The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1886. THE OWHAOKO SCANDAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2314, 7 June 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1886. THE OWHAOKO SCANDAL.

4> Among the Parliamentary papers of the present session is a Bill to provide for a reinvestigation into the native title to lands comprising about 150,000 acres in the Patea district known as Owbuoko. The singular position of this Bill is that annexed to it is a long commentary by Sir .Robert Stout, in which either the Premier or the lawyer, for it is difficult to discern in which capacity the statement is written, brings serious charges of improper practices against Chief Judge Fenlon and Dr Buller. That such a damaging statement, endorsed by" Die Premier of the Colony, should have been published through the length and breadth of the colony without any opportunity being given to either Judge Fenton or Dr Buller to furnish their side of the case is a matter tor regret. If, for example, Dr Buller has been guilty of unpro fesiional practices, the proper method of procedure would be to make him answer to any charge that might be brought against him before un ordinary legal tribunal. However, the charges, such as they are, appear printed and published by the authority of the Government, and ho one reading them can escape the conclusion that they bring to light an exceedingly ugly transaction. It is difficult to condense within newspaper limits the Owbaoko case. It takes Sir Robert Stout himself.

some twenty- six ■ pages of printed mutter to detail it ;in a somewhat rambling manner, bui a few points in it may indicate the general ground on which it is: baaed. In 1879 Renata Kawopo and others claimed to hare: the title to the block in question determined in their, favor.,and a memorial of ownership was signed in their favor on September- the twenty first of thut year. In the following December Heperi Pikerangi and others disputed the memorial and complained that they had not had due notice of the sitting of the Court in September. In July, 1876 a notice of another sitting of the Court was given to deal with Owhaoko, and at the sitting held on August Ist the case was adjourned and in December 2nd of the same year Renata Kawapo obtained the order which he desired. In January3lsi 1878, Topia Turoa and others petitioned for a rehearing of the case, and on the 4th February, 1880 an order in Council granting the rehearing was issued. It is at this stage Dr Buller appears prominently upon the scene as solicitor for Kenata Kawepo. He apparently gains the confidence of Renata's opponents, the Topio Turio party and persuades thorn to sign a notice withdraw, ing their application for a rehearing, and also induces Judge Fenton to adjourn the sitting of tho Court appointed to deal with tho hearing until the time fixed for it by the order in council had expired. According to Sir Itobert Stout Dr Buller acted for the native claimants and also for the counter-native claimants. The real person for whom he was acting appears however to have been a Mr Studholme who obtained a lease of the land from the claimants who secured the order. Altogether it appears to have been a most reprehensible transaction and a prima facie case against Dr Buller is protty clearly established.' The Owhaoko Bill now before the House with its appendix is, however, a new departure. In the first instance it affirms the expediency of the Legislature washing the dirty linen of the Native Lands Courts, and in the second it covers a stab in the back to Dr Buller, who is now absent in England as a Commissioner of the Government, and another on Judge Penton, who apparently has had no opportunity us yet of justifying his own course of action, it is generally supposed that there lias been a good deal of dirty linen in our Native Laud Court transactions, and if it is to be washed by the introduction of Bills into Parliament the task will be an endless one. If wrong has been done surely the wrongdoers can be punished by ordinary Courts of Justice, and compelled to make restitution by ordinary legal procedure. The indictment against Dr Buller seems to be a more serious one th»n that against Judge Fenton, because the former, presumably, had a pecuniary interest in passing the Owhaoko Block through the Court, and the hitter had not. It is, however, impossible to fairly judge either Dr Buller's or Judge Fenton's course of action ;ill they have had an opportunity of defending themselves. It appears to us that Sir Robert Stout has been endeavoring to accomplish a right end in a wrong manner. He is evidently satisfied that there has been a serious miscarriage of justice, and we sincerely trust that if the parties whom he holds responsible are guilty, they will be brought to book and punished by some ordinary legal procedure, We deprecate, how ever, making a political question of what should clearly be a judicial case, and wo also regret that Sir Robert Sfout should place himself in an ambiguous position by tendering legal advice to the Government of which lie is the bead, No doubt there are some circumstances under which he may with advantage place his legal ability at the service of the Government, but when the question of "judging a judge"arises he would have exercised a wise discretion if he had entrusted the task to soma duly qualified and unprejudiced authority.

In our Correspondence column to-day appears an interesting letter from Mr 0, Pharazyn, of Longwood, on the rabbit question.

The Masterton Rifle Volunteers are notified in another column that the quarterly drill and parade for inspection will take place on the 17th instant.

In spite of the wet weather there wore good attendance at the Salvation Army services yesterday, and we are informed "many were inoculated by the Armv Doctor." '

A meeting of friends to tho causo of Temperance will bu held in the Temperance Hall Ohapel-Btreeb on Thursday evening next, for the purpose of arranging what steps should be taken for the reception of Mi>M. Burnett whoso advent is shortly expected in M&terton.

