The Native Commission.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 466, 12 June 1890, Page 3

The Native Commission.

The Gisborne correspondent of the Napier News pays a good deal of attention to the working of the Native Laud Commission, and we extract from his letter the following comments The adverse comments made concerning the working of the commission seem to have produced a good effect—indeed the tendency now appears to be too much the other way, and the commission has been so considerate to the natives that there is the faintest suspicion that the latter are now inