CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 293, 28 July 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

:O —— Our columns are open for free discussion ; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents.

—:o: TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I noticed in the Herald of July 20 a letter signed “ Pro Bono Publico,” stating that a petition had been drafted in English and is to be translated into Maori in the hope that the natives may be induced to sign it, requesting the removal of Mr Wilson, the Government Land Purchase Commissioner, because certain well-known Europeans who have been interfering with the Government land purchase in the neighbourhood, and are very much disappointed at Mr Wilson’s refusal to Satisfy their demands. Allow me to inform “ Pro Bono Publico” that certain Europeans were in the field negociating with the natives for land before Mr Wilson arrived in Poverty Buy. I may also state that Mr Wilson is not the man to negoeiate with the natives for land for the Government in Poverty Bay. There is something about his way and manner that the natires do not like —for instance, a native will go to him and say that ho has some land to sell to the Government. He receives a certain portion of money and signs a paper. The same individual, instead of dividing the portion he received amongst the owners, goes and pays his debts with it. A few days afterwards some more of the rightful owners go and dispute the sale. A paper is produced and they are asked to sign their names, which they refuse to do. They are then told by Mr Wil Ison, “ Never mind ; I don’t care.” Ho thinks, perhaps, that by giving money to one individual aud getting him to sign a paper that he has a lien on the land. Allow me to inform him that he is mistaken. What “ Pro Bono Publico” means by saying that if Mr Wilson was displaced it would give place to a commissioner who would give one or two pakehas the run of the public purse, I for one cannot make out. —I am, Ac.,