A PETITION FROM THE PIRONGIA SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4336, 6 October 1875, Page 2

A PETITION FROM THE PIRONGIA SETTLERS.

The following is a copy of a petition forwarded to Wellington :— "To the hon. members of the House of. Representatives in Parliament assembled: The petition of the undersigned settlers and landowners in the district of Pirongia, Waikato, respectfully sheweth :— " I_. That your petitioners have heard with surprise and indignation that the Hon. the Native Minister has purchased a large number of farm sections in this district from Europeans, for the purpose of returning it to so-called King Maoris. "2. That if this intention is carried out, it will inflict great injury on the settlers, as the purchased blocks, scattered all throng the district, will decrease, and settlement will be retarded, as no new settlers will be likely to come to a district where such a large proportion of land is owned by natives. "3. That if the natives settle on the blocks there will be a continual danger of irritation and bad feeling, owing to cattle and pigtrespass, and native dogs running at large to the danger of settlers' flocks, &c. "4. That in all cases of fencing, the Eettlers, practically, at least, will have tg* , ?? the whole cost; and those lands ''iSW?' 1 hither£o have been paying road now be a burden on the rest, as it would almost be impossible to collect rates from the native owners. "5. That your petitioners are of opinion that to grant the3e lands to natives would, in whatever way it is considered, be a retrograde step, and naturally retard the district for many years to come. > "6. Under these circumstances your petitioners respectfully request that yonr honorable House will not sanction the proposed granting of these lands to King Maoris. " And your petitioners will ever pray." ]Signed by 25 settlers.] The above petition was adopted at a meeting of settlers held at Harapipi, on Saturday, 2nd October. The meeting had been called by the Chairman of the Board,, to be held in the Block-house, but an order was received from the'officer commanding the district interdicting the use. of the building for that purpose, and accordingly the meeting was held in the open air on the public road, as there is n0 other public bnllding in the district. & view of a recent Court of Enquiry no one blames the officer commanding the district, but it cannot be regarded ifl an ? other light than as a public scandal » a insult to the settlers that they compelled to meet in the public road w discuss matters of great importance to themselves, while there is an empty building close at hand erected for their protection, and a which they have held their meetings fortßß hist nine years. If the meeting had peeu called to pass resolutions in of w« Abolition Bill there would most Ukely to™ been no objection ; bat aa it was to enaow the settlers to raise their protest agsj , ** 5?" Native Minister granting a great part ol . l f° district to King Maoris, to the manifest £ jury of the settlers, of course it w& o» suppressed if possible.

A man in Illinois broke into the house of* widow. She pitched him out of doori striking evidence of the power o£ the wwow might.