OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 7.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 46, 22 January 1884, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 7.

[by our special reporter.] me. s. locke’s station, makauri. The name of Mr. Samuel Locke has long been associated with the name of .Poverty Bay. He is one of the unostentatious gentlemen who never fails to command respect whenever he is met. He is regarded generally by the people of Poverty Bay as a very old identity, for the simple reason that he has in numerous ways proved himself a friend to this district. In no instance has he ever failed when called upon to evince his interest in the welfare of Poverty Bay, and to remove it from that state of oblivion in which it has so long been shrouded. Though a resident of Napier, he is as familiar in the streets of Gisborne as the chief postmaster or the manager of a bank. The school children regard Mr. Locke as one of their best friends, and indeed he is so, for ever and anon he has shown to them how deeply he feels the importance of the value of education to the rising generation. In many ways lie has offered inducements to the little ones to persevere in their studies, and in this respect he has been admiragly seconded by Mrs. Locke. He is not a mere adventurer in the district of Poverty Bay, but is largely interested in various ways. He is the owner of a (vast estate lying in the valley on the roadside between Gisborne and Ormond situate on the Makauri block, comprising an area of 700 acres, but he is legally entitled to 500 acres in addition to the above, the title to which has been questioned by those enemies to the real progress of Poverty Bay, the emissaries of those whose mission appears to be throwing every obstruction in the way of peaceful settlement of the waste lands of this district. The further I travel the more reason have I for protesting against the action of an interested clique whose object in life is to discourage everything in the shape, or form, of allowing honest people of this bay following the plough and providing food for the service of man. What stronger instance of the game they play need I seek for than their recent action in regard to the definition of boundaries and titles in the Makauri Block. The fostering of litigation, out of which they make half their living in commissions or expenses, is their principal

object, The longer they keep the game alive by vexatious delays the better for their own pockets, because no matter who sinks or who swims, these fellows pocket their fees, or moneys promised in consideration of making themselves the tools of designing scoundrelsi What care they for the prosperity of this beautiful part of New Zealand? Bimply nothing. Plundering and cheating the poor deluded Natives are the only objects they h«ve in view, however greatly they inconvenienoe those who have dealt honorably with the Native owners of the soil. They say to the Native “ get the cake and the penny; we will stand by you in the transaction,” at the same time their heart’s desire is to fleece them, and leave them penniless, But why should I harrass your readers with records of the diabolical dealings of tHe emissaries of the New Zealand Native Lands Settlement Company; we can easily judge of the statue of Hercules by the foot, The people know there is a snake in the grass whenever a member of this body comes upon the scene. So it has been proved in the litigation vhat has been brought about, and the opposition engendered by those who have so assiduously brought to bear the weight of their influence in opposition to the peaceful adjustment of the title to some sections of the Makauri Block long ago purchased and paid for by the subject of this sketch, Mr; Samuel Locke. As eagles cannot be Expected to bring forth pigeons, no more is it likely that any good or honest thing can arise out of any of the transactions of the New Zealand Native Lands Settlement Company or the doings of their agents. Mr. S. Locke, the rightful owner to a great deal more of the Makauri Block than he has now undisputed possession of, is a good specimen of the true English gentleman, There is nothing in his constitution that can be termed either proud or arrogant. He came to this Colony from the good old County of Norfolk twenty-eight years ago, and started life here as a surveyor, to which profession he was brought up. From his arrival till the year 1859 he was engaged in surveying on behalf of the Government various parts of the North Island, and froni that year he became land-purchase agent in charge of Government purchases of Native lands in the Hawke’s Bay District which included Poverty Bay, In the year 1869 he took office as a Resident Magistrate for tht East Coast and Taupo District, and subsequently he was appointed District Officer in full charge of everything connected with Native matters. In 1864 Mr. Locke was instructed by Government to go through the whole of this district to report on the social state of the Natives, which led to the decision on tbe part of the Government of the day not i to allow the Natives of Poverty Bay division to hold or retain any arms, the wisdom of which was demonstrated when it transpired at a subsequent date that nearly the whole of ( the Native population proved to be contami- ! nated and was in sympathy with the lawlessness of Hauhauism, no better proof of which ‘ need be urged than their action in pressing forward the departure from our midst of the well-beloved old man the late Bishop Williams and other old and respected settlers of Poverty

