WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9028, 5 November 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday, THE WEST COAST settlement act. Mr. Warburton, the public trustee, has gone to Wangauui to confer with the Hon. Mr. Ballance in respect to carrying out the provisions of this Act. So far as the holders of confirmed leases and Maori owners are concerned, it is understood that the position of the Maori owners is much improved under this Act, as they can demand terms for renewal or lease to the public trustee, who may lease again to the European holder ; that they may sell their interest to the present lessee, and that the principle of " perpetual lease" will be applied where practicable. THE NATIVE LANDS COURT. Mr. G. B. Davey, formerly Resident Magistrate and Warden at the Thames is to take the place of the Chief Judge (Mr. Seth Smith) who goes to Europe on leave of absence for twelve months. NATIVE AFFAIRS. I learn that the native people who reside in the Southern Island are to meeb the Native Minister ab tho Obago Heads towards the end of the present monbh or early in tho next. The Hon. Mr. Carroll goes to his home at Gisborne shortly. He will probably attend the meeting of natives concerned with the carrying on of the provisions of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act. THE BANKRUPTCY OS W. J. HUNT. Mr. W. J. Hunt, who has become bankrupt here, is a well - known former resident of Auckland. His liabilities amounb to £3000. He estimates his losses on account of the action of the Government and Maori insincerity at £4800. He erected a sawmill on the coast on Maori land, ab a cost of £2000. The Maoris were to have leased him 10,000 acres at fid per acre. Shortly after he took possession, the Maoris began to squabble among themselves as to the title of tho members of the tribe to the land, which formed part of the well-known Ngarara block, the subject of Maori litigation for a long time. The Government propose to buy the land. Mr. Hunt pubs his case before the creditors as follows :—When the natives found that the Government were prepared to ignore my agreement, they book proceedings at law to dispossess me of the mill site, the result being that although my agreement was to pay 6d an acre per annum for the three acres of mill site, £20 was awarded as mesne profits by the judge, together with £70 costs, resulting in the whole property falling into the hands of the natives. As I was unable to pay the amount of the award and costs within the time (30 days) fixed by the judge for compliance with his order, I petitioned the last Parliament for consideration, bub have been unable to get any redress. I have struggled for four years to get a title to the land, which would have enabled me to have raised money ab a low rate of interest in order to liquidate all my debts and carry on my business with success. I estimate that had the lease been completed it would have been worth £10,000 to me for, sawmilling and other purposes. . I regret to say that I am one of the many victims of the confusion and uncertainty of the native land legislation of this colony, the law enabling the Maoris to repudiate agreements which, if made botween one white man and another, would be perfectly legal." A SEARCH EOR A WIFE. A very singular application has been made to the Government. Ib may or may nob be a hoax, bub it has a very serious aspect. There is a man in England who wants a wife. He is 54 years of age, is five feet nine and a-half inches high, and has £2000 in hard cash. He would prefer a Maori woman, who could be well recommended for .his partner in life. He asks the Government to help him. He has not prescribed height, age, circumstances, weight, tatoo, or expectations bub she must be " suitable." The whole tone of this communication is earnest, and to all I appearances sincere. What answer tho I Government will give the writer I do nob know ; none perhaps ; should be so " suitable" as this : bhab this philo-Maori should come to the colony and choose for himself. '• -