NATIVE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9047, 7 May 1888, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

[by telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Saturday. Chief Judge Macdonald, of the Native Land Court, has arrived in Wellington, having been summoned by the Government to prepare Bills on the native matters which fire to be introduced during the coming session.

I have heard from ft -well-informed quarter that the Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Hutchison, and one or two other .supporters of the late Government, are endeavouring to got up a strong opposition to the native policy of the present Government, in so far as it proposes to reverse the native policy inaugurated in 1886. By-the-way there is a carious action to bo tried in the Supreme Court at the suit of one of the retired Judges of tlio Native Land Court, Judge Williams. The matter is brought forward as a petition of right, with the leave of the Attorney-General. In 1880 Mr. Williams was in the Public Service as a resident magistrate. In pursuance of retrenchment proposals then made, ho had to retire upon a pension of £135 a year. In 1 SSI he was appointed a Native Judcre at a salary' of £600. lie is again retrenched and the Government revives his pension of £135 a year, but he claims that the pension should be computed upon the average of the salary received during the last three years. It is understood that the Native Department will bo greatly reduced,' consequent upon contemplated arrangements to bo submitted to Parliament for its approval.