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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1369, 16 October 1883, Page 2

On account of pressure on our space we were unable to give our report of the Borough Council in extenso, as is our usual practice. Thus we were compelled to withhold an occurrence of some considerable importance and interest to the public. On the question of Mr J. Drummond’s claim coming on for discussion, the Chairman declared the Board in .ommittee, and requested tt>e reporters to withdraw. On their complying with the request, Ur. Joyce rose, aud wished to know why the Chairman had decided to go into Committee and to exclude the reporters. He ( u Joyce) can, > there to represent the ratepayers, and all he did at that Board concerned the public. The ratepayer* had the right to know everything which transpired, and the only way they could do so, was through the medium of the Press. He moved that the meeting go into Council again, and that the reporters be again admitted. The Chairman denied having ordered the reporters to withdraw ; whereupon Ur. Joyce appealed to the Board as to whether tho Chairman had not said “ We will now go into Cemmittee aud the reporters can withdraw.” He (Cr. Joych) did not think the reporters were so dull of comprehension, but what they could understand this as an implied order. The best answer to this was the tact that they had withdrawn. Cra. Brown, Hepburn, and Tutchen agreed with the last speaker. Cr. Townley hoped that Cr. Joyce did not think that any corner work was contemplated. Cr. Joyce did not think anything of the kind, but he thought nothing should transpire there unknown to the public, and the only way they (the public) could kuow what took place was through their messengers, the reporters, Under any circumstances the Chairman had no right to declare the meeting in committee except by the consent of a majority of the Council. It was then resolved that the meeting at once go into Council again, and that no further business be transacted uadi the reporters again took their seats. Whereupon, messengers in the shape of councillors, and inspector of nuisances, &c. stalled out in search of the dismissed reporters and after discovering one in an hotel, and the other at our office they induced them to resume duty, and the business of the Council again proceeded, Tne Chairman first asked the reporters why they had retired, and was informed that they had left in obedience to his (the request conveyed in the remark, “We will uuw go into Committee and the reporters can withdraw.” The public certainly owe Cr. Joyce their thanks for thus enforcing their just claims. In the first place this high-handed behaviour on the part on the Chairman in declaring the Council in Committee without putting the question properly to the meeting is not alone irregular, but also highly disrespectful to the members of the Board and, through them, to the public. We think that Cr. Joyce will prove himself well worthy of the confidence reposed in him by those indepedent electors who returned him.

When we pointed out in our Saturdays issue a shady transaction wherewith the names of Mr Allan McDonald and Captain Tucker were unpleasantly associated, we scarcely expected our remarks to be allowed to pass without creating a flutter among the dovecots. When two local Justices of the Peace of such magnitude as the gentlemen named, discover that their sins are finding them out, two courses are open to them—Either to quit the scenes of their transgressions, or to retain the ablest counsel at their command, and face the matter out. Mr Allan McDonald, M.H.R., ha.*, we understand, departed for Sydney, where doubtless the congenial zephyrs of Port Jackson will be found more soothing than the unpleasant odours surrounding the transactions connected with the deeds depriving Katarina Kahutia of her patrimonial estates. Captain Tucker, with his innate love of law, had his case very fairly presented to His Honor Judge Brookfield in the Native Lands Court yesterday morning. The usual tactics were resorted tn. The counsel best capable of dealing with the question, and most versed in those umbrageous transactions not unknown to the Bay, was obtained. In other words, Mr Rees appeared for Captain Tucker. No one appeared for Katar'NA Ka-.cjtia. Everything went unchallenged ex- 'pting the com nents made in our last issue. His Honor Judge Brookfield considered that as the case—that is to say, we presume, the accusation that Katarina Kahutia has been deprived of her property by the astuteness of two local J.P.s was sub judice, our comments were unwarranted. His Honor also stated that we put words into his mouth that he never uttered. In justice to all parties we feel that we should express our regret at any such thing. Nothing is further from our desire than to misrepresent in any way this extremely questionable transaction with which is associated the names of M’Donald and Tucker. It is not a ques tion of words, it is a question of deeds. And these must be sifted sooner or later. The subject matter of our article in Saturday’s issue, is one of public notoriety ; and has been so for years. T' at Katarina Karftia was induced to part with valuable freehold property, to Tucker and M‘ Donald is a matter thoroughly well known. 11. w.h well known to •he Government of the diiy, ns far back a* 1877. I’he deed winch so moused the just condemnation of His Honor Judge Brook field on the grounds of its monstrously inequitable provisions, was opposed by direc-

tion of the Government, through whole officer objection was laid, when application was made to have it certified to by tne Trust Commiiwioner. Katarina Kahutia has been defrauded out of her lands by some one. The consideration promised to her has never been paid. Is this right or just ? Is it because the empty letters M.H.R. follow a name, or the potent symbols J.P. are appended to tho name of some ex-militia officer that gross swindles are to be allowed to pass unchab lenged That one of the ablest judges of the Native Lands Court should be compelled to deal with such scavengering work as presents itself over this Katerina Kahutia business, is a matter to be viewed in a spirit of regrat, but the inevitable must be faord Our evening contemporary publishes in Mtfewo Mr W. L. Rees’ defence of his client As a defence, it redounds more to be ability of the advocate than the integrity of the client. We by no means desire to pronounce judgment in this matter at the present stage of proceedings, but we cannot help agreeing with His Honor Judge Brookfield that the whole matter requires to be thoroughly investigated. So much magnanimity and philantrophy is imported into the negotiations with Katarina that the ordinary business principle of paying for what ii given seems to be rudely departed from. We do not wish at present to penetrate further into the matter. Suffice it to say that the whole transaction from beginning to end is a disreputable one; that it was considered so years ago, long before this country bad such an able Judge on the Bench of the Native Lands Court as His Honor Judge Brookfield. We are satisfied that the consideration set forth in the deeds will eventually be paid rather than that the matter should proceed further; in fact, that superhuman efforts are being made to have the whole transaction hushed up. The veriest thief will return stolen goods when caught redhanded in the theft.