Native Land Purchases.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 407, 6 September 1876, Page 2

Native Land Purchases.

Sir, —I was much astonished to see in to day’s Herald a resume of Mr Commissioner Wilson’s report; I was under the impression that it had not yet been laid before the House, and, consequently, was not as yet public property. It would appear, however, that the Editor of the Herald is more favored than the members of the House ; he does not apparently use that favor with discretion. If he feels at liberty to make make public the statement of the eonlents of Mr Wilson’s report, why does he not think it “a part of his duty to offer comments on the pros and cons ?” I trust he won’t say, because the matter is likely to come before a committee of the House ; it can’t be for that reason, for we all know that not very long ago he very freely offered comments on a subject that was so treated. I should like to know how this report got intothecoluiuns of the Herald-, it looks as though there had been a betrayal of confidence somewhere in au endeavor to forestall public opinion ; but having been imprudently made the subject of a leader, why not at least let that imprudence be excused by a more straightforward, and less cringing treatment ? No doubt Mr Commissioner Wilson’s report will soon be public property, and you will then be on a level with your more favored contemporary. I trust you will then feel yourself in a position, without impropriety, to let us know what your view of the whole affair is. With thelat ter part of the HeraUsart iele commencing from” a searching enquiry appears to be inevitable,” Ac., I quite agree, and trust it will not long be delayed. In the meantime I give due weight to Mr Commissioner Wilson’s well known status as a public man.—l am, Ac., SURFBISED. Sir. —Relative te the resume of Mr J. A. Wilson’s Land Purchase Report, published in to-day’s issue of the Herald, I take this earliest opportunity of denying any knowledge of the intention to publish, or complicity in furnishing, the information, and to express my surprise at the premature publication of matters not yet public properfy. —I am. Ac., T. W. Porter, Captain, Adjutant, and Land Purchase Officer, East Coast District. Militia Office, Gisborne, sth Sept., 1876. [advertisement.] To Thomas North. This is to give you notice that unless you discontinue the circulation of slanderous reports, which I hearyouarethcautliorof, against Mrs Pickersgill and myself, 1 shall be compelled to commence criminal proceedings against you iu a court of law. 953 J. Pickkrsgill.