NATIVE LANDS COURT, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1351, 26 February 1881, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS COURT, CAMBRIDGE.

The Court sat at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The question discussed was the production of a detailed statement of accounts showing- how the £11,034 advanced by Government had been appropriated. Mr Mheehan undertook to produce the accounts, so that they might be goue into at oucp, and with that view moved that tli3 Comt bo adjourned until the following day. Mr M.ickay, by whom the application for production was made, agreed to the oourso piopo ed, but added he was quite sure there wcio item 1 * charged in the account which would be objected to. It was mitter of notoriety, indeed, they had it on the authority of the late Native Miuistpr, in a statement made to Parliament, that these accounts were all in a muddle, and that when there happened to be a difficulty in debiting any sum to a particular account, this was invariably the account it was put to. Mr Sheehan replied that it would bhoiten raitters if these accounts were examined in the meantime, and then, if they were objected to, the objection could be discussed in the übual way. The adjournment then took place till next d<ty.

Fridu', February 25th. Tiik Court resumen yesterday morning, at 10 a.m. Mr Mackay said he had an application to make on behalf of the natives represented by himself and Hamiora Mangakahia. Since the adjournment yesterday they had been engaged endeavouring to investigate the Government accounts. So l.ir as the agent and counsel for the Crown were concerned, they had met with e\ery possible assistance, but still they h.id not got through all the various questions involved. Some things they weie prepared to admit, others they could not" agree to, while others they wauld have to be made more hilly acquainted w ith It would also be necessary, before they could anive at any definite conclusion, that, besides being satisfied themselves, they should be submitted lor inspection by the natives. Whatever might be said about the nutnbei lepresented by the other side, lie had to inform the Com t that they repiesented a still gi eater inteiest. They represented over 100 natives, all interested in the disposal of these lands. It would, therefore, be necessary that the accounts should be carefully examined, and an opportunity .dForded the natives to have them fully explained and understood. He had to remind the Court that they were not dealing with persons who were in favour of getting lid of this land, but w ith the obstiuctionists ; and seeing that the other sido requiied such a long tima to go tlnougli the acco mts and settle the business, he di'J not think he was asking anything unreasonable when he asked for a fuitlier adjournment. What he would piopose was, that the Court be adjourned until 10 o'clock on Monday morning. That concession being given, lie had no doubt but that things would be placed on such a footing that, when the Court again met, the whole question would be ripe for settlement in half-an-bonr's time. If the Court saw its way to agree to his proposition, he would call a general meeting ot fie natives, and get them to explain their \ lows in the m itter. That would be the shortest way to ainve at a conclusion, and ho thought it would greatly facilitate the business of the Coiut. The Crown had so far met them in a spirit of fairness. Everything they had a^ked for had been shown to them. Mr yiieehan, on behalf of the natives he appeared for, did not object to the adjournment. He agreed with Mr Mackay in the opinion that it would tend to facilitate the business. The Court had several times stated that the difficulty was one which could be best settled outside. In that opinion he quite agreed, and he therefore seconded the application. After further discussion, conducted chiefly in the Maori language, the Court adjourned^ till Saturday (this) morning, on the understanding that a further adjournment would be granted till Monday, if asked.

" Thebe-cakd men" have the reputation of being particularly smart, and to " have one ot Qiq f;a f ernity is considered equal to the impossible task of " taking the breeks off a Hielanraan." Yet at Palraerston races the Wanganui Herald not ced a guileless countryman work a point which cost the manipulator of the cards six notes. The countryman wetted a corner of a, Bank note, aud on looking at the" cards managed to press the tiny piece of wet papper on the back of the knave. The mark was not visible except by looking closely at the backs, and although the trick waa seen by all the spectators, the one most interested, the professional, failed to notice it. The consequence was that the countryman managed to spot the knave six times, and won £1 each time. The crowd round were highly delighted at the Egyptian being spoiled. The run of luck (?) was too much for the pro., and he concluded to retire from the business, a poorer but not a wiser man. Fosd sister-^" Now don't fret, dear, just because your cousin Freddy's sick and can't go to sghool with you. He'll get well again by-and-by." Ambitious brother-^-' ' Don't oare wether he gets wpll' Or nqt.. Only-, I was lowest boy in the class all one naif. Then I gets up one, and Freddy stuck last of all. Now he's gone, and it's awful 1 hard to be' last »ga|n." - '--