THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 498, 10 March 1880, Page 2

THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

(Special to Wanganui Chronicle.) Waitara, Morc-Ii 8. Nothing much of general interest was elicited in evidence by the Commission on Saturday, though a great many Natives were examined. Amongst those who gave evidence was Teira, famous through having caused the Waitara war, by selling land here against the wish of Ihaia and the rest of his people, which, under the Communistic system then prevailing, could not be said to belong to him more than to any of the others. Even now many of the Natives have strong objections against any individualism of titles. They like to see the old customs retained, by which they are able to roam from kainga to kainga and live upon their relatives as long as there is food to be eaten ; and the well-known hospitality of the race enables this to be done, though the practice of it often brings great distress to those who act host. Teira’s claim on Saturday amounted to very little indeed, and the same may be said of a good few more. As at other meetings, there were several claims of a spurious nature, but the intimate knowledge of the Natives possessed by Mr Parris and Major Brown prevents the Commission being hoodwinked by the disappointed applicants, who took their discomfiture pleasantly enough. One Native, who had been one of the crew of a pilot boat at Manakau Heads on the occasion of the wreck of 11.M.5. Orpheus, applied for compensation for saving the life of young Barclay, on the ground that though the Humane Society’s medal had been given, ho did not get one, or receive any other compensation, although young Barclay wrote informing the Government of the service rendered in saving Ids life. The Commission promised to fully lay the matter before the Government. The Commission full}' expect to finish here to-day, veiy little more remaining to be done.

It is rumoured liere that the natives intend to oppose the advance of the Constabulary to the other side of the Stoney River to-day, but tiiose whose opinions of native matters is of value consider the matter mere bunkum. Indeed, to a casual observer of the demeanor and force of the natives .along this coast, it is in the highest degree improbable they will ever venture on hostilities. The old men who have fought in their time seem unequal to taking the field again, while the young men are displaying such a partiality for beer and tobacco, and the small dissipations of township life, as to make it extremely unlikely they would face the hardships of campaigning.

The Commission closed its sittings here to-day. One case of injustice transpired. A native claimed the Tikorangi block ; friendly natives lived upon it formerly, but Government got them to remove three miles away, so that the block might be occupied for rnilitaiy purposes. The Government afterwards placed military settlers upon the land, and offered compensation to the Maoris, which they refused, as they wanted that particular land. Evidence was given that Sir D. McLean considered them hardly dealt with, and the opinion of the Commission was, that it was something like a flagrant robbery. The matter will be laid before the Government. At the conclusion, Sir Win. Fox addressedthe natives, explaining the object and scope of the Commission. In the course of his remarks, he ridiculed the

pretensions and powers of Te Whiti. He pointed out that by following Te Whiti’s advice the Maori wives would be made widows, and their children orphans, and, if his advice was still followed, their lands might pass away from them altogether. He scouted the idea of the Governor taking the least notice of the vagaries or words of Te Whiti.