settlers were in a state of intense indignation, aud purposed holding meetings to pass resolutions condemnatory of the supposed action of the Government. Would it surprise the journal in question to learn that it has simply found a " mare's nest ?"—a species of discovery which appears to be the fashion just now. If our contemporary will examine the published appendix to the Journals of the House for 1875, it will find that on the 9fch September last, on the motion of Sir George Grey, a return (0 3c.) was laid on the table of the House, "showing what lands in Waikato have during the last two years been purchased by the Government from Europeans, &c," and our contemporary will also be very much astonished to find that the return includes 2092 acres purchased from Mr. William Aitken and 400 acres bought from Messrs. Jackson and Russell the blocks which the paper in question, oblivious of this return, supposes were lately purchased, and upon which supposition it bases the imaginary indignation of the settlers. This is a matter which was scarcely worth our notice, but we quote it as a fair specimen of the sort of charges which Opposition writers are in the habit of making against the Government.