THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 28, 19 February 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right; We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

Road Board.—There was no sitting of the Board on Saturday last. The following, clipped from some of the evidence reported in the Hawke's Say Herald in support of “ complaints ” made by natives before the Alienation Commission sitting in Napier, will give an idea of what the complainants expect to be done for them: — “ Hamahona Tangaehe then came forward, and when asked by Mr. Wilson as to whether he had not received his rent, answered that he had always received it, and further stated that although he was, and always had been, the recipient of all he was entitled to, he thought that by coming to this Court he might get something more. This open confession, as might be supposed, caused considerable laughter. The Chairman said that so long as he always received his rent he had no cause of complaint." The Native Lands Alienation Commission has commenced its sittings in Napier. -During the progress of a portion of the business, viz., the investigation of the Petane and Pahou Blocks, the Chairman, Mr. Justice Richmond took occasion to remark, the H. B. Herald says, "that .with regard to this case, he and his brother Commissioner, Mr. Maning, were of one mind, although what he would have to say must not be taken as the opinion of the Commission, inasmuch as they had not yet had an opportunity of consulting with the Maori Commissioners. Their report to Parliament regarding these cases would be based on equity and good conscience, and granting that the sale of spirits might be held to be an illegal, vitiating part of the consideration money, it would be

highly unconscientious bn the part of any native to attempt to upset the sale, made with their , eyes open, of any block of land on the .ground that part of the consideration was spirits; and, great an evil as drinking was, himself and Mr. Maning thought that the remedy would be worse than the disease were they to teach the natives that they could do so. It would indeed be a disastrous lesson to teach the whole native population of the colony.” This clashes very considerably with the principal provision, of the “ Native Lands Frauds prevention Act” which imperatively demands the cancelling of any transaction in which even a bottle of spirits has formed part of the consideration money. It is, however, in perfect harmony with our own views on the matter; and we suggest that those who are. similarly situated here, should bear this opinion of Judge Richmond’s in mind, and watch its effect upon Parliament; a similar inquisition to that sitting in Napier is soon to take place in Gisborne, when every precaution should be taken to see that no useless complaints are made; and all should be thankful for so high an authority expressing his opinion, in the face of the “ Frauds Prevention Act,” that “ it was folly to blame the storekeepers for supply8' ig them (the Natives) with grog, when they rank so freely.” The Hawke's Bay Herald announces the arrival of Mr. Luckie, M.H.R., late editor of the Nelson Colonist, in Auckland, and his induction to the editorial chair of the Daily Southern Cross. The Weekly News gives the following as the result of a public meeting anent the Education Act, which is a fair indication of its favourable reception by the people generally : —The public meeting held on Wednesday at the Mechanics’ Institute, and convened for the purpose of considering the new Education Act, resulted in a manner which, although probably little anticipated by the promoters of the meeting, must be extremely gratifying to all friends of education in the province. A resolution was proposed condemnatory of the educatiorfWate, but it was negatived by a large majority, amidst great cheering. The conveners of the meeting, however, have done some good, as they have been the means of eliciting a decided’ expression of public opinion with regard to the Act. >We had never a doubt that the good sense of the people would have led them to accept it, and it is gratifying that they did not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the shallow and fallacious arguments of the rabid opposers of the measure. They who came on Wednesday night to gather wool at the cost of true progress went home shorn.