CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 228, 5 December 1874, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Oar columns are open for free discussion; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents ]

LETTERS TO THE RDITOB.

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Friend, —I have heard what lhe Maories say respecting my survey at Takopa. They say that Captain Porter told them to put the chain round my neck if I persisted in surveying. I wi'h to ask you whether it is right for officers of the Government to interfere and cause difficulties respecting lands which have not yet passed the Lands Court.—l am, &<•, Pi MIA AAT A. Gisborne, December 3, 1874.

Ki te Kai Turn o te Nupepa. Ehoa. —Kua ronga ahau kite korero o nga Maori mo taku ruri o Takopa ta ratou ki na Poata te ki kite tohe ait kite ruri me potae te tini. Ki runga ki taku kaki. Na, he patai tenei naku kia koe; he tika ranei tenei inahi ma nga tangata o (e kawnnutangn kia nolle he raruraru kirunga ki nga whenua kaore ano kotilia— Pimia Aata. Kihipane, Tihema 3, 1874-

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Srn, —I shall feel obliged if you will insert lhe following account of the manner in which some of the native matters are mismanaged and interfered with in this Government forsaken district. Pimia Aata and my wife, being part owners in a piece of land called “ Takopa.” made application to bring the same under the operation of the Native Lands Act, and the necessary enquiries having been made by the District Officer and Judge, Mr. Drummond received authority from the District Officer to carry out the survey of the satne, whereupon he, on the 3rd of November, proceeded to do so, but was forcibly prevented by other natives who also lay claim to the block ; but, wishing to avoid any disturbance, came away, and, acting under legal advice, went again on the 13. h November, and again was prevented from carrying out the survey, and Pimia and the Surveyor were assaulted. This led to a ease in the Resident Magistrate's Court, which was given in favor of Mr. Drummond. Again, on the 23 rd November Mr. Drummond went, and was permitted by tbe opposing parties to survey 41 acres; but this not being the survey intended, be again went on the 28th to complete the survey, but was again obstructed by the natives. Not. wishing in any way to excite the native mind, 1 have refrained from using force ; but I found, on visiting Gisborne on Monday last, that the natives had been actually acting under the instructions of Capt. and Adjutant Porter in the matter, and on my speaking to him he stated that we had not complied with the Act-, and that he had advised the natives to oppose the survey. Well !I do not think it lies in his power to judge as to whether surveys are legal or illegal. He informed me that, should we persist in attempting to carry on the survey he should advise the natives to break the instrument's, et cetera, and remove us from the ground forcibly, and this, mind you, aft r having told me that he knew it was >ir D. M'Lean’s wish that the Act should work quietly; and this is peace I Now, Mr Editor, can you tell me what position, and what authority does Capt. and Adjutant Porter hold in this district with regard to native lands and native matters generally ? Is he District officer, Judge, Chief Surveyor, General Government Agent, Native Minister, or simply Capt. and Adjutant of Militia I

Does it tend to the peace of the district for an officer to whom the natives apply for advice to advise forcible opposition, and the breaking of Surveyor s instruments, especially after a general warning given by the Resident Magistrate's Court to the natives not to forcibly interfere with any survey, but protest to the proper authorities I I may inform you that Mr. Locke, District Officer, has been written to on lhe subject; but I address the public generally through you, as the matter of surveys is not a private, but a public one. If my wife and sister-in-law are not to be permitted to survey their land, they and others will also oppose allother surveys in the district, and great trouble wid be the result, and the settlement of the district further retarded-—I am, Ac.,

A. F. Hardy.

Poverty Bay, Dec. 3,1874. [We cannot answer the categorical questions of our correspondents off hand ; and as their statements, which are, doubtless, correct, contain charges of a very serious nature against a public officer, we withhold any observations we may have to make until he has had sufficient opportunity for explanation, if he chooses to make one through out- columns.— Ed. P.B.S.]