The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1480, 18 November 1881, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter.

PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING

GISBORNE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1881

A Native Lands Court is about to ait at the Wairoa ; that ia very well ; but we should like to know why a Court sits there, and none here ; we should like to know why, if arrangements have been made for a Court there, the same privilege could not have been accorded to the Bay ; we should like to know svhy a Court can sit at the Wairoa now, and not here until April next. We are not in the least deprecating the light of our Wairoa neighbours to a Court, on the contrary we fully admit it ; but we are entirely at a loss to understand on what principle of fairness or expediency the requirements of one part of the district are perceived and provided for ; while the much more pressing and continuous necessities of another, and more important portion, are disregarded. If any proof were required as to the utter inadequacy of the Native Lands Court, in Auckland, to perform its functions ; if any evidence were needed as to its disjointed condition ; if any testimony were asked to show that it is altogether out of gear and miserably deficient in its spasmodic attempts and pretences to appear on duty, and if it were necessary to present a glaring sample of the disgraceful Maladministration of that office, we, presume by Chief Judge FkntoN, then here it is staring us in the face. For the last twelve years has stood over the task o( subdivision ; with each rear have (troubles act utuulnted, and the difficulties surrounding the position increased, and yet no attempt has beea made on the part of " the Office " to meet theso difficulties, and obviate the Recurrence of these troubles ; No! nothing, but an obvious disposition to put off the evil day as far as possible, and generally to "let things slide." Of these difficulties and troubles we may be allowed to slightly parody two lines from " The Brook," and say— " Courts may come and Courts may go, " But they go on for ever." Recently we heard that Judge Fehton had resigned, and we were overjoyed, for we then thought, " Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer." We thought the Government would surely take the

opportunity of appointing some active and energetic man who woukl v l»i»»s,' up tho flidcUe and tho bow, and take down the shovel and the hoe," who would make himself acqu tinted with the requirements of the position, and who woukl tako immediate steps to have those requirements satisfied. How fearfully we mistook ; there was not the slightest change of reform, the Augean stable .still remains unoleansed — Augeas has re-appointed the okl stableman, and during another period of years will the task be unperformed and the work accumulate. Who will then undertake its performance? Whence shall we look for the Hercules? The retirement of the Chief Judge, it is reported, was merely a move to obtain his pension. Having secured that he was quite reudy for work, — „ardon,--ho was quite ready to be re-appointed, und to do no more work than be had done before. If tho future is to be anything like the past has been, our case is simply hopeless. As we are tirnily convinced that the future success of the Bay depends in n great measure on the speedy institution of a resident Native Lands Court and Office we shall continue to urge it with all our ability, and we trust successfully.