The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 1869.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 641, 1 September 1869, Page 2

The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, 1869.

The proposal of Mtf Kelly to advance money on mortgage to the settlers who have suffered through the war, to enable them to go on their farms again, has relieved the Government and tiie. Assembly of a great difficulty and responsibility. In the form of an advance, compensation will be made ta the settlers, who want money to buy stock, erect dwellings, and lay in articles of husbandry. It might be replied that the settlers could mortgage their land to private parties as well as to the Government, and that therefore compensation ought. to .be made independently. We admit compensation is d,ue to those who have suffered by rebellion, but the question is one of ways and means with, the Government. We do

not believe that private parties would advance money on land at Patea, but if they did, they would demand at least 15 per cent, per annum on the advance. This alone would ruin the settlers. The Government will probably not demand more than 6 per cent., and will allow the capital and interest to be paid back i_a instalments on the Building Society principle. The plan will benefit the bona fide settlers, and promote the re-settle-ment of the abandoned districts. Mr Stafford complimented Mr Middlemas in very high terms for originating the plan,- and Mr Kelly received the congratulations of the House for the manner in which he had introduced it. These sentiments will be reechoed by the whole of the settlers of this district, when they come to reflect on the substantial nature of the results. It is impossible for any candid person to deny that the Fox Ministry have a warm sympathy with the settlers, and have done much for this district since coming into office

The Thames. — Labour is getting scarce at the Thames. It is reported that a man named Connor is digging at Ohinemuri under the protection of the natives. The Troops.—Colonel Elliot has issued orders to forego all contracts for the removal of the various detachments of the 18th. New Zealand Cross.—The New Zealand Cross Endowment Bill has been read a second time. Pioeon Shooting.—Some excellent pigeon shooting took place at Aramoho yesterday. Dr Hooper, who rarely missed his bird, made some splendid shots. A match is to come off on Saturday. Committee.—The Building Committee of the Presbyterian Church held a meeting last night to open and decide upon the accepting of tenders for the supply of material, &c. for the Church. The following tenders were accepted :— Timber, Mr George Beaven; Iron, Messrs Brown and Duthie ; Carting, Mr Job Sanders; Blocks, Mr D. Pellat. The Committee intend at once palling for tenders for the erection of the Church.

A The Manawato Case.—The Native Lands Court gave its decision on the last issue submitted to it, on Saturday night. Out of more than a thousand Ngatirakawa claimants, more than half of whom were abandoned by Mr Travers during the progress of the case, scarcely sixty (including the women and children) have been admitted by the Court. The claims of these were recognised by the Crown, and will be duly satisfied by an award of land. The decision of the Land Court is the most complete vindication that could be desired of the Manawatu purchase, and places Archdeacon Hadfield and those who were acting with him entirely in the wrong. The Court having emphatically declared that the Ngatiraukawa tribe never acquired the dominion Over the block, and have no rights beyond those of individual occupation. The worthy Archdeacon must now relinquish all hope of that grant of ten thousand acres which (as he stated in his evidence) "was promised to the Church by the Ngatiraukawa tribe," and was only in abeyance pending the settlement of this tribal question !