THE PATETERE CASE.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3823, 30 March 1881, Page 2

THE PATETERE CASE.

The Lyttelton Times, in a leading article, says:— ■" We presume, therefore, that so far as the Ministry is concerned, the Patotere job has been consummated, and the nefarious compact between Mr Bryce, as Native Minister, and Mr Sheehan, as one of the paltry representatives of a knot of land speculators, has been fulfilled. Mr Bryce, shortly after the close of last session knew of his approaching resignation or from a fear of the coming Governor, we cannot tell, attempted to kill two birds with one stone. He issued a notice stating that on behalf of the Queen an application would be made to the Native Land Court to determine the interest by the Government in the Patetere block, and moreover further stating that on such interests being determined, the rest of the block would be open for purchase by anyone who choose to buy. We criticised at the time the insidious notice, and pointed out that so far as it is purported contingently to withdraw on some future day the the notification prohibiting private pur: chase, it had no force in law. The present Native Minister has probably consulted the law officers on the point, and has, probably under their advice, issued a notification, signed by the Governor, withdrawing the prohibition, and apparently opening the land to purchase by anyone from the natives. We say apparently, because practically nothing of the kind has been done or was intended. The whole unrighteous transactipn has, with the connivance of the Government, been so managed that the ostensible release pf the land is in effect an almost immediate Cro^n grant of it to the clients of Messrs Sheehan and Whitaker. Taking into consideration all the circumstances of the case, and specially the fact that the House of Eepresehtatives had last session ordered a select committee to inquire into the whole affair, and that induiry has not yet been made, we express our opinion that' the Governor would be justified on constitutional grounds in suspending the withdrawal of the original proclamation until the House could meet again. As this oourse has not been taken, although it may be, any remedy is now too late. For. the injustice perpetrated, the Government will, in all probability, be

called to account for the.wrong committed, and also for having frustrated an inquiry which the House had ordered.''