THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, December 22, 1869.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 102, 22 December 1869, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, December 22, 1869.

Journals become more necessary aa men liecorao more equal and individualism more to bo feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to aecure liberty ; they maintain civilization. DE ToCQCEVItLE, Of Democracy in America, vol. 5, 230. The letters from Wi Hapi to the Government, of which we publish translations, speak for themselves. The Manawatu purchase has not, unfortunately, ceased to be a ground of anxiety, and become a territory for colonization. The Government have proclaimed the native title extinguished ; but one party of resident natives who have all along sullenly refused to entertain the proposal for sale, aud to bring their claims into Court, now, in plain terms, repudiate the transaction. And it will require treatment very different from the high hand of Dr. Featherston or Mr. Fox's impertinence, to induce these men to abandon a position which must render the Crown right to the land for the time a mere fiction, and effectually prevent peaceful settlement and investment. There is a second party of malcontents, who purpose disputing the title in the Supreme Court — a more legitimate and not less effectual mode of barring colonization than that hinted by Mr. Fox and Wi Hapi. The country at large is not prepared to see the Armed Constabulary employed to support a disputed land purchase, even when their •services can be spared from frontiers lately the scene of war. War for the Manawatu block, would mean ruin to the Fox administration ; and therefore the hints of the Government may be taken as Irutum fuhnen. We publish the letters, that the case may be kept in daylight as far as possible, and especially to meet the wishes of the native party. The merits of the case are altogether past discussion. But the introduction of any strict legal definition of titles, which base on the results of comparatively modern violence and struggle, must be gradual unless an overpowering authority ia at hand. The colony is distinctly unwilling to burden itself by the exercise of such authority, and would rather see the Crown's claims to Manawatu left quietly in abeyance. Other titles among ourselves much more exactly defined, and by law much more universally recognized, require the arm of authority to establish them before new Maori fights are undertaken for such ends. We regret not having Mr. Cooper's first letter, but judgiug from the reply it elicits, and from that in which he is directed to conclude the correspondence, it must have been in Mr. Fox's worst and blindest style. It is no great compliment to Mr. M'Lean, to wish^he were back in Wellington to remedy, before it is too late, the mischief his colleague is producing. [translation.] Kakabiki, November, 1869. This is an official reply to the G-overnment, containing our opinion of your proclamation concerning Rangatikei, which has now reached us. Your proclamation states that the native title to tho land has been extinguished. This is unjust. Your extinguishing [of the title] is an act of robbery. Is robbery right ? In our opinion, this is the greatest act of injustice yet committed in this island. Wi Hapi.

To Mr. Cooper, Secretary to the Grovernraent. Your letter readied me on the 20th. Your letter saya that no robbery is committed. I will show you. The fh'st act of robbery was the clandestine arrangement to purchase from Ngatiraukawa. You saw that there wove only a few [agreeing]— you nevertheless robbed. The second nas giving thepurdiasemoney to Ngutikuhungunu, Ngatiruanui, Whanganui, Ngatiawa, Ngatifcoa. On which part of Rangitikei do these tribes possess an acre ? The third, the investigation has been going on three years. You saw that the Maori title [ours] was good, but you deviated from the right com-se. The fourth still remains. You will by-and-by fight, for investigation is at an end. I and my people are living at Bangitikei ; we

are determined to continue to live there. Then will bo seen the fourth robbery. You 6ay in your letter that I am not to listen to the advice of some designing pakeha. Do I need a pakeha to advise me ? Does not the spirit of God teach me as well as any other man ? Tou also say I had better not follow the advice of this designing pakeha, lest I should get into trouble. Is it I only that shall get into trouble ? Will not you, too ? Another word of blame against you is this : Why do you not publish what you have to say? and not write privately to me only? Cease from doing this. Let all be made public. Wi Hapi. Karariki, November 21, 1869. To Wi Hapi. Your letter of Novemher 21st has been received. I have given it to Mr. Fox to see. He saw at once, by the tenour of the language, that your pakeha was still instructing you. (Signed) G. S. Coopee. Wellington, November 24, 1869.