The Royal Commission.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3083, 8 March 1880, Page 3

The Royal Commission.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

WAITARA, this day. Nothing of much general interest was elicited in the evidence by the Commissioners on Saturday. A great many natives were examined. Amongst those who gave evidence was Titera, famous through having caused the war at Waitara by selling his land there against the wishes of Ilaila and the rest of his people, which, under the common system prevailing, could not be said to belong to him any more than to any other native. They have strong objection against individualism of titles. They like to see the old customs retained, by which they are in a measure able to move from kainga to koinga, and live upon their relatives, as long as there is food to be eaten and the well-known hospitality of the race enables this to be done' though the practice of it often brings great distress to those who act the host. The practice is chiefly retained in consequence of the habit of the idle and careless quartering upon the industrious. Niera's claims on Saturday amounted to veiy little indeed, and the same may he said of a great many more. As at other meetings there were several claims of a spurious nature, bujt the intimate knowledge of tho natives possessed by Mr Parris and Major Brown prevents the commander being hoodwinked by the disappointed applicants, who took their discomfiture pleasantly i enough. One native, who had been one of the crew of the pilot boat at Man ukau Heads, on the occasion of the wreck of H.M.S. Orpheus applied for compensation for the paving life of young Barclay, on the ground that though a Humane Society Medal had been given, he did not get one, or receive any other compensation, although young Barclay wrote ipforniing thp Government of the services rendered in saving his life. The Commissioner pro. mised to fully lay the matter before tho Government. The Commission fully expocta to finish here to-day. Very little more remains to be done.

THKEA.TS OF NATIVE OPPOSITION. There is a rumour to-day that the natives intend to oppose the advance of the Constabulary to the other side of the Stoney Kiver, but those whos opinion on tjie subject is of value considei|the rumour mere bunkum. Indeed, to a casual observer of the demeanour and the forces of the natives along the coast it vis in the highest degree improbable they will never venture on hostilities. The old men who have fought iv their time, seem unequal to taking the Held aeain, while the jouug men are displaying such a partiality for beer and tobacco, that the dissipation of the townships makes it extremely unlikely that they would face the hardships of a campaign.