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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6567, 4 December 1882, Page 6

Our Hamilton correspondent writes :— Remonstrances have been made by both the Tamahere and Cambridge highway districts with reference to the intended action of the Native Minister, of making certain lands at Tawhare within the former district inalienable. It has been represented to the Government that making this land inalienable will inflict great injury upon public and private property, especially in the case of the swampy portion of Tawhare. Five years ago it waa found necessary to open the Victoria-road to give access between Cambridge and Piako. Tho natives, although the land was useless to them, demanded £100 to allow the road to be taken through, and the Board had to pay £00 before they would allow an outlet drain to be made. Now that the face of the country has settled down since it was drained the drains will have to be deepened. During the last winter the Victoria road was, from the settling of the country, flooded for a quarter of a mile in length. Private property adjoining also depends for its drainage on the outlet obtainable through the land now proposed to be made inalienable, and it is useless to expect that the natives will join in expensive operations of this kind. The ratepayers of the Tamahere and Cambridge highway districts have memorialised the Native Minister that this land, instead of being given to natives, be sold, and other land be givon them instead, or if thoy must have this land that it shall not bo made inalienable, as the natives have neither tho means nor inclination to drain it, and will simply use the opportunity for blackmailing the Boards and settlers. A meeting was held on Friday evening in the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, which had boon convened by Mr. G. Garrard, in regard to the alleged impersonation proceedings in City North, at the late general election. Mr. McDougall presided. There were about 100 pcr&oiiß present, a goodly number of whom were present more for nimiscmont than instruction. Mr. (iarnird entered at length into hi.s troubles with the Registration Olliccr, Mr. Cotter, and the action taken which led to Ills being committed for trial at the Supreme Court.' At the close of his address, Mr. Garrard moved a resolution, which was unanimously carried " That he was entitled to compensation at the hands of the Government for the legal wrongs; h<. had s "![ or ,°f} at the hands of the ' ofiichis oflichils. ' He then made a second speech on tbc question of Naval and Military grants of land, imd said that his claim l\»u oeen certified to for a naval grant of land by Colonel Moule in ISGS, recommended l,iy the late Royal Commission, and yet he had never received the grant. At the close oi his address, he placed the hall at the disposal of those men who desired to form a Trails' and Labonr Council, so that they might Ventilate their grievances, but none of them Wailed themselves of the invitation. \