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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 272, 12 April 1862, Page 4

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To the Editor of tJteSawke's Bay Herald Sin— ln your issue of March 4, 1 notice a letter signed " Tom Trotter." Tom holds gloomy opinions with respect to sheep farmers on Maori land ; and believes not in Maori landlords. After stating the undoubted truism that "runs are wanted," he enquires whether those who lease therii are not exchanging bad for worse ; this probably the sheep-far-mers have thought of and decided in the negative, as many men of experience are found among those who desire to lease, and it would be as well to give the Maories a feast of mutton as to aliow the sheep to die of starvation on the already overstocked plains of Ahuriri or elsewhere. Concerning the legality, Tom says he knows little; this 1 think is very true, for he is of opinion that evcu after law is established the " agreement may or may not be brokenaccording to the will of one of the parties." Then comes the deed "upon parchment maybe" which the sheep-farmer pays £-1 or £3 for and which the Maori does not feel bound to keep. Now it is well known that Maori runs have been occupied for years and the agreement kept by the Maori landlords; the contrary is the exception, not the rale. With regard to the parchment, it is an expensive item, and sheep-far-oiers had better use foolscap for the future. The ravages of the huge rawboned sows and hungry dogs which Tom so feelingly depicts are unfortunately an everyday occurrence on most New Zealand runs. Perhaps, however, the Maori sows and dogs have an advantage over their Pakeha contemporaries in raw bones and variety of breeds. And to make a long matter short, Tom again (for the third time) assures us that the Maori will not keep his agreement either '• verbal or written." Lastly, after leasing direct has been legalised, he desires to know how large a tract of land the Natives will aLlow the Government to survey. To this I can only say, probably some very largo blocks, containing many acres and a proportionable quantity of Maori sows which Tom seems to have such dread of. He must understand the land will bo surveyed by the consent of the Maories themselves. Now, in conclusion/ Tom exalts himself, and, looking down sorrowfully upon the doingp of the present Government, prophecies that run-letting and leasing will come to grief, whether legalised or not. Sir G. Grey thinks not, the Ministry think not. So also do the people, but Tom has gloomy forebodings, and no wonder, for he thinks that New_ Zealand is of little use to any one, and evidently hopes in order that the country may prosper, that the British soldiers should have an opportunity of, as he states, " cai'rying a pack of bare-legged, semi-re-formed cannibals before them." How the British soldiers will appreciate this addition to their already heavy accoutrements is, however, another matter. Apologizing for occupying so much space, and trusting that Tom will see that every cloud has its silver lining, I am, &c, A PAKEHA. . Wairoa, March 26, 1862.