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Life in Early Poverty Bay

Opposition Too Strong

Opposition Too Strong.

But with all this encouragement that he received there was also bitter and continued opposition. Anonymous letters appeared in the papers attacking Mr. Rees and declaring that the writers knew the land in question to be worthless, and that settlers on it would starve. Mr. Rees fought on, believing defeat impossible. But the opposition was too strong and the Government declined to consider the matter further. The blow, coming after the strain and hard work, was very severe, and Mr. Rees looked ten years older on his return to New Zealand in 1889. His own affairs had been neglected (except so far as they were bound up with his work for the community which had failed) and he lost Te Hapara.

Leaving Gisborne and making his home in Auckland, he was returned again to Parliament for his old seat. He was soon chosen as Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. His work in 1891 on the Native Land Laws Commission has been already noticed. In 1892 the “Life and Times of Sir George Grey” was published. This was almost an autobiography, for Mr. Rees and his eldest daughter who collaborated with him, living near Sir George were able to submit each chapter to him for verification or amendment of the facts stated, and to have access to his letters and documents.

The year 1893 found Mr. Rees again engaged in fierce political controversy. He charged Mr. Cadman, the Native Minister, with acquiring lands from Maoris while in office, throwing down a challenge in the House of Representatives that if Mr. Cadman would resign his seat he would do the same and test the feeling of Mr. Cadman's constituents by standing against him in his own electorate. Rees was defeated by a small majority and then had to defend a libel action on his charges. The jury found him technically guilty and assessed the damages at one farthing.

In 1894 he returned to Gisborne and did not leave it again until his death in 1912, except for short periods page 143 and a more extended visit to England to conduct appeals to the Privy Council.