Notes and Comments.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 31 May 1895, Page 2

Notes and Comments.

By " Wallaloo,'' Waikaka. Our worthy representative, MrW. Eraser, has been here, and enlightened us somewhat as to the way they do things 'down in Judee.' To the ordinary mind, unable to perceive the niceties of legal fiction, or follow the mazj of logical quibbles, some of these "ways" are at least peculiar. Why not follow the straight pith along which we could watch their doings?! Why not adopt simple and commonsense methods of doing; the things we scad them to do ? Why not spend some of the time spent in wrangling in carrying out the wishes of the people who tent them there ? Simply, because the good of the people forms but a very small, factor in the motive power that guides their actions ; and also because they know full well that the people themselves always regard with muoh more favor the man who is f mart and not too scrupulous as to his methods of gaining his object, while they will give the straightforward, honest man, who is invariably actuated by conscientious motive?, full credit for his sterling qualities —but he is too honest. They forget that will act dishonestly merely to benefit others, so that the clever, unscrupulous representative, whose questionable abilities were expec'ed to serve them so well, no sooner gains bia own end than he throws them over. Well, they have themselves to blamp, and the remedy is entirely in their own hands. So long as the peiple are pleased to dispense with honesty of purpose and purity of motive ao elements ia the character of a politician, so long will they continue to be misrepresented, Wo were told the other night in simple language, a tale unadorned by artfully constructed phrases or passion, stirring epithets, which, like a picture thrown on a screen, showed in clear outline the indifference with which our Parliament regards the national honor. This tale shows how the Native?, in order to simplify land transactions with the Europeans, appointed trustees to hold on behalf of the tribes a certain block of land. This having been done, everything seemed alright until one of the trustees expressed a desire to make r division of the bloc 1 * between the two. The honest trustee expressed astonishment at this, and pointed out that they only held the land for tho natives. Bu f , to his surprise, it was shown that the land wos registered in their joint names under the Land Transfer Act, and that this Act recognised no trusts ; consequently, their title to the> land was indisputable. The honest trW.ee indignantly refused to consent to take advantage of what was merely a legal quibble, as the clear intention was, in creating the trust, to hold the land solely for the benefit of the Natives j but the othnv was backed by the law iiu«i gained his point:, a ud sold his share of the lttud to the Government. Now, no the law stood, the Judges who tiled the case were compelled to decide in f *vor of the dishonest trustee ; but it was still open for Parliament to pass a law dealing specially with the case, and so carry out the the original intention — ia fact, amend the error committed by their own courts in failing (o secure tho land to the Natives. Committee after committee recomrnendf2d Parliament to legalise tho trust, as originally intended ; but instead of doing what was clearly their duty, they actually stored in the advantage by

