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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 887, 11 September 1879, Page 2

[Wo do not hold ourselves re&pouaihle for opinions expressed by correspondents.] [To the Editor of the Herald] Sir,— -On reading the leader m this morning's issue of your contemporary, I was sorry to see a vast amount of gratuitous information and ignorant suggestions tendered to the public, respecting the late cases between Messrs. Bond and Allan and certain natives, which m the first instance, are very much out of place seeing that the case is subjudice, and secondly calculated to mislead those who are unaware of the facts. Having carefully the evidence reported m these cases, lam sure that no one, unless poisoned 'by prejudice, would say that Messrs. Bond and Allan did not make out what I understand is called a pritna facia case, and which was required to be done before the natives could be committed. Captain Gudgeon, the presiding justice, after, a long and patient hearing m which lie gave the natives the greatest latitude m giving evidence (besides what latitude they took themselves), and after a full exposition of the law, considered that he could not do otherwise than commit, and that he was fully justified time will show. Mr Rees is admitted to be a man of ability, but whether he uses that rich endowment with benefit to himself and his clients is another matter, and I tru*t he will not run away with any idea that he is going to ride the high horse and dictate to others as he thinks proper, as he may rest assured that the people of this place will not stand any such pills. Every inhabitant of this Bay would not wish otherwise than that the natives should have justice, but when possession is forcibly taken by natives of land, which for years and years they have yieided up, allowed to be cultivated, and art immense amount of money spent on it, then it is time to take the most stringent measures to tread down such actions, It may seem very arbitrary that the Maories should be deprived of their land,, but is it not absurd to say that Captain Head was such a tower of strength that he could keep all the natives m the Bay off his land if they wanted to; occupy, and do you think had Captain Head been alive Wi Pere would have stated that he never sold his interest, when he actually sold it twice. The fact is, th=»t now-a-days it is next to impossible . to get a native to speak the truth, and m the late cases there was a moßt disgusting exhibition, every native that gave evidence lied to such a fearful extent that it must even have been apparent to Mr Bees that the truth was not m them. There is not a doubt m the world that had Mr Bees endeavoured to settle the disputes for the natives he could have done it, and the amount of support he has had from the Poverty Bay people up to the present time justifies my assertion. I may say that he has not used his best endeavors, nor has he gained the confidence which he might have done. There would have been no necessity for Courts sitting here to de >1 out equity and good conscience had all parties concerned met m a fair Held, but when one side commences to rule the roost, it is.* time to be up and trim the lamp.— l am, &c, S.M.W.