THE MAORIES AND THE REPUDIATIONISTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 708, 2 June 1879, Page 2

THE MAORIES AND THE REPUDIATIONISTS.

[To the Editor of the Evening JHkkald.] Sir, — I perfectly agree with you that it is high time " to be up and doing " m the matter of Native bounce ; and as an old sufferer from this source, I venture to say a few words on the subject In the first place, there never was a greater mistake made than that of allowing the Natives here to quietly take possession of lands, which they wuuld never have dreamt of interfering with only for the advent of whites called the Repudiation party. This party profess to abide by the law — then, why not try their grievances before a court of law 1 It is quite time enough to take possession when such procedure is adjudged m a court of law. In the secoud place, I would ask where out of New Zealand would you find a community of British subjects, or any other subjects, who would quietly stand by and see their fellow-settlers despoiled of their lands, and personally attacked, without making a demonstration of some kind m favour of the sufferer ; and I mean to say, it is a downright disgrace to the inhabitants of Poverty Bay tlw,t they have not turned out to a tnan, and turned off these rascals from their fellow-settlers' lands. The old adage m reference to small beginnings, &c, is quite applicable m this instance, and will at once be recognised by the settlers of any lengthened date, as the commencement of serious trouble, and which every settler m the North Island Bhould be prepared for, and the sooner the better. The great object of the Maori agitators is to get the whole of the tribes incited, and for their purpose, they have selected the only sure ground on which it is possible to get them incited, the land-owner get then imbued with the idea that their lands are being " stolen " (to use their own odious expression) they will act as one man. In the third place, I agree with you, that their sympathisers and advisers should be dealt with as summarily as possible. If they have suffered injury at the hands of some of their white brethren, which I have no doubt they have, let them appeal to the law, which will, no doubt, do them justice. But let them keep off my land until they can show their authority. I conclusion, I would remark, that if some decisive steps are not taken very soon, every land-holder m the district will have a " repudiation tent" m one or all of his paddocks. — I am, &c, A Stitch m Time Saves Nine.