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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1267, 29 April 1880, Page 2

A few days ago we were informed by telegram that the surveyors engaged in the Petere (which, we presume, is inr tended for Patetere) block were removed in order to avoid a native disturbance, and that the Hon. Mr. Biyce was about to investigate the affair. This is the block which speculatoi-s have for years been endeavoring to obtain from the natives. When the . Grey Government assumed power the ! negotiations were stopped, but they . were renewed on the accession of the Atkinson Ministry. The Hon. Mr. Whitaker formerly figured amongst the negotiators. But rabid journals, including the Mail, freely commented on his actions in Parliament in connection with the attempt to acquire this block, and he and his coadjutors were forced to retire in favor of the Government. The Grey party havipg taken possession of the Treasury Benches, Parliament very properly resolved that the Colony, which bad already paid earnest money on account of the block, should complete the purchase which it had commenced. The purchase was not, however, completed, for the acquirement of native lands is a tardy process when land speculators are opposing—when the " corrupt" Grey Government was in turn displaced by a reconstructed and virtuous Atkinson party. Did Mr. Whitaker, senior, take advantage of the ascendency of his party and renew his negotiations for this block Such conduct would have afforded his opponents an opportunity for renewing their slanders. He, therefore, with self-denial and re.gard far hjs character, for which he has become celebrated, stepped aside, arid permitted one of his sons to take his place in. the ranks of the negotiators fpr the block. Who will now dare to point the finger of accusation at the Hon. gentlemen 1 He is not, as he was two years ago, the Attorney-General, the agitator of a Jfative Land Act favouring speculators, and negotiator for a block of land that stuck in the operation of acquirement for the want of a slippery Act. It is true that he is A-ttornevrGeneral, and the father, of one of the most projninent negotiators. Some people might venture to assert ; that this fact accounts for the news lately published throughout the Colony, to the effeet that the Government had agreed to the acquirement of this block by speculators, on the understanding that they should reserve a small portion of the 300,000 acres—for that is its area —for disposal pndeferred payments. So far from being suspicious that the i Attorney-General had anything to dp i

■with, bringing about tins yre hiiy.e .little .resolutely' set hijf faces: agWst it as l>eing very proper. Moreover, ■ ifthe truth -were" told, wd Miould -perhaps, be informed that the Government were very loth ,to comply with therequests of. * thesespeculators and abandon the Colony's right to this block, and that they, did so because, according to their creed, it would be hurtful for the Colony to undertake: the responsibility: of acquiring native lands ; it.wojild,be hurtful for the Colpny to pocket the profits that •would 1 atfcrue front ! tbeir sale. Besides" custom "has given speculators a pre-eqiptive right to interpose themselves between the natives and the people as land agents, and administer the lands they thus acquire in such a manner as to make the largest possibleamount of profit out of them, Ti"ue, unreasonable people-—those who know nothing of politics—complain that such a system arrests settlement, and robs the Colony of its land reserve. The Lincolnshire delegates will perhaps tell their friends at Home that no lands are to be procured in the North Island, except from speculators, $t prices singularly unfavorable when compared with those ruling in countries where Governments themselves administer Crown lands. They may tjnis arrest an influx of capitalists of the agricultural class. Although such a contingency is to be deplored, yet the feelings of speculators jftust bp qottr j sidered whilst such a Government as the present is. in power—there is no help for it. Mr. Bryce seems to have his handspretty fullinsettling disputes occa§igiH3£i by speculators, Not long since he poured oil on waters that had been troubled by Mr. Sutton—a political partisan—at Napier, and other friendly speculators at Murimotu. The objection to Mr. Bryce undertaking the role of pacificator in such matters is that the Colony has to pay the expense. Might we be permitted to mention that, if Mr. Bryce's time is to be so fully occupied in assisting land sharks to acquire the of the Colony, Mr. Bryce should receive his salary from those gentlemen as their agent, and abandon the title and salary of Native Minister. Perhaps the matter contained in this article may form the subject of inquiry when Parliament meets.