CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7426, 30 May 1891, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Native Land Court.

TO THE BDITOB.

Slß,— ln delivering the judgment in the Horowhenua case reference was mode ai to the injustice of awarding the greater portion of the block to two individuals, as it was made cloar in the evidence that the land belonged to the tribe. Without knowledge of the circumstances it would be fairly thought that it was tho fault of the judges, but that is not the case ; it was simply the fault of the people ; they left the case in the hands of those who ought to have protected them, and the Court, on seeing no opposition to the statements made by the said parties, had to come to the conclusion tbat it met with the approval of the tribe. When the jugdment was delivered and Major Kemp and Warena Hakeke got the lion's share, the real owners oamo to the conclusion that thoy were dead (kuamate). The old-time custom of slavish fear of tho ohiefs was the reason why the people allowed themsolves to be sacrificed. The Government are now about buying a block of land from people who really have no claim to it, but who managed by questionable tactics to get the land awarded to them and others, who never saw the country. Now that they have managed to prevent a rehearing, they admit that the evidence was unreliable, and glory in having secured a valuable piece of land which hod been proved in evidence in the case of tho land adjoining to belong to the people whoso ancestors lived there. With your permission I intend to show up some of the parties who managed to deprive the owners of the said blook of their patrimony. — I am, &c, Obskbvbb.

A curious fish has been stranded at Okaaes Bay, and brought to Lyttelton. It is 20ft long and 16in through at the thickest part. It resembles an immense frost fish. It has no scales or teeth, two small fina, and a large head with several " suokers " 3ft long attached.

Extensive preparations will be made during the next few months for tho appreaching North Island Bowling Tournament, which is to be held at Napier ntxt Easter. The new green is rapidly approaching completion, and this will put no fewer than eleven rinks at the disposal of the club.