THE GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE LANDS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3188, 4 October 1867, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT AND NATIVE LANDS.

To the Editor of the DAifcr Southern Caoss. Sib, — The debate in our Parliament on the subject of Mr. Richmond's letter to Judge Monro is one that cannot but painfully affect, not only the Judges of that Court themselves, but also the minds of the native population. The answers given by Mr. Stafford and Mr. Richmond, and that " dreamer " Mr. McLean, were that the Courts were only tentative, that the Judges had risen most of them from the ranks, that they are not entitled to the appellation of Judges, nor their inquiries to that of a Court, and that their operation may be suspended when a Minister thinks fit. Because Mr. Monro ventured to complain that the Government had thrown obstacles in the way of the Court, and had thus prevented their sitting ; that they had assembled and had been disappointed on two occasions, and that had for a third time they find the Government unprepared; because also he had repudiated the appellation given to the Court as a Court for taking land, a letter was written that should be preserved as the most gross attempt on record to bully and browbeat an officer exercising judicial functions. Because they have risen from the ranks, are they therefore to be insulted? Even though not a Court, still have they not some judicial capacity ? and would a oommon arbitrator be so snubbed as Mr. Monro was by Mr. Richmond? The Maoris also are now told that the Court (if we may for a moment bo call it) is only for the convenience of the Government, and that to obtain justice in the matter of their lands is granted only as a matter of favour. What now will the Judges do ? Will they consent to be in future mere menials to do the dirty work of the Government ? I hope that you will publish Mr. Richmond's letter in full. It will open the eyes of men to the way in which the Maori is being treated. — I have, &c, Anglo-M-A-081. P.S.— I have looked in vain through your papers for the Government's justification of their having carried off that carved house on the East Coast.