The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5612, 25 March 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1879.

A few days ago we received in pamphlet form a copy of “Reports of Meetings held, and Addresses given, by Mr. W. L. Rees, in Poverty Bay and Tologa Bay, upon the subject of Native Lands.” Stitched in the same cover are two articles reprinted from the “ Poverty Bay Standard,” and having special reference to Mr. Rees’ sayings and doings in connection with the Maoris. These editorial comments do not contain anything which the general public, or indeed their own author, would be likely to think worthy of a better fate than usually awaits such literary performances. They are highly complimentary to Mr. Bees, and apart from that feature are neither better, nor worse than the ordinary run of provincial leading articles. Newspaper proprietors and editors do not make a practice of reprinting such articles in pamphlet form. Except under very extraordinary circumstances the venture would result in considerable pecuniary loss, against which nothing could be placed in the shape of good done or credit acquired. "We take it for granted, therefore, that this re-issue has not been paid for out of the pockets of any one connected with the “ Poverty Bay Standard,” and on

further consideration we are inclined to think that, for some reason or other, Mr. W. L. Rees has deemecl.it..worth his while to secure for .his, speeches and the editorial comments thereon a wider publicity than they would otherwise have received. Various mo- f tiyes may have prompted him , toj indulge in this little typographical ex-; penditure ; but; though it is just possible that on this occasion he may have been influenced by an anxious regard for the public good, our knowledge of the man, derived from observation of what may by courtesy be termed his public career, leads us to the belief that he was either moved by vanity or by a desire to reap in a perfectly legitimate manner some perfectly legitimate personal advantage. Having once reprinted these addresses and articles, it was only natural that Mr. Bees should cause them to be distributed as widely as possible, and as persons not acquainted with this most faithful disciple of Sir George Grey may be led astray by his plausible state- . raents. and, the fulsome compliments of his commentator of the “Poverty Bay Standard,” we think some good may arise from uttering a word or two of caution, and attempting to put Mr. Bees’ action with reference to native lands in a fair and truthful light. When Mr. Bees addressed a gathering of Maoris at Uawa last month he gave his hearers the following account of “ the “ way he came to take charge of Maori “ matters.” We are compelled to confess entire ignorance of the fact that ha is, or ever was, in charge of Maori matters; but we must let him speak for himself. He says :—“ Mr. Sheehan “ was managing Maori affairs in “Napier, and so hated was he in “ consequence by the white people “that his own friends were afraid to “ speak to him in daylight, for fear they “ would be ruined; and would only do so “at night. Sir George Grey became “Premier, and Mr. Sheehan Native “Minister. There was then no one to take “ up Mr. Sheehan’s work for the natives; “and Sir George Geey told him (Mr. “Rees) to go to Napier, as there must bo “some one to look after native matters. “ Sir George would do anything to give '‘justice totheMaoris, and have the wrong- “ doers punished. He went to Napier and “ took up Mr. Sheehan’s work, and soon “found that the' Maoris in the different “ districtslooked to that office as their only “ hope, to save them.” We should be veryglad to learn what Mr. Bees’ status is with regard to native matters and native lands. From, the above extract from his speech to the natives at Uawa it would appear that he 1 holds some office under the Government of New Zealand, by virtue of which he is empowered to settle land disputes between the Maoris and Europeans ; but he does not let us know what the office is, and we do not remember having seen his name in the “New “ Zealand Gazette.” In the speech which Mr. BEEs delivered at Gisborne he said a great deal about what he had done, and intended doing, withregard to native lands in Poverty Bay, but there was no allusion to an “office;” and it would appear further that he wished his hearers to understand that not only were his hands clean, but that in no shape.■ or form had he received any remuneration for what he had done towards settling questions of title between Europeans and Maoris. He did not say it in so many words, but that is the fair inference to be drawn from his language. He has a strong regard for the native race, and at the same time an ardent desire to see the country settled by a thriving European population. To benefit both Maoris and white men it would appear that he has given his time and professional skill as a, lawyer, altogether; gratuitously, to the settling of unsatisfactory titles where; both races are interested. In one part of his Gisborne speech he said : —“ More especially I have “ taken an ; active part in regard to ques- “ tions pertaining to the natives and their “ lands, and, of course, I suppose we “ need not hide it from ourselves that “ the action I have so taken has been “ provocative 'of considerable comment, “ and viewed with much suspicion from “ certain quarters,’.’ Then, , after, giving ~ what he terms a brief and, retrospective view of the tenure tinder which Maori lands were held prior to the advent of the European, he says Privately, “ publicly, and politically, it has been “ my sole desire and endeavor to put ah “ end confusion and litigation that. “ have arisen from the Native Lands Acts “ of 1865 and subsequent years, and to see “ that justice is done, between the.Euro- “ peans and Maoris.” Further on occur these words :—“I am prepared to show “ absolutely in every transaction in which “ I am concerned that my hands are “ clean.” And, again, he says. - ; —“What “ I have.done has been with the full con-’ currence 'of the members of both “ sides of the House of Bepresenta- “ lives,' members of the legal profession, “ and many of the public men of New “ Zealahd." I saw it was the' only possi- “ ble way of doing the work.” We will make only one more short extract, going to show that Mr. Rees wishes the public to believe that in no shape or form does he derive: any pecuniary advantage from his dealings with the unsatisfactory titles to Maori ;lands which are unfortunately so frequent : —“I feel that I have taken ‘ ‘ upoYTmyself an enormous responsibility “ in relation to these matters. Those “ who are acquainted with’the law know “ that a trustee cannot, only under extra- “ ordinary circumstances, profit a penny “out of the land.” Wo need only remark here that the accepting of a trust by himself conjointly with another forms an important part of, Mr. Bees’ plan for settling these tides. Looking, then, at his Uawa "speech, the impression would be left on ah ordinary mind that he is, the holder of some official position under the Government; looking at his Gisborne speech, it would seem that he is acting entirely on his own responsibility, A. careful examination of both the addresses would probably lead to the conclusion that Mr. Rees wishes it to be understood that his work has been entirely gratuitous.We are quite sure that when he tells us his “hands are clean” with regard to these Maori transactions he.is speaking the truth. But are we to believe that he has worked and is still working for pure love of his fellowmen and his adopted country? If’he is employed by* the Government, does he receive a salary, or is he paid in any shape or form out of the public purse? If he is employed by private persons of either or both races iu

dealing with these titles, is he paid for his time and trouble ? In short, is Mr. Rees to be regarded taa one of’ those rare characters who devote,’ their lives to promoting the good of the human species without fee or reward, or as a pushing lawyer who is anxious to make-the necessities of Europeans and Mabris hi? opportunity- for doing a thriving business iu what we have before called a perfectly legitimate manner 1 He 'has endeavoredto call public attention to hia Maori dealings, audit would be just as well that the above questions should be answered. "With regard to any good he may have effected by meddling in native -affairs wo confess to having’but little faith. All the wisdom of New Zealand certainly does not repose in his brain ; and it is strange if where a host of talented men well versed in Maori matters have hitherto failed to find a satisfactory solution, a comparative stranger in the colony, profoundly ignorant of Maori law, Maori customs, and, we believe, of the Maori language, should suddenly achieve a grand success.