New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4979, 8 March 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

If Messrs. Watt, of Napier, have really paid for the quiet enjoyment of their sheep run the large sum of £17,000 to Mr. John Sheehan, as solicitor for " the natives,", wo may be very sure that the time is not far distant when pressure will be brought to bear on other owners of land in Bawke's Bay. Without going into technicalities, we believe we are correct in saying that tho title to much of the land throughout the whole district is disputed at the "Repudiation office," and it is no very violent presumption to assume that now the repudiation party ha 3 made such a haul out of Messrs. Watt, its agents will set to work to levy as much black mail as they can out of each and every runholder whenever there is tho slightest possibility of success. If the runholder refuses to meet the demands made, he will be dragged

into a court of law, and whether successful or not in resisting the claim will be put to very great expense and annoyance. And not only will the runholders suffer, but the value of property and the prosperity of one of the most fertile and progressive portions of New Zealand will be seriously affected. It is not, therefore, merely a question between the Maoris and the pakeha landowners, but extends more or less to every one in the North Island; the South is happily free from this native difficulty. We may be quite certain that Messrs. Watt would not have paid £17,000, nor indeed as many pence, to "the natives," if the latter were not masters of the situation in that particular case, and as that case stands so do a great many more, unless we are very much in error. Mr. Sheehan, armed with the sinews of war at the cost of Messrs. Watt, and professionally assisted very likely by Mr. Rees, a wellknown fomentor of strife, now in Napier, will bring some heavy guns- to bear against the runholders from Port Ahu-nri-'td: the"' Sey"enty"Mile >Bush, and fortunate indeed will they be' who escape. The rights of the natives must of course be respected, and they are entitled to equal justice before the law with the pakeha; but what we fear will be the result of the success of the " repudiation " party in Messrs. Watts' case amounts to this, that wholesale attacks will be made right and left on Hawke's Bay land titles, and that many an innocent holder who has given a good price for his estate will be in jeopardy. Many of the large blocks have been cut up and sold in small allotmentsHow will the small farmers and settlors come out of the difficulty? It is all very well to say that they have a right to the return of the purchase-money; that is often a very facetious remedy, and as to the promises of the repudiation lawyers to see them harmless in the matter, it may be doubted whether such promises are very reliable. Altogether the prospect is not a pleasing one. To some of the large flockowriers, who have already made handsome fortunes, the payment of the demands of the Maoris may not be a very serious matter. So far as Messrs. Watt ore concerned, they can no doubt well afford the loss ; but to poorer men a similar operation may be very like ruin". . It will be remembered that the Maoris are not in all cases inclined to obey the law when it is against them, and that not long ago the Supreme Court having given the right and title to some land near Napier to Mr. Sutton, the Maoris refused to give up possession, and defied the sheriff to come on to the land with her Majesty's writ. This occurred within twenty" miles of the capital of Hawke's Bay, and shows to what lengths the natives will go in the matter of land disputes even in these piping times of peace. We are afraid that the successful attack on Messrs. Watts' pocket will furnish the natives with the means of starting almost endleßs litigation, and that their legal advisers will stimulate them to "go the whole hog bristles and all," for the very good reason that whichever side is victorious, the professional gentlemen will reap a rich harvest. • There can be no doubt whatever that next session we shall hear more of Hawke's Bay land-question.' Mr. Sutton .has recently been elected to sit for Na--pier, and MrrSurroN is deeply.interested in She question; By those whosympathise with him he is regarded as a martyr, who has been a heavy loser by .his honest transactions with the natives. Oh the other hand, the natives say quite the reverse of Mr. Sutton, and have the same name for him as they have for the devil. Next session, therefore, we shall hear a good deal' about these unfortunate land disputes, and should Captain Russell resign his seat and Mr. Buchanan be elected in 'his place, a not "impossible contingency, the repudiation office will form a fertile-subject of, it is to be feared, angry discussion. Let us hope that the Legislature may see its way to bringing about, if necessary, some compromise, whereby all parties will be satisfied to put an end to further litigation in the matter— a very difficult thing ; to effect no doubt, but, we trust,. not an impossibility.