TOLAGO BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1185, 26 October 1882, Page 3

TOLAGO BAY.

(from our own correspondent.) October 23rd. Ths week which commences to-day is apparently destined to be a lively one in this sequestered village. Our hotels are now full having been invaded yesterday and to-day by a numerous and distinguished assemblage of country and town celebrities, desirous of witnessing or acting in the extensive and liberal programme which our paternal Government, acting in the Justice Department, has provided for our rectification. This day (Monday) was the day fixed for the opening, but a slip in the communication by sea having occurred between Napier and Gisborne, the manager of the entertainment, Captain Preece, Resident Magistrate, has been delayed, and the opening of his Court stands adjourned till to-morrow. And here it may be well to express astonishment that the R. M. for thia district should reside at Napier? How is it that he does not reside at Gisborne? and if necessary his senior brother, Mr Price, could be R.M. at Napier. Expense in passage money, and further expense and inconvenience to waiting witnesses and parties would be saved, aud the delays in the administration of justice here, which have already become the rule instead of the exception would cease to be a perpetuated by-word. There are set down for hearing at these sessions fourteen summary criminal cases, twenty-eight indictable offences, and thirty-three civil cases—a goodly array indeed for our little community, but then, of course, there is nothing like having things •• settled” as soon as possible. The cause celebre is of course the array of indictable offences consisting of 28 counts or informations, in which Mr A. C. Arthur is the prosecutor, and seven Natives of Tokomaru are the defendants. Distinguished * counsel has been retained on both sides, and the “erent” is looked forward to with intense interest by both the white and the brown sections of the population. Indeed the question at issue is a vital one, and on its determination will depend whether law is to be predominant, or whether the lawless and ill-informed Maori will be allowed to redress his real or fancied grievances by the summary method of taking what he considers “the law” into his own hands to the great terror of the lieges, the detriment of civilised settlement, the destruction, damage, and insecurity to property, and the danger of human life itself. The informations are spun out with all the periphrastic ingenuity of the legal noddle, and to the ordinary layman appear to be composed by some one who has either swallowed the latest edition of the New Zealand Blackstone, or else committed it to heart. I send you the substance, not being cruel enough on your readers to inflict the text in full. These twenty-eight informations (there being four charges against each of seven Maoris) are laid by Alexander C. Arthur, who leases at Tokomaru a sheep run from Maoris, against Hirini Tawharae, Hirini Wait!, Eraihia Matahiki, Petuere Kowhia, Pete Tone, Hamiora to Kanihl, Hurl Wait!, with divers others. I. "For disturbing the publio peace, unlawfully, riotously aud tumultuously in that they did assemble and make a great noise and tumult to the groat terror and disturbance of Her Majesty’s subjects residing at Tokomaru. 2. “ Forcible entry (under statute law) with the strong hand, upon and into certain land at Tokomaru in the lawful possession for a certain term of years, of said A. C. Arthur, and expel him out of the said land, contrary 'to the statute made and provided. 3. “ Forcible entry under common law upon the said land with force of arms by entering aud expelling the said A. C. Arthur from tire said sheep run then in his lawful possession. 4. •’ Malicious injury to certain personal property ; to wit, a large number of sheep and lambs, the proderty of said A. C. Arthur, - above the value of £5, contrary to the Statute 31 Vie. No. 6, Section 61." Each of these four counts being described as “an indictable offence" against the laws of the realm, and the peace of Our Sovereign Lady the Queen, whom may God preserve I Details of the trials as they go on will be forwarded from day to day to the Standard Office.