purchasing from tho man who had so basely betrayed his trust. It seems the case was ultimately decided in favor of the trust. The decision was appealed against, but haß been recently upheld. The Privy Council will now be ap* pealed to, and may possibly reverse the decision. Meanwhile, the Government have paid money for tho land which may be taken from them at any time, though the money can never be recovered. To anyone desirous of acting on ' lines of simple justice, the posiiion ' seems clear enough. The land belonged to tbe natives. A court set up { by Parliament apparently secured their tible. The natives having perfect faith in the honor of Parliament, and naturally supposing that everything would be done in proper form, trusted the court. They knew nothing of the I possibility of any legal error creeping in to aftect their title. But an error does creep in j a legal informality is found to exist ; and the very men who were responsible for the informality, "on whose sense of justice and honor and knowledge of the law — because it was j their own — the simple native placed dependency take advantage of the error, and endeavor to deprive the native of his right?, instead of taking immediate steps to correct what was buc an oversight. One would be almost inclined to think that the oversight was co only in seeming after all. Surely there is no need foe this indecent haste to snatch from a dyiDg race the miserable remnant of the broad lands of which it has already been deprived ! It will soon enough fall into tbe hands of their dispossesses. Mr Eraser seems to think that the ohances of the Gore-Kelso railway are not very great, unless tbe Goverbment adopt a borrowiDg policy — at anyrate, for public works. Still the matter should be kept alive, and our ' Railway League' has no time to lo3e in preparing for another attack on the ' powers.' The session will soon be commencing, and our railway will come up for consideration at an early stage. Its construction would be a regular windfall to the unemployed. Sinca the work would be reproductive, there ia no reason why the Govern" ment should no 5 commence it on lines similar to the Catlina railway. The ultimate importance of the lice is very evident. It will undoubtedly form a link in the true Otago Central, which will some day pour the produce of that centre into the great ocean steamers lying at Bluff; for that port is certainly the natural outlet for the greater portion of Otago and the whole of Southland. But it h here that interests clash. Those Members of Parliament who advocate the continuance of *he Ofcago Central will regard with disfavor any project that is likely to hinder the progress of their line, for this would mean the deviation of trade from Dunedin. It is therefore necessary that all whose interests He in the direction of the Bluff should do their utmost to get the line commenced. Our own Member is a strong supporter of the Otago Central, and he may find it difficult to work for both. But I am sure he will do his duty, whatever difficulties may turn up. A work that is of far more immediate importance than a railway, is the making of a road into the Leithen Bush. This road, it appears, would cost only about L3OO to render it passable all the year round, while the advantage to a large number of eettlers would be very great. The bush covers a large area, and contains red, black, and white birch, the two former being excellently adapted for fencing purpose?, while the white birch makes good building material. f One part of the bush is principally koai, which, however, at present is quite inaccessible. The expenditure of L3OO or even more in rendering the timber available would certainly be a safe investment It would not only be a boon to the settlers, but open up a field for tbe employment of a considerable number of men. So the Invercargill South school committee, in its wisdom and concern for the welfare of education, has decided to ask the Government to base the voting power of committees on ike average attendance at the respective schools. Of coursp, the request will be granted at once, and then perhaps the otber committees will be asked how they like it. In the meantime, however, it would seem that it is sufficient that the Invercargili Sou'h school committee should have considered the matter, and quite unnecessary that country committees should beconsulted. Why, indeed, should they be consulted, or their opiD ions asked? Their functions are on a par with their in* elligencp, and both are of the most primitive kind, and naturally their ideas upon ' matters of State ' are very crude ; ! ]so that it would be altogether beneath the dignity of such an augu6t body as the South school committee to take benighted country committees into its confidence. The question of merging the Knapdale Road Board into the County was brought up some years ago, and, I think, the election decided upon the question. The result of the polling evidently was against ' merging,* and matters remained as they were up to this moment. I believe that for some time, the feeling has been gaining ground that the necessity for a body apart from the County Council is becoming lees apparent year by year. Of cour&p, there ia the indebtedness of tho Board to bo taken into account ; but' if thera is no longer any necessity for the additional rates and expense incidental to the Board, the debt should be no bar to a movement in the direction indicated. What ia of far greater importance, and would at ouco do away with any poasiblo necessity that may oxiafc for tho continuance of the Board, is the creation of a new county, having Gore for its contrc. Even if no alteration in mule in the extent of the county, Goro ia the most convenient centre from which to work it. Mr Jb'raaor, our member, evidently improve? on acquaintance, and in the ,

event of a General Election would be difficult to unseat. The account ho gave to the electors ac Waikaka the other night, impressed his hearers very ! favorably, and raißed him much in their estimation; He did not indulge in hysterical acreechinga at the many iniquities of the Government, real and imagined, but without oratorical dia- { play or rhetorical embellishment, he in { language at one time simple and clear, laid bare to his audience the actions of ' the Government so that they might ! judge for themselves. Mr Fraaer's { manner impresses one at once with his I integrity and conscientiousness. He boldly expresses his views even when not in accord with those of his constituentp, and tells them plainly whether or not he will do his best to carry out their wiahea. He means what he says, and what he says he will use his beßt efforts to do. Above all, he U honest, and that is a quality so rare in politicians that it may almost be regarded as a curious relic.