Evening Post, Monday, 24th March, 1873.

"Messrs. McLean and Vogel are shortly expected in Wellington, and we believe that one of the questions which will be brought under the notice of the former is the propriety of granting a re-hearing of the case now before the Native Lands Court at Manawatu. Our readers are not perhaps aware of the position of this matter. There is a block of land between the Paikakariki hill and the Manawatu river, extending along the Tararua ranges to the sea coast, of vast extent and average fertility, which, looked at from an agricultural point of view, is the key to the city, while it lies on the high road to the fertile plains of Manawatu and Rangitikei. It is well known that at present, in consequence of this block of land being in the hands of the natives, the Government are precluded from making a road through it into the Manawatu district, as to the wisdom of forming which, there can be only one opinion. The present route along the beach is one which is intolerably disagreeable. First it passes over a zigzag break-neck road and hill, then along the beach over rivers at times too dangerous to be crossed in safety, while nearly always there is the certainty of a good sound wetting, notwithstanding the extreme care of the coach drivers. The Provincial authorities being cognizant of this state of things—the shocking roads and the want of suitable places for settlement for incoming immigrants—entered into arrangements to get this land surveyed for the native owners; claimants and counter-claimants alike marking off the boundaries of the land to which they deem themselves entitled, and this, too, at the expense of the Provincial Government.

The usual notices were given, and a day was appointed for the sitting of the Native Lands Court to investigate the cases. The most patient hearing was given to each of the witnesses, some of whom wearied the Court for four solid days, and in one case, as we are informed, the witness spun out his story page cxlviii for nearly five days, calling to mind facts of which be personally knew nothing, but had derived from the mere hearsay of his ancestors and his own invention. Counsel was heard on both sides, and the decision being unfavourable to certain tribes, they are now desirous of ventilating their grievances before the great pacifier of the country—the Honorable Mr. McLean—at whose nod whole blocks of land are given to disaffected Natives in order to keep the peace of the North Island. We are informed on good authority that Kemp and his followers, who are in possession of Government arms and ammunition, threatened to use them in the event of matters proving unfavorable to them. The threats have not been carried out, owing, no doubt, to other influences, such as the attendant loss of a commissionership, and its accompanying, £1 per day with the etceteras. The Court will resume the hearing of a portion of this case on the 25th March instant, and if the hearing be as tedious, and the patience of the Judges and counsel be anything equal to their last effort, there is every hope of a satisfactory termination to this long vexed question, unless the Native Minister steps in and says to his pets, 'you shall have it all over again.' We protest against any such action on the part of Ministers, and we do so before the mischief is done, since objections afterwards would be of little avail, and we warn the Government that if such a course is pursued after the great expense which this Province has incurred in order to facilitate the settlement of the West Coast of this Province, upon their heads will lie the blame of having impeded the progress of this city and its adjacent back country in order to please a few men, whose claims are merely those which were admitted by generous conquerors, and who now, believing themselves to be backed and supported by Government, arc endeavouring to accomplish their ends by threats of violence."