Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, January 7, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1020, 7 January 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard.

PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Saturday, January 7, 1882.

We shall sell to no man Justice or Right; We shall deng to no man Justice or Right; We shall defer to no man Justice or Right.

The different shapes assumed, by what is known as the “ Native difficulty,” have, from time to time, put the Colony to much expense. In no form, however, has this incubus—now happily becoming removed —made its appearance, than in that of obstructing surveys. Frequently, the Native owners or the land have had fair and reasonable grounds for the obstruction offered by them in defence of their territorial rights. At other times, from sheer wantonness, and without any shadow of justice on their side, surveys have been stopped, pegs pulled up, surveyors driven off, and theodolites broken. An illustration, though of a mild character, of what used to take place, might be derived from the case against the Native, Waiharakeke who was charged yesterday morning, in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, by Mr Barnard, District Surveyor, for an alleged offence of the nature referred to. A survey party, it appeared, in, on that occasion, the employ of the public, proceeded to lay off a Government road through the Waihau block. The Natives alienated their interest long ago, not a single original owner now having the slightest interest in the land, the property being absolutely vested in the Crown. And yet Mr Waiharakeke, from some inexplicable cause, assumed to himself the power of peremptorily ordering the survey party off ; stopping the whole work ; necessitating the return of the party, and compelling a visit of one or two surveyors from Napier. All this is exclusive of other minor acts that he was pleased to indulge in. It is by law distinctly laid down, that the Government are empowered to carry roads, for the convenience of the public, throughout such parts of the country as may be desired. Provision, ample in itself, is made for compensating Natives, whose favorite spots of land where cultivations exist, or that have other special attractions for the Maoris are interfered with. But it is alto-

gether monstrous to suppose that upon the mere ipsi dixit of some irate Native, the opening up of, and the settlement of the district are to be brought to a standstill. We were pleased to observe that the presiding Magistrate, Captain Preece, whose keen knowledge of Maori idiosyncracies must stand him in good stead, in a semiNative district like this, fully recognized the importance of such offences being put down with a strong hand. In his remarks to the accused, when pronouncing judgment, His Worship pointed out that a serious breach of the law had been committed. It is to be hoped that the punishment inflicted may act as a deterrent to others. Many surveys will be taking place in this district about the preseason of the year and the sooner the Natives have removed from their mind the idea, that they can resort to physical force in these matters, instead of to the Court of law, the better it will be for the whole community. There are already unpleasant rumors about, which we leave untouched for the present, pointing out that owing to the difficulty with the Natives respecting one of the main roads the proposed grant of money for the purpose of carrying on the work is seriously jeopardized.