THE LATE LAND FRAUD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 15, 29 November 1883, Page 2

THE LATE LAND FRAUD.

The sitting of the Native Land Court, yesterday, again brings under our notice a case which lias, it is to be hoped, few parallels in this “ civilised age.” We refer to the case of Katarina Kahutia, in which it has been

attempted to defraud that Maori woman out of her land, and it would appear that the leading part in this most discreditable transaction was taken by no less a personage than Allan M‘Donald, Esq , M.H.R.,the “representative” of this district in the General Assembly. We have no space at present to permit us to enter into the details of the case, but cannot allow such a contemptible transaction and disgrace to the inhabitants of Gisborne to pass unnoticed. We say “disgrace to the inhabitants of Gisborne ” for the reason that, unfortunately, the gentleman who occupies, apparently, the leading position in the reprehensible transaction is the sup* posed “ representative ” of the people of this district. Allan McDonald, Esq., was never considered, we should imagine, a man of very great refinement; still, it cannot be supposed that the people who elected him as their representative imagined for a moment that he would figure in any such disreputable case as that we refer to. But, the honorable gentleman may, possibly, have some excuse to offer for the part he took iu the very unjust transaction—the attempt to defraud a poor Maori woman of her property —and we would suggest to him that his proper course is to endeavor to exculpate himself, if possible, and wipe out the stigma that attaches to this constituency through his action. Allan M’Donald, Esq., is not an unimportant private individual—be is not one whose disgrace would reflect no discredit on other parties,—the honorable gentleman occupies a most important position in this Colony, and has the power to sadly disgrace the inhabitants of Poverty Bay ; therefore, we assert that his action in the case referred to should be thoroughly investigated, so that it may be seen whether he is justified, or not, in retaining the position he occupies as one of the people’s representatives. If the honorable gentleman is not devoid of sensitive feeling he will, without delay, place his resignation in the hands of his constituents,— provided, of course, that his innocence in the matter of attempting to unlawfully acquire possession of laud could not be attested in a Court of Justice. We repeat that the case is one of most serious import to the inhabitants of Poverty Bay, and would suggest that such pressure should be brought to bear as must have the effect of placing Allan Donald, Esq., M.H.R., in his proper sphere.