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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6292, 30 October 1891, Page 2

Mb Rbes's letter is a long one, and we have only culled from it the above quotations, leaving out all remarks that do not bear directly upon the question, " What about that £300?" We think Mr-Rees's reply will be acepted as satisfactory. There is only one point to which we shall refer. Mr Rees contends that the Government being about to appoint a Commission to enquire iuto the West Coast Maori titles, it was their duty, if it was desired that the natives should have fair play, to provide them with money to employ legal assistance. _ We quite agreewith him, but what we wish to ask is this:—That if that was a right and proper.principle in 1877-79, why is it not so to-day ? Why should a difference be made between the fair play due to Maoris and that which is due to a colonist? The Appeal Court of New Zealand affirmed the legality of Mr Justice Edwards' appointment to the Judicial Bench, but the Government have appealed against that judgment to the Privy Council. Mr Edwards has lost his professional business ; he has lost everything, and that by the action of the Government. He is unable to employ counsel to represent him at the Privy Council, and the Government have refused to allow him the money to permit him to fight the question out with them on a level footing. Is that fair ;is that honorable ? If it be unfair, if it be dishonorable, we trust Mr Rees will have the courage to say so.