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Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2612, 9 April 1889, Page 2

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs to us as follows : —l'he Hon. Air Mitclielson, Native Minister, accompanied by Mr Lewis, UnderSecretary, leaves for the Thames this evening, for the purpose of arranging the business connected with the Piako Block. Mr Lewis then immediately proceeds to the King Country to act as mediator between Taotiui, Wahanui, Hitiri, aud others with regard to a block of land known as Tauponuiata, which is at the present time in the Court of Appeal. Mr Lewis is acting in compliance with the special request of the litigants, and would have gone to the King Country a fortnight ago had he not been necessitated to go to Napier on other business connected with his Department. This dispute, if amicably settled, will get rid of all the difficulties in the way of Europeans dealing with the native lands of the King Country." So runs the parable, very smoothly worded from official sources to gloss over this perpetual wandering, at the public expense, of Ministers and Under-Secretaries. We now find the ostensible purpose of the Sittings referred to appearing under new names. It is not to " settle " but to " arrange" matters in one case, whilst in the other the redoubtable Under-Secretary proceeds in a new character. He will go forth to " mediate" and not to "settle" on this oooasiou. The " settlement" process, we presume, will require future visits from himself, Ministers, judges, et hoc geniLS omne. As regards MiLewis' intended visip to the native chiefs at Otorohanga, iu what )wy can he be justified in interfering in a | dispute that is sub-judice and has to come before the Court of Appeal to decide on a judgment given by the Supreme Court? Moreoyer, if iijediiHtion in the matter is necessary, Mr is i)Qt the man who can carry it out to any degree of success, and hia presence

oil the spot will not be worth a stiver to the issue of any negotiations that may be entered upon. There are two of the most capable and trustworthy officers in the Government Service already in the district, thoroughly versed in native usage, enjoying the full confidence of the tribes, and beside whom a hundred Lewises would be dear to the country in special business of this nature. In another column our Te Awamutu correspondent refers in this respect to Mr G. T. Wilkinson, an able officer; and we will add the name of the other, Major Mair, Judge of the Land Court at Otorohanga. In any case Mr Lewis must utilise the services of those two gentlemen. Therefore, we ask, what is the meaning of this got-up mission of the Under-Secre-tary but to blind the public to an importance of, and necessity for, the perpetuation of his office which it does not possess ? The dispute concerning this particular block of land, whiclx borders on Taupo lake, will neither retard nor facilitate the opening of the King Country to Europeans. The principal blocks that will effect tho progress of settlement are passing through the Court with tolerable ease, and when the titles are established, it will be the Government that will come forward as purchasers and not private individuals. Mr Lewis's official movements require a cloak to disguise thorn, and the above garments are the best at hand.