THE DISMISSED INTERPRETER.

Patea Mail, 2 December 1880, Page 4

THE DISMISSED INTERPRETER.

R. S. Thompson, interpreter, was dismissed from Government era ploy for having sent a protest against the sale of the Waimate Plains. He has a Maori wife, and claimed land on her account. He says:—“ When the Royal Commission was appointed, I intimated that I wished to bring my wife’s claim before them, and received in reply a request that I would not visit them formally in open Court, but see them either early in the morning or in the evening. In accordance with this hole-and-corner policy 1 visited the Royal Commission, and was promised a separate reserve for my wife and children, on condition that I should not visit the Commission formally, because my views as to many matters did not coincide with those of the Commission. This promise was subsequently repented at an interview early in the morning, when I supplied the Commission with copies of my reports for their information. In all good faith I consented, but on the issue of the three separate reports of the Commission, finding that it was totally neglected and reclaimed rebels had largo reserves allocated for them, I naturally remonstrated. No reply being given to my remonstrance, I, on the day previous to the sale of the Waimate Plains, despatched a telegram to the Native Minister protesting against the sale without provision being made for my wife and children, for doing which I received instant dismissal. As regards the legality of the confiscation there can be no doubt that it is illegal. I opened the question by letter to Sir D. Bell, who declined to argue the matter. My duty to my race forbade me to act against it, but my duty to my children forbids me to see their inheritance confiscated without a struggle to retain it by legal means.