CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 330, 25 June 1874, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

(To the Editor of the Waikato Times.) Sic,— l think, Mr Roche deserves the thanks of every settler, not only in the' Waikato,' but the whole colony, for his manly and straightforward speech in~4he Provincial Council on native matters. He exposed a few — a very few — abuses in connection with the Native Office. Some may say that what he laid is equal to a want of confidence in the Defence Minister, and that the Provincial Council had nothing to do with it ; but, Sir, the Superintendent is the chief magistrate of the province, and he has a right to know of these abuses and reform them if he can, and all true colonists who may be aware of abuses ought to expose them in place or out of place. One member (Mr Crisp) said that Mr Roches speech might amuse the Council. , For my part I cannot see anything to be amused at, and any man that can is a fit subject for medical investigation ; but I can see muph to blush for and much, to be ashamed of. To our everlasting disgrace, Mr Roche spoke the truth. He might have said a great deal more, but only a very small part of the sleight-of-hand in connection with the Native Office has come under his observation. I will now publicly expose another bare-faced robbery that is not generally known. Several settlers on tbe Piako, wishing to save carting from Hamilton, engaged <Maories to bring * cargo from the Thames to the head of the Piako, price to be paid five pounds per ton. After waiting * long time for their goods, a messenger came to say that their goods had been seized by Tarapipipi, who refused to let the goods pass unless he received toll at the rate of three pounds per ton, and as these were articles of daily consumption, and what the families resident in the district were in pressing need of, the three pounds per ton had to be paid. Sir, all who know the hardships a pioneer settler has to put up with, know quite Well that three pounds per ton could not well be spared ; and who knows what the consequences might have been had these things been delayed longer, when many of tbe>n Were for women and children who were in a delicate state of .health. You all know how Tarapipipi stopped Mr Peacock's cutter because, tljat gentleman would not submit to be robbed. The sequel of all this is that Tarapipipi' is to be compensated for what is, to all intents and purposes, a bare-faced robbery. In olden times men used to bo hanged for similar offences, but, Sir, I have yet failed to see any account in which the Piako settler is even to be compensated for the robbery practised on him. As the natives have aleniated nine-tenths of all the land on the Piako, their claim to the water carriage is very small indeed. In conclusion, if the Government do -not wish to excite tbe same contempt in. Hie mind^ of the pakeha that exists in the Maori, the scales of justice must be held with an even hand, or it strikes mo there will be a roll up some of these days, If abuses are not exposed and reformed, God help the weak. — I am, &c, ScETni.ii.

English Guard, excitedly, to first-class passenger. England, who had evidently been dining (tho train has stopped suddenly, to the general alarm)—" Did you touch the communicator, sir ?" Pint-class Passenger — " O'mun'cat-er I \rang the bell just now for some bwandy-'n-soda !" A lady physician, who has joined the American Board of Missions is now attending in Bombay women of high caste who would never iseo a male physician.