NATIVE LAND PURCHASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1120, 28 August 1879, Page 2

NATIVE LAND PURCHASE.

3ib,— The Land Question seems to ~be the question of the day, and I have heard i great many diflerent ideas about it specially m connection with the native liihculty. Most of tho-murders committed >y the Maoris have been m assertion of: ;heir ngh>. io land, where the pakeha was ffl® *£ 1 °? cu Py land with » dispute* me. bullivan was murdered because urukutu claimed to be part owner of he land that Sullivan was working on. urukutu did not attend the Land Court srhen other fla^ves obtained the title, aa ie is j* " i^Hgito,'* and ref uses to acknowledge, our courts of law. Unless the «,kehas are prepared to go to war and! mqmr the Kingites, some way should beaund to prevent these disputes arising etween the two races. Would not this aheme be fair for both,?:- Do n©fc scognise, m a court -af law, any payments y a pakeha qjq, account of land, where tie Maor} fcas. not put his knd through leO-urt, .^nd obtained a clear title °I -oidd go, further, and impose a heavy ue on a*y one paying on account of land hero the Maori had not obtained his He. This would prevent land *>ei*ng sold here there was any dispute among tho tive owners as to titK. W the Maori d obtained % t»itl*e,. he B^ m ><$&s>. f' jmveoosmHo Sho fend TOAg to th.e^OTi, why should you tetfemwith his W ode of dealing 'S i n? . *??*■ woula the PHkrha Tike t) his private pmperty? If theMaom i to be. persuaded to bo loy^b^tsof

the Queen, the same law should apply to both white man and brown. I am I neither a landshark nor a philo-Maori, but am a believer m fair-play for both races.— Yours, &c., Diogenes, August 2oth, 1879.

Sir, — The report of the Narrows Bridge Committee too amply illustrates how the willing horse may be worked to death. Those gentlemen who are on the committee, have not only subscribed most liberally, but given a personal guarantee for the payment of any deficiency. The work has been, carried out most faithfully, and the bridge has been open for traffic since the 14th of February last, a free bridge, largely used by cattle going to Auckland market, by rail ; m faot, a vast public benefit, and yet this £103, amount due to the Bank, is allowed to rest on the shoulders of those who, m a weak .moment, allowed themselves to become responsible for this sum, purely out of public spirit and a sincere wish for tho prosperity and progress of the country, the five gentlemen who gave the guarante also subscribed as a neuclus for the work the sum of £70, and for the purpose of still retaining some of the pubfh spirit m tho settlers, I hope ' they will not be called upon to put their L hands m their pockets to make up the ? deficiency. This can more easily be wiped off if .those who have promised willf orward their subscriptions to Mr G.Edgecumbe. I fancy I hear some one say if you have a willing horee take it out of him as you may not get another soon. — I am, &c, A Victim.