Bay. At that period the state of the country was very different to what it is at the present moment. All communications had to be made by riding through rough country from Napier to the East Cape, and not as we find it the means of communication at the present day, when such magnificent steamers as the Union Company’s s.s. Manapouri and Wairarapa, which now, in all their luxurious magnificence, regularly ply in our waters. At the same period Mr. Locke was to be found carrying on negotiations for opening up Taupo and the interior of this island for settlement purposes—parts of this Colony at that period almost unknown land. To Taupo there was no main road, and only a Maori track, which was very mountainous. In the accomplishment of this mission Mr. Locke was eminently successful, and now, combined with the influence of Mr. Bold, Inspector of Telegraphs for this district, coaches now run through that country from Napier, through Tauranga by Auckland.

Here let me introduce a rather good story, in illustration of how the law was cheated in those days. It was,Mr, Locke's duty; as ft Resident Magistrate, to preside over the hearing of a case in which the defendant, now a prominent member of the House, whose name, for various reasons, I do not deem it expedient to divulge, was charged with illicit grog-selling. In this particular district, at the time referred to, there was stationed a large number of the Armed Constabulary, and, in consequence of a sale of grog without having paid a license, this charge was preferred. The district was Taupo, where a store under canvas was run, One peculiarity of this particular store was the large quantity of sardines and tins of potted salmon kept in stock, and equally as strange was the large demand for these special commodities on the part of both Natives and the armed Constabulary. The way in which they made their purchases would to-day bring forth an article in the Telephone pointing out the desirability of commencing an industry in potted or canned fish. By some means there arose a suspicion that all the leather-cased bottles of lime juice contained something other thdn the essence of that blood-cooling fruit, and a trap was set, A Native was one day sent to the tent with one of these particular bottles which were generally used for travelling purposes in those days, with a request that some grog should be supplied. He was successful in his mission and obtained what he asked for, returning triumphant to his prompters. The same bottle as brought by the Native was impounded, and almost a fac simile given to the purchaser. On arrival at head-quarters, the bottle as brought by the Native was sealed up against the day of trial in the presence of a number of witnesses, and handed over to the police, who instituted proceedings to have the charge heard before our friend Mr, Locke on the following day, Accordingly, at the appointed hour the case was called on, Mr. Locke sitting in his place in Court. The Court-house being an old raupo whare—looking as demure as the solemnity of the occasion required, carrying out the dignity of his important office with all due form and pomp. Ultimately the case was called on and the defendant cross-ex-amined the leading witness for the prosecution—a Native—who declared and swore on oath that the bottle produced was the one he took to the store and brought away with the grog in it. This bottle was then opened and found to contain rum. After this statement and result had been entered in the court records, the defendant put his hand into his coat pocket and produced another bottle xactly similar to the one previously identified. He put the question: “Is not this the bottle you brought and asked to be filled with rum?” The Native looked at it for a moment and then in a state of consternation he exclaimed: “ te pounamu.” (“ Alas that is the bottle.”) The witness had stultified himself and there was no alternative left than for Mr. Locke, who, however, believed the defendant guilty of sly-grog-selling, to dismiss the case. No legal questions ever arose as to the contents of the sardine and meat tins, as there was at that time no custom house officer about, but there ,is a strong suspicion even to this day that they did not contain either fish or water, but a something much stronger than tea. Such is a chapter from the history of the “ good old days” of this part of the North Island. Mr. Locke retired from the Government service in 1878, and took up a run at Waikohu, comprising 20,000 acres of land, which he purchased from the Natives, being the first to obtain a land transfer title under purchase from the Natives in this district. After the death of the late Captain Read in 1878 he purchased the property he has now brought his family to reside on at Makauri, the title to it being somewhat defective at the time, i as many more titles to Native lands were in j this district. The proper subdivision of the fl block has been constantly retarded by thel influence of litigious parties, who pose before/' the public as philanthropists, and hypo-’ critically assume how desirous they are of getting all disputed titles adjusted. The falsity of such pretensions has long been a source of much unpleasantness the district over. I understand from Mr. Locke that it has always been liis wish to come to an amicable arrangement on an equitable basis, but this desire seems of no moment, for it appears that Mr. Locke and others beside him have been obliged to petition the Supreme Court for partition of or subdivision of blocks in which their lands are situate. In the interests of the district it is to be hoped these proceedings will have a successful issue.

