TE AWAMUTU.

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

TE AWAMUTU.

Conckht.—A concert will bo held in the Mangapiko school on Friday next, the proceeds of which will he devoted to an excellent and most worthy object, viz., "Or. Bernardo's home for waifs and stray.-;." To Mrs Grierson belongs the credit of the idea, and as all who are at all charitably disposed must acknowledge its worthiness, they will, I feel sure, assist the project by being present, or, failing ability to attend, by contributing the value of the ticket, which has been fixed at the low figure of Is tid. Apart from the object of the entertainment, the concerts of this place possess great attractions on account of the genuine hospitality of the ladies and gentlemen of that district, for all vie with each other in offering those little attentions which indicate a desire to make visitors pleased with their visit. Refreshments will be provided in a largo marqueo, anil after the concert a danco will be held. The promoters of the concert have secured several good singers, so that the entertainment will bo very attractive. The farmers of Canterbury have sent Home a hundred frozen sheep to the good doctor's Home, and the opportunity is now presented to the farmers of this district to contribute their mite by being present on Friday evening. The admission is small, and will not be missed ; I hope, therefor?, the promoters will have the pleasure of seeing their benevolence rewarded by a crowded house.

The U.vdeu-Skckktaky fou Native Affairs.—The loader in Tim Wajkato Times referring to this gentleman's pleasure trips at tho public expense has given unqualified satisfaction. There is one feature in the matter which it will not be out of place of refer to, viz., his assumption of tho duties of tho Resident Nativo Agont. It is ridiculous that Mr Lewis should come up to NVaikato and other places as Land Purchaser for the Government. His long official career has not by any means fitted him for the position. He is unacquainted with the customs and ideas of tho natives, for his position as Under-Secretary does not give iiim that knowledge any more than tho position of servant to a doctor gives tho servant a knowledge of surgery. There can be no doubt whatever that his purchases will be far more costly to the country than the purchases made by men who have had years of experience in dealing with the natives in such matters, and who are therefore thoroughly acquainted with the workings of the native inind. We have in NVaikato a native agent who lias, by strict integrity; in all his dealings, earned tho confidence of both races, and whoso long experience peculiarly fits him for the post of Land Purchase Agent, I mean Mr (x. T. Wilkinson. Evidently there must be very little to do in tho office in Wellington, when Mr Lewis can find so much time to travel about the country. Such being the case it would be better to do away with the sinecure, or else dispense with the services of Mr Wilkinson and combine the duties of Land Purchase Agent with those of the Under-Secretary. If the latter course be adopted it will cost the country a considerable sum for salaries, for in addition to Mr Lewis's modest salary of £000, there would be the cost of an interpreter, as Mr Lewis is entirely ignorant of Maori. The whole system is rotten, but the British public are long-suffering and slow to aßsert their opinions of wrong doing, they have exacted pledges from candidates who readily gave them, and as readily broke them when it suited their convenience to do so. " The Native OfHce must be abolished," was their cry on the hustings, but the institution has as many lives as a cat. Notwithstanding our profession of Liberalism, we are inclined to be Conservative at heart, for tho majority of us exhibit a rather slavish reverence for the idol of custom which has cast its shadow over the worse-than-usoless Native Office. The Premier is credited with wealing hob-nailed boots on certain occasions, if he would put thorn on and pay a visit to some of the offices, especially the one in question, he would atone in roine measure for some of his own appointments. There is another little matter which it will not be out of place to speak of here, viz., the description of the Cabinet. It is to be hoped some honest member who has no fear of the hob-nailed booty before his eyes will, when Parliament meets, ask how it is that certain wealthy firms of merchants and brewers were not prosecuted for breaches of the Customs Act, and which it is said was tho cause of the split in the happy (?) Ministerial family.