THE MARAEROA COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2660, 30 July 1889, Page 2

THE MARAEROA COMMISSION.

The commission consisting of Colonel Haultain and a native assessor named te Aweawe, are sitting at ICihikihito decide three questions :—lst. As to which of the two boundary lines marked on the map of the Taupo-nui-a-tia block is the correct one, or whether the correct boundary is between those two. 2od. Whether Hitiri Te Paorata is a sufferer by reason of the decision given at the court which adjudicated upon the Puapani block. 3rd. Whether Karawhira Kapu (Mrs Moon), agreed to forego her and lier people's claims upon tho land iu consideration of a certain agreement between her and the Government Land Purchase Agent, and whether the said agreement was carried out, With the consent of the commission, Mr Moon appeared on behalf of his wife and children and their pewpla. The late land purchase agent, Mr W. H. Grace, does not deny having made tho agreement, but contends that it was broken by the natives and not by the Government. The commission opened by beginning the adjudication on Mrs Moon's case, as the witnesses on the other cases had not arrived from Taupo. The facts concerning the objection of the Ngatimaniapoto and other tribes interested in the judgment delivered by the court at Taupo, have been before the public already, and need not be recapitulated : furthermore as the case is sub judice, it would be unfair to refer more particularly to them. Some curious facts as to the modo of purchasing native lands by Government agents were stated by Mr W. 11. Grace in evidence. Mr Grace was Land Purchase Agent for the Government for the Taupo-nui-a-tia block. Under ciMss-examination by Mr Moon, Mr Grace said that three shillings per acre was the amount allowed by the Government for the purchase of this block, out of which, however, the costs of survey were to be paid. 1 Jut should the land cost only one shilling or two shillings, he (Mr Grace) was at liberty, under the power granted him by warrant, to do as ho liked with the balance, and could give it as a bonus if lie wished, to any natives ho chose. The commissioners then took the matter up and asked Mr Grace if this was the general rulo of Government land purchase. He replied that it was so, The commissioners then asked him to mention some cases in which this custom obtained. Ho mentioned two, viz., Te Aroha and Waimnrino, and said that_ he was not able to mention any more just then, as he had given up all his books and papers to the Government. Waimaritio, it appears, tvaa not bought under these lines,

for a bonus in the shapo of 500 acres of

land, re-conveyed back to one native, was given after purchasing his interest, a very different affair to the handling of any surplus in money after purchasing by the agent. If such was the morality of the Ballance administration, bad as the Pro-perty-tax is, and bad as it is in the present state of colonial finances to raise already high salaries, it would be better to suffer these things than have a return to power of such a man as Mr Ballance, whose political integrity, it would appear by the foregoing, is not above reproach. It is high time the Native Office, together with its under-seorotary (Mr Lewis) was dono away with. If other purchases wore enquired into by Royal Commission, more interesting disclosures might, perhaps, be made. Further evidence was given as to the manner in which the fight to deprive the legal owners of their just share in this block was carried on, but more evidence is to be given. Truly most dealings with natives for land appear to be conducted upon anything but principles of commercial integrity. We say the Maori is well able to look after himself; 110 doubt lie is, but if he practices a "heathen Chinee trick or two, now and then, he has had examples enough of that sort of thing from his Pakeha friends. Neither side is sinles.s enough to cast the first stone in matters of land dealing at least. Chicanery, in this particular matter, has been practiced by those whose high official status should have been a guarantee of their honesty.