It is well known to most persons that Mr. Locke has hitherto permanently resided at Napier, but, in the face of this, ne has generally been regarded as a Gisborne man. Had •t not been for the constant vexatious proceedings he has been subjected tu, it is possible he would long since have taken up his perinaneht residence here. Such is the mischief wrought by those who in so many instances have been instrumental in retarding the progress of this splendid country, and ao made Gisborne the laughing-stock of the whole colony. For many years, Mr, Locke was a member of the Hawke's Bay Provincial Council. In the contest of 1881 for the East Coast seat in the House cf Representatives, the other candidates being tne present member (Allan McDonald, Esq.), Captain Porter, and M. J. GannoUj Esq., Mr. Locke was only defeated by 18 votes, a circumstance that he Considers warrants his again trying his success when the opportunity offers. Mr. Locke, if returned for this district, would carry sufficient Weight to give the place its proper position, instead of being regarded, as it is now, a aim pie, insignificant little bog-hole, of no public importance, and where the only per. sons who flourish are lawyers. If Poverty Bay is to make proper headway, it must be represented by a gentleman whose utterances will be listened to and respected by mem. bers and Ministers. And now a few words as to the property Mr. Locke holds at Makauri. Mr. Walker, who has for over eight years been entrusted with the management of Mr. Locke’s estates, is now in command of thid one at Makauri. Ffota the general aspect it presents, it is fevident he has done much necessary work there in the way of improvements. The house, which is obscured from view by the clusters of trees standing between the Orhlond road and the long strip of flat land to be found in this portion of Poverty Bay, was built by the late Capt. Read in 1874, and contains eight rooms. It is one of those peculiar, at the same time useful, structures so characteristic of the style of architecture the old man appeared to glory in. Internally there is an air of comfort. Adjacent are a good carriage -house, stockyard, woolshed, «c; Mr. Locke is now constructing a contjete bath for sheep dipping; and intends, though the result of the recent tests, making general use of Thomas’s Carbolised Sheep Dip. There are three acres of orcharding on this estate, well protected by white thorn fences, the trees having been principally planted by the late Captain Bead, so that they are now In full bearing. Draining work is now to be vigorously prosecuted as far through the land as the nature of the title will admit. The distance from Gisborne to this estate is said to be 6j miles, but they must be “ Irish” ones. There are three roads, each a chain wide, leading from the Ormond road through the estate, the distance of over a mile, so that the property and residence are easy of access. Mr. Grey’s station, known as Waihiki, abutts at the rear. This season there has been a large quantity of grass grown, so that all the time of my visit haymaking was in full operation. On the station there are running between four and five thousand sheep and about two hundred head of cattle.

One thing struck me most forcibly, and that was the manner in which the drains alongside the roads that should be maintained by the Road Board were choked with weeds. Snrely it would be worth while to keep their drains clear, for until such is the case, the work of road formation will be of little real value. The homestead here owned by Mr. Locke is a very desirable one, the land is thoroughly good, and ere fong let us hope to see very many improvements, in addition to the erection of a more modern house, effected.