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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 10

[Extract for Dr. Featherston's speech]

The following extract from Dr. Featherston's speech will show that His Excellency's Ministers were consenting parties to the transaction:—"The thanks of the Province are due to his Excellency's Ministers for the readiness with which, in compliance with my request, they advanced (in anticipation of the sale of the land purchase loan) the funds required to enable me to meet my engagements with the Natives."

The following will show how Dr. Featherston proposes to deal with any perverse non-sellers:—" There is, however, still a small number of Ngatiraukawa dissentients to whom, in the event of their persisting in their refusal to accept the sum set apart for them, it may be necessary to make an award in land to the extent of such claims as are admitted by the sellers," Dr. Featherston further says:—" I feel that I am entitled to say that in no previous land purchase has so liberal a price been paid, or such ample justice done to all the Natives concerned in the transaction; and I venture again to express a hope that the Council will, knowing how much the successful issue of these long-pending negotiations is due to Mr. Walter Buller, bestow upon him a substantial recognition of his valuable services."*

Dr. Featherston paid a visit to Rangitikei and Manawatu a few weeks since, when he told the natives that he should send 500 armed Natives to survey the boundaries of the block. I was page 36 informed of this by several of the Natives, and have their written statements. The chief Ihakara was one of my informants. Henere Herekau concludes his letter upon the subject thus:—" If you can give us any good advice respecting this evil work, do so, because Ngatiraukawa will not flinch from the snare which is being laid for them by Dr. Featherston." After giving them this piece of information he sent the following memorandum to some of the non-sellers:—

"I agree to refer the claims of non-sellers in the Rangitikei-Manawatu block to arbitration, subject to the following conditions:—
"1.Two arbitrators, either Pakeha or Maori, to be appointed—one by the non-sellers, the other by the Land Purchase Commissioner; such arbitrators being persons entirely disconnected with the land or with the disputants, and wholly disinterested in the question at issue. The arbitrators to appoint an umpire, or the arbitrators and umpire to be appointed by His Excellency the Governor.
"2.The arbitrators to be appointed within one month from the present date, and the arbitration to take place at Rangitikei.
"3.All non-sellers, of whatever rank, to prove their individual claims to the satisfaction of the arbitrators, having previously signed a paper assenting to the proposed arbitration, and pledging themselves to accept, as final, the decision of the arbitrators as to the nature and extent of their claims.
"(Signed)

I. E. Featherston."

* See Dr. Featherston's speech—Appendix.