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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 135, 19 May 1884, Page 2

The advent of Mr. Sheehan amongst us seems to be causing a considerable amount of uneasiness to the Land Company ring, who are, no doubt, very anxious as to his intentions. The mere fact of the rumour that he has been engaged in the interests of the natives is sufficient to account for the alarm already evinced, as in the event of such proving to be the case it may reasonably be expected that his presence portends some antidotal effect against the Circean incantations which have of late been so “ fatally worked ” over his deluded victims by the Company's Alma Mater. Rumour hath it that the versatile genius and prolific brain of this honey-tongued deceiver has again given birth to a grand scheme by which its originator not only aspires to the proud position of Native Minister under the chimerical Grey Cabinet, but is also thereby to resuscitate the moribund sharking Company from its present decrepit state, and to administer to the same a copious draught of the elixir of life. Golden visions have again dawned upon him, and thus utterly precluded the possibility of our deriving any benefit from the patriotic efforts which

have been made on behalf of the district by the public-spirited Percival Barker, Already the principal features of ’• the grand scheme’’have been shadowed forth, and it is shown that the main object which the genius has kept in view is to do away with the present urgent necessity for capital. The philanthrophy dodgehas been retouched up, and by a judicious manipulation with the “ confidence trick,” is to render the concern more independent of the pawn shop patronage, which is now well nigh exhausted. Like the indigent advertiser “ money is no object.” The Natives have been assured that the Company has no desire whatever to purchase their lands, and the only motive which actuates the benevolent ring, of which he is the exponent, is a profound concern for the future wellbeing of the Maori race in general, but the safety of their lands in particular. They have been told that the present existent laws are entirely useless in protecting the native interest, and that without the Company comes to the rescue the whole of their lands will soon be absorbed. With a view of affording him an opportunity of carrying out his benevolent intentions and preventing such a lamentable result, all the mystified victims are asked to do is to make over the whole of their in perpetual trust, to the Company, which will, in that large and unselfish spirit which has ever actuated its every movement, take charge of the same, and lease, settle, let, sell, or otherwise dispose of it in such a manner as to enable them to pay such wondrous annual incomes to the Natives as will place them on the highest pinacle of affluence. All that the Company expect is to deduct expenses, and a sufficient remunerative profit. By this means they are told all land sharking is to be put a stop to, and their lands preserved to them. In a few words the new scheme is apparently a dodge whereby the originator hopes to get hold of the whole Native land without any equivalent security being given, and in lieu of having to go through the shallow artifices which it has hitherto been necessary to resort to in order to evade the wise provisions of the Native Land Act, to hold the same in perpetual trust. The Natives have been strongly advised to totally ignore all existing contracts and engagements to any other parties to whom they may have pledged themselves, and to hand all over to the Company. Desperate cases require desperate remedies.