MR ALLEY ON THE AROHA QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2838, 20 March 1878, Page 2

MR ALLEY ON THE AROHA QUESTION.

(To the Editor of the Etjsniko Stab.)

Sib,—l must trouble you with another growl from the country. I and a few others hare felt a little disappointment in the cool way the Native Minister treated us I have been losing time and money, and refusing offers from officers of the late Government .to assist them at electioneering and other public matters, and I could scarcely get an audience with the Natfre Minister. Mr Leydon, phrenologist and auctioneer, could hardly get

an introduction ; alter his short introduction he came out and said—" Ob, is that the way we are received ! " And his political foes are buzzing about him like a swarm of bees, but the County tax-gatherers and the public land sharks do not wish the public to come too close—men that will frown upon everyone that comes into power. Why, it's only a few months ago since I heard some of these men in power denounce the leader of the present Government and his Opposition supporters, j The 'ihames public should call on Sir George Grey and the Native Minister to hold an investigation (a public one) re land' purchases by public officers, re Alley, W hi taker, liussell, Fraser, Mackay, Lipjey, Strange and Co.—in fact, the names are too numerous to mention—and some lady friends as well. I put down my own name first on the list, so they can't say I do it for vindictive purposes. If the Native Minister does his duty to the public, as he stated when he addressed us, and deals fairly with all land purchasers, be he friend or political foe, he will merit the everlasting gratitude of the Thames public. If he does so redress grievances he will earn the public esteem. Let him take and invest all those land claims, and adjust them honestly, without one thought of the individual owner of any such claim. If he does his duty in the matter, and also takes Mr BroomhaU's claim into consideration; and if be has departed from his agreement in any way, let the laud be sold to the Thames public on the same terms, and let young New Zealand do his duty—first, to old New Zealand (or old Colonists), and he will be doubly doing his duty to the sons and daughters of the young New Zealanders. Charily begins at home: let the Broom* hall flock vegetate a little longer in England, and not come out here to make merchandise of the lands that the late Government should have acquired for the old Colonists and their families. Men of the Thames, be up and doing, and insist, first, on your right to the soil. I advise you to call a monster meeting, and insist by every legal and honest means on your public men doing their duty - to you. First of all you should have the first pick of the land after years of toil and taxation.—l am, Ste.;

H. Alley. Hikutaia, March 16th, 1878.