ALEXANDRA NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2290, 15 March 1887, Page 3

ALEXANDRA NEWS.

;' . ♦ |fbomoub own correspondent.] Alexandra, March 14. I notice in The Waikaxo Times of Satur day last that Mr A. E. Langley, of Kawhia, takes me to task for having " twitted ''the Kawhia natives for " indulging in personal.motives" when they endeavoured to prevent the Native Land Court holding a sitting here. Mr Langley further says that "personal motives led your correspondent to advocate an unfair, harsh and impolitic measure, etc." I can assure that gentleman I have no personal interest whatever in the Land Court, but as there are other large claims to come before the court of lands in this vicinity, and a great number of claimants. I think it would be unjust to drag those natives over to Kawhia, where there is neither accommodation or food for'so large a number who would have to attend the court. The Kawhia people have a good claim to their lands and experienced men to conduct them, as they have had claims before the courts since their commencement when other natives, through the king's isolation policy, never attended, and have been great losers m consequence. None know better than they do that some half-dozen of .their leading men can and will carry their cases through the court wherever the case is heard (it has not'been stated, but I believe the • Kawhia cases will be heard there.) That tho application for the removal of the court from here was based upon false premises is abundantly proved by the manner the court has been conducted, and the orderly demeanour of all attending it, which tho court had been told would bo impossible if held here. As to the natives having to loaf for food, that is all nonsense. , There are very few natives but what have friends at Whativvhatihoe, and certainly not one from Kawhia. And all have been invited to stay there, and the other natives in the district have road and water carriage to bring their own if they prefer to assist the commissariat. Few but what must acknowledge this to be the most central place for the holding of the court, even if the'few required from Kawhia have to attend a distance of 35 miles when some hundreds of natives, where the court held there, would be some three times the distance from their homes and supplies. .. , The court'sat on Saturday morning last on some division cases, and a very short time afterwards the township was as clear of natives as if no court was held here. Tavvhiao drove into the township, but as yet has not visited the Land Court. A cricket match was played here in the afternoon between the Alexandra and Paterangi clubs, the visitors putting our men through easily.