THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2817, 23 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1878.

The people of this district, including the Native population interested, are beginning to get impatient at what is considered an unnecessary delay in completing the purchase of lands negotiated for and partially settled by Mr James Mackay. The delay appears to be entirely on the side of the Government, and it is occasioning great evils amongst the Maoris, because they are being importuned on all hands to sell their lands, the agents of capitalists being now more assiduous than formerly in consequence of an impression that prevails; that any lien acquired Over the land will be allowed precedence over Government advances. For many reasons it is desirable that no further delay should take place in completing these purchases, nnd if the Government have not a proper officer available to undertake the same, the suggestion made in our columns and by petition, that Captain Fraser be commissioned to undertake the work, had better be adopted. The difficulty, as fnr as we can learn, appears to be a monetary one* and if all wo hear be true it has narrowed itself down to a very small issue in so far as the Government are concerned. Mr Mackay, it seems, has had enough of the Government, or the latter of him. He has carried on negotiations for the. purchase of immense tracts of land, in. the course of which he has incurred considerable liabilities as well as become entitled to commission amounting to a large amount. His connection with the Government as Land Purchase Commissioner being about to terminate, he naturally wishes for a settlement of his claims, and such settlement seems to be most difficult of accomplishment. All through last .session—with the late and the present Governments—this was attempted, but failed. Finally, we are informed, Mr Mackay's claim, amounting to several thousand pounds, was submitted to arbitration, and, after evidence had been taken, an award was made. This award has not been paid; hence the chief cauae in the delay referred to above, because naturally enough Mr Mackay declines to hand over his papers, containing valuable securities, before his claim is satisfied ; and until these documents are handed over no one can proceed to complete the purchases, as they may be said to comprise all that the -Colony has to show fer the thousands of pounds expended. Sir George Grey is said to be the cause of the delay, as, after r the matter had been settled by arbitrators, the Premier declined to authorise the payment of the award "until he had looked over the papers himself." Such, we have beon informed, is the true state of the case. Meantime Natives and Europeans are in a state of suspense, and the former are sorely temptcd-^-in some instances yielding —to accept the pakeha's gold for land already alienated to the Government. Tho work of completing Mr Mackiiy's purchases was at any time a difficult job;

it has been rendered doubly so by the recent delays, because it has encouraged a whole crowd of needy gobetweens to carry on their nefarious practices between land sharks and the Natives, besides creating an impression in the minds of the latter that the dilatoriness of the Government is tantamount to a confession of withdrawal of their claims. The delay may seem a very small thing to Ministers, but really it. is a very serious matter, and becomes givatly aggravated by every week's continuance ; ond when it comes to bo finaily adjusted it will be found that during tho last few months more harm has been done in the Maori mind at Ohinemuri as regards antagonism to Government land -purchases than for years before. We would urge upon the Government to take action without any further delay.