_ A circular has been issued by the Bus sian Minister of the Interior, prohibiting Roman Catholics, Protestants, and members of religious denommations other than the Russian Orthodox Church from using at funerals wreaths or other emblems not in conformity with the ecclesiastical and State regulations in bucli cases provided;

A presentation comprising an address aud silver inkstand was made on Saturday to Mr James Donald J.P. through Mr A. Matthews, by the members of the Featherstou ftuad Board, as a mark of esteem for the able manner in which he had conducted the business of the Board as Chairman for so many years, and expressing the hope that he would again occupy a seat on the Board. The address was neatly illuminated by Mr W. Bock. After the meeting of the Masterton Road Board on Saturday, an informal discussion took place on the working of the Sheep Act and the special hardship to farmers in connection with those sections bearing upon lioe in sheep. Thoso present were unanimous in agreeing that th« Act was unworkable and it was suggested to get up a petition for its amendment. Nothing positive was done, however.

Private enterprise, has established a very useful institution in Masterton, and judging by the attendance at the opening on Saturday evening, bids fair to be a success. We refer to the gymnasium established in the Theatre Royal by the lessee, Mr flolloway, being thoroughly proficient in the gymnastic businoss, is, able to teach his patrons in every branch of the exercises. The scene on Saturday evening was a very lively one, when single and double trapezes, horizontal bar,. Indian clubsj boxing, &o.', were in full swing.simultaneoualy.

A drunk was fined sa : at the'' ; R.M. Court, and sundry minor breaches of the bye-laws were dealt with, Messrs Lowes & lorns held their monthly land sale on Saturday last. The attendance was good, but.the bidding for land was not over brisk. A property on the Upper Plain of half an acre.and cottage sold to Mr G. Chamberlain for £l3O. A property of 100 acres, Opaki Plain, was passeduot reaching the reserve.•■ After the land sale, the firm sold a long catalogue of produce, drapery, and sundries.

At about a quarter to 11-o'clock last night the firebell gave out a few sharp peals and then ceased. Tho alarm' was found to be a false one, but owing to the darkness of the night the culprit who gave the alarm was able to escape without deteotion, A great many tradespeople and others disturbed by the alarm at such an unHßual hour, turned out to ascertain the cause. There was a good deal of grumbling indulged in, and there was talk of offering a reward for tho discovery of the perpetrator of the offence. It may not be generally known, but the Resident Magistrate has power to punish an offence of this kind by a month's imprisonment with hard labor.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather last evening, between fifty and sixty persons attended Mr Crooks lecture a the Theatre Royal on "The Shadows of Loudon." Commencing with that land mark St. Paul's Cathedral, the lecturer tool: his hearers through the great city, showingthemscenes by night and day. The journey from the "Vic" on the Surrey side to the home of squalor, dirt, and misery in the East end was a very striking instance of Mr Crook's perception of every-day life, while his pathetic appeal for the starving poor to whose haunts he introduced his audience, was of more than ordinary interest. The lecturer paid a high tribute to Charles Dickons and George A, Simns, whose writings he stated had done more for'alleviating tho distress of the poor of London thai" any other known source. Commenting on the Peabody charity, Mr Crook was very severe on the way in which the money (£500,000) loft by that benevolent American gentleman had been wasted, and diverted from its intended source by the Committee 'appointed to carry out the object, the end of which was,' that the great philanthropist left England brokenhearted, to die in Ainorica, after seeing the manner in which this vast amount was frittered away by the London Committee. _ From the grave to the humorous tho audience were quickly transported, and were treated to scenes in the thieves quarters, the visits to the friendly league, kitchen, school, and soup kitchen, being especially amusing, Dickens' "Patriarch" received an extended notice by tho lecturer, the villany of this supposed good old gentleman being exceeded by ona that actually had existence in London within the past twenty years, as the newspapers of the time vouched for. Mr Crook was repeatedly applauded during the lecture, and announced that he would give another lecture on Sunday next entitled "Money and Misery."

■Venetian Blind and Revolving Shuttcrmanufactory. All Blinds* guaranteed of tho very best description. Price list on application to R. V. Henn (late Henn and Hansen.) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Factory, tt ellineton,—Advt.

Messrs L, J. Hooper & Co,, of the Bon Marche, received thoir first instalment of autumn and winter goods on Saturday, these goods have been imported direot from the manufacturers in England and Scotland, and aro now being marked off at prices that will compare with any wholesale house in the colony.—Advt. Study EcoNOMY.-Hcnring from everyone I met that the Wairarapa Clothing Factory was tho cheapest and best House in tho district for liens', Boy's and Youth's clothing, I thought I would give it a tiial, which I did, and to my surprise I got a tweed suit, all wool, Crimean shirt, flannel undershirt and pants, & French felt hat, collar, handkerchief and sox, for the small sum of 655. I've paid elsewhere for the same goods £slos. My advice, therefore, to everyone is to call at tho Wairarapa Clothing Factory, next tho Empiro Hotel, whero everything iigood and very cheap.—Advt.