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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3868, 28 July 1873, Page 2

Intelligence reaches us from Hawke's Bay that writs of ejectment have been issued by the Hon H. R. Russell against certain of the purchasers of the large section of the Napier plains known as the Heretaunga Block. The matter is one of more than mere local interest. It will be remembered that early in 1872 Mr Russell obtained from one of the grantees in the block referred to, named Arihi te Ngahu, a lease of her undivided share. As this share had already been disposed of, the lease in question was declared by Mr Turton, the Trust Commissioner for Hawke's Bay, to be fraudulent, and consequently to be null and void, a decision in which, to all appearances, his Honor Mr Justice Johnston concurred, when the matter was brought before him during his sittings in banco at Napier a month or two subsequently. Owing to the very strong expression of opinion then given, both by the Trust Commissioner and the Judge, the Legislative Council found it necessary last year to intimate to Mr Russell that it was desirable that he should call for an, enquiry into the matter. He, while expressing his willingness, personally, to do so, states that his lawyers advised him strongly to refrain from it, on the ground that such an enquiry might prejudice legal proceedings which were then pending. The case, moreover, he said, would shortly be theroughly sifted before the Supreme Court. The Council accepted the statement as correct, and allowed the

enquiry to lapse for the session. No action, however, it appeared, had been taken, nor did any, up to a very recent date, seem likely to be taken. Intimations, however, reached Mr Russell from various quarters that the Council had no intention of letting the matter drop finally; on the contrary, that the inquiry, the postponement of which was permitted last session, would most certainly be resumed this, and would be resumed also under very much worse auspices for him. At the very last moment accordingly, when it was no longer by any chance possible that the case could be heard before the close of this session, j>roceedings have been taken. Mr Russell will thus again be able to come down to Wellington and plead that the matter is subjudice, and that a Parliamentary inquiry will, on that ground, be prejudicial to his interests. The Council, however, will probably have some hesitation, in the circumstances, in accepting the plea a second time.