The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Friday, November 28, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 962, 28 November 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Friday, November 28, 1879.

Abe Ministers not trifling somewhat too much m the case of one hundred and odd Maori prisoners now m gaol at "Wellington? The keeping' these Natives m confinement, without bringing them to trial, is assuredly very unjust, if it be not altogether illegal. The opinion of the Maori members m the Assembly is very strongly expressed, and there is no denying that the Maoris are not being dealt with m a way that will either on one hand conciliate, or on the other frighten the tribes to which these prisoners belong. We find Tomoana demanding of Ministers their reason for detaining Maories m gaol. Addressing Major Atkinson, Tomoana says : — I desire to have a clear explanation concerning the Maoris lodged 'n the Mount Cook Gaol, because at the close of last session a Bill was passed affecting them, which provided that within a month from that date they wei-e to bo tried. Now, the time specified m the Bill has passed, and that is why I ask the Government what they intend to do with regard to those prisoners. lam thinking to myself whether they are legally detained m. that prison, or whether they are kept there by the will of certain persons. It was stated,

at the time thepßill was passed, that a month from that date these prisoners were to be tried. The time has expired. My idea is this : Now that the Grey Government have been defeated and are out of office, ■ the new Government should take some newsteps concerning these prisoners. I also think that now there is a newGovernment they should administer the law m connection with the Maoris. They should not follow m the steps of the old Government. If this sort of thing goes on — if each Government as it goes into office takes up and continues the bad works of the preceding Government — there will be nothing done at all for the good of the Maori. Yon will never be able to administer Maori affairs. No good will accrue to the Maori, as yon think only about yourselves. Something for their good should have been clone during the time they have been m prison. In my opinion these people should be realeased. They should be allowed to go to their homes, and the promises made to them by the Government confirmed. Surely this is a very reasonable request. Either try the prisoners, within the time promised or otherwise let them be released. Tomoana's request is backed up by a temperate speech from Major Tb Wheoro, who said I agree with the honorable member for the Eastern Maori District that they should be released, but on the understanding that they are to be tried. We may then learn the grounds upon which they were brought here. This is the most important thing occupying the minds of the Maori members. I say, carry out the work of this House m trying those prisoners to see if they are m the wrong, and inquire fully into the arrangements of the Government m regard to those Natives and those promises about land. I said something m a speech of mine about troubles arising through the mismanagement of the Native Office. That is why I shall not have much to say now. That is why I say this question should be fully inquired into, and we may then learn the grounds upon which the prisoners -were brought here. I ask the Government not to allow this question to be delayed, but to enter into it immediately and take the steps required. Ministers really m reply had nothing to urge for their procrastination. All that Mr. Rolleston could say was that he was not m a position to state what course the Government was likely to take. But this answer will not be sufficient m the face of the promise distinctly stated that the Maori prisoners should be tried within one month of the opening of the new Parliament. Is the course which is being pursued not calculated to irretate the Natives, and possibly incite them to open hostilities? Those who know the Maories' sense of justice, and their anger at broken promises, say that the Government will, yet be brought to book when when it is ascertained the outcome of so great a breach of faith.