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Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 14, 6 June 1885, Page 2

We understand that on application having been made at the Survey office for the necessary permission for surveying Wareponga and other blocks, it was stated that such authority could not be granted without the sanction of the several Native Committees. Grave doubts having been expressed as to the absolute truth of this assertion, on account of some of the blocks having been gazetted long before the formation of the committees, the Government are being communicated with in order to ascertain whether such is really the case. It is also surmised that the work is being kept back either for interested motives or else in order that the Government staff may have some work in hand whereby they can make some reasonable excuse for drawing their pay. are also made that instead of certain officials being up country engaged in inspecting and passing a quantity of work which has been completed by contracting surveyors they are not only hanging about town themselves but that some men who are drawing Government pay have been for some time past engaged in private gardening. If such is really the case it would prove most interesting to have the pay vouchers proved. Several of these matters have been brought under the notice of a Minister by some surveyors who are determined to make a firm stand against a line of conduct which not alone prevents many from following their occupations, but is calculated to seriously retard the opening up and settlement of the Native Lands in this district.