The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 198, 22 August 1874, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1874.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We slwdl dewy to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

Vebt serious inconveniences are continually being experienced through the non-delivery of the Croktl Grants for lauds awarded to the Ormohd Military Settlers Many years pave elapsed since the allocation of these lands took place ; daily transactions are occurring with respect to them, thsjf*fonstant subdivision- mill L'lUUlting kspect of title are creative of much piriliayassing complication. Amongst othei instances we may quote one which Vias recently come under our notile. Some time since a settler becamA derivatively, the owner of the nioibty of a section which had been allotted' to an original'holder from the Government. The seller was anxious to obtain payment, and the purchaser was equally desirous of getting a title before he parted with his money. To expedite matters, communication was opened up with Mr. Ormond, the General Government Agent, at Napier; that worthy functionary referred the matter to the Government at Wellington, as it was not in his line of business to allow such small affairs to come between the wind and bis official nobility. Mr. Jones —let us so call the deluded applicant —was now directed to enquire of the Provincial Government at A uekland, the departmentalists of which told him he had done wrong in applying to them upon matters of General Government concern. The Resident Agent in that province solved —or thought he solved—the mystery by advising Jokes to apply to head quarters at Wellington, the authorities there being the proper ones to give titles to their lands, and, consequently to give the information sought. So we should think ; so poor Jones thought; and he, doubtless, thinks so still, but bevond that consolation he has received nought for his pains. He has no title, and what is the hardest feature on the ugly face of the foregoing fact is, that he cannot even find out which half of the section he has purchased, because the vendor did not himself know which had been allotted to him. These matters may seem to be of trivial import to the Government, which, now that it has received the services of the settlers, shew' such a

heartless indifference to the fulfilling of its own engagements ; but they are far from trivial to the persons most interested, whether they be the original service men or not. We hear long dissertations now and then on the impolicy of locating men

on blocks of land —the conditions of the possession of which are military service, and occupation during the term of their engagement —because, in a great majority of cases, the men sell their interest in the land for a sum a little over the value of a mess of pottage, or something under the amount

of a tolerably big grog score. Yet we find that the. Government itself is the principal delinquent in the matter, since by withholding the titles which alone make the possession of these lands valuable, it positively, in the first degree, bolds out inducements to the occupants to be dissatisfied with their condition; they tjecome restless and disheartened, and clear out at the first opportunity. Added to the great hardship of not getting the Crown titlesis the difficulty of Registration. Had even Scrip been issued it would have stood in the place of an actual fee simple; and would have given an interim security to the holder. As it is the land in the township of Ormond does not stand so high in the market as it would do if the Government had issued the original Crown Grants.

The most important news to hand by the mail yesterday is the tabling of the Abolition Resolutions by the Premier, in the House of Representatives, and the probability that exists of a sufficient slippart being accorded to him so as to enable him to carry them through the House. Relative to local matters we learn from private sources that the General Government have favourably entertained the deputation which waited on them in reference to the state of affairs in this district. Mr. Bold, as District Engineer, is to inspect all the roads and report on them, with a view to their being proclaimed at once. It is also promised that the trunk lines, bridges, and telegraph shall be commenced immediately. The Opotiki line of road is to be improved on, and the Government have given assurance that the Government Paddock is to be made over to the district ; 100 acres of the Patutahi Block are to be reserved for a race course : the Native Minister has given instructions that the Road Board Minutes shall be. printed in Maori for the information of the Natives ; and leases are to be given during the grass season for portions of the Patutahi Block. Taken as a whole, the mission of the Chairman of the Board has been very successful.