ALEXANDRA NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2191, 24 July 1886, Page 3

ALEXANDRA NEWS.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court held here on Friday last, before Messrs F. Germann and G. T. Wilkinson, J.P., there was but little business. Two rate cases were struck out, there being no appearance of plaintiff or defendants. In the c»se John Aubin v. Novill S. Walker, claim £3 10s, there was no appearance of defendant, and judgment was given for plaintiff with costs, £1 ss. Business continues very dull here, the natives being entirely taken up discussing the various land claims to be heard at Olorohango, There appears to be intense jealously amongst the various hapus jn**t now in regard to their claims and tho site chosen for hearing them. All about here are decidedly against the court being held at Otorohango, as they say there is no proper accommodation either for the officials of the court or the claimants. Sotfie of them even argue that Taouni's people will have an advantage by having the court officials amongst them. I anticipate that there will ba considerable wrangling amongst them any way, arid that it would have been bettor had the cases been heard in some European settlement. There is always a certain restriction on a native when in a pakeha settlement, which puts him upon his best behaviour, but when entirely amongst themselves in their own kaingas it is a very difficult matter. Anyone who has attonded any of their large meetings in the vicinity of where the court is adout to ait, will, 1 feel aure, bear me out in this, and that Otorohaugo. ha\ing been chosen to hear so many cases between adverse natives, will, I fancy, turn out a mistake on the part of the Government, ana that the sitting of the court will not be a long one. Tawhiao himself went up there on Saturday last to see the natives there. He is of opinion that the court should sit here, wheie there is plenty of accommodation, and where food could be brought for those attending the court by river or rail from all directions. —^Own Correspondent.)