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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1352, 6 September 1883, Page 2

This morning it is expected that the work of subdivision will be fairly got under weigh in the Native Land Court. The members of the legal profession, anxious of course not to allow the opportunity to pass without reaping a good harvest, have submitted to His Honor J udge Brookfield their ideas of how the business of the court should be proceeded with. Contrary to what might be expected, the proposals submitted are astonishingly reasonable, and b. eathe throughout a spirit of equity that reminds us of Warren Hastings when he marvelled at his own moderation. His Honor listened, so we thought, to what the lawyers had to say much after the manner that an experienced head detective might receive a deputation from his juniors. There was, as each learned brother propounded Aw notion of how the various clauses of the Native Land Acts should be interpreted, an unmistakeable air about Judge Brookfield that seemed to intimate that “ feathered bipeds of an advanced age were not to be entrapped with the outer husks of corn.” Altogether we have no fault to find. The steps so far taken have been judicious and are likely uO facilitate the work of the Court. Much important work may, and we hope will, be got through ; the lawyers too may be able to assist to that end, but we confidently predict that if the members of the long robe assume the position in the Court they are most likely to do unless well checked, Native suiters will simply withdraw their cases. We need not say more upon the subject at present, than remark that the action of one or two members of the profession at former sittings of the Land Court at Gisborne, is not of so purified a character as to deserve being pointed to as a model that may well be followed.