THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3005, 2 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1878.

Ovn contemporary today calls attention to the fact that the Government are, through a commission agent in Wellington, making an unexpected demand for arrears of native duty on leases held by people on the Thames. The grievance is really a serious matter to people here who hold land under lease from the Natives. We have seen some of the demands made, and they are for annual sums which"amount to more than one'third .of the ground rent, and with the compound interest at the rate of 10 per; centum per annum tot up to large items. If these sums for native duty be really; owing,'surely some local officer could have; been entrusted with, the duty of collecting! them, instead of putting it into the power! of a commission agent in Wellington; to set the law in motion for sum*' mary recovery, of nine years' arrearsThe proceeding is monstrous, and reflects discredit: on the Government; We feel sure that if the demands are enforced every member of the Government will suffer in reputation in this district. We would urge that representations be made to the Government to stay proceedings until inquiry is made, as we know that most people were under the impression that all claims for native duty had been satisfied before their leases were completed. We have received the following letter on the subject, and parties interested could not do better than act upon the suggestions contained therein .—- ---11 To the Editor.~Siß,—ln regard to the c'aim of the Government for native dues, I think it very hard that the Government should claim interest for nine years, as, like the correspondent " Leaseholder," I was unaware that I owed the Government anything. I would be glad to cooperate with other leaseholders in resisting this claimi~l am, &c.i W. B. Bakeb.