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Poverty Bay Herald, 18 October 1879, Page 2

It is not at all easy at times to trace effects back to their causes ; but we think if Te "Whew and others had not telegraphed" from Wellington that the Maories in Bond's case had obtained a glorious victory, it is very doubtful whether the Natives would have entered upon Mr. Arthur's land. We have long felt that in its administration, at least, there has been one law for the Maories and another for' Europeans. Had thirty white men gone upon Mr. Arthur's land we know full well that every one of them at this hour would have been under arrest. But where are those invading Maories now % and where are Mr. Arthur's sheep, and who will pay the value of his lambs which have been destroyed ? If the Government, while they are fighting their battles of v the " ins and the outs," will not take measures to protect European interests, the people of Poverty Bay will in their defence be compelled to appoint from among themselves a "Vigilance Committee with a 'President at their head, as watf done at New Plymouth with such excellent and wholesome results. It is not possible that the people of the Bay can much longer submit to such invasions and forcible entries by the Maories as have likely been the case. The matter is altogether too aerious, and if the Government of this country will not aid the Europeans, there will be no alternative but for them to aot personally in defence of their own fights. We have been most shamefully deceived by false j?rpmises v Mr- Sheehan was to give tis a Native- Lands Court to set permanently in Gisborne, until all claims had been sifted and decided ou. Btit we have had no Land Court for months. He -Was- to have created several more judges to sit on Native cases, but this has not been

done. He promised to supply a Resident Magistrate well qualified for particular and special cases likely to be brought into Court, but not until after waiting for months we find Mr. Caleb Whitfoord gazetted. A ve*y good man is Mr. Whitfoord, and a very experienced magistrate. In the meantime the district is going to the bad. Eighty persons, it is estimated Jiave left the Bay within the last six weeks, having left with no intention of returning. Three months ago there was not a cottage or the. smallest dwelling to be obtained at almost any price. Now many cottages and tenements are empty. Six months ago there were great enquiries for land for small farming and dairy purposes ; now there are no such inquiries. Need we say that our affairs are in such a disturbed state there is no hope of improvement j and the once happy and prosperous settlement of Poverty Bay, unless things mend, will shortly be deprived of half of its most valuable and valued dwellers. It is of no use any party raising the cry of " peace, peace," when there is no peace. Nothing but stern and united determination on the part of the Europeans will prevent these disturbances spreading and ramifying through the districts. The experiences of the past, in other and I former disturbed districts of the North Island, has shown what can be done by courage and determination. Either those who have been long years in possession of their lands must be allowed to hold, or they must give them up and go their ways to other parts, where laws when broken are put in force, and where I life and property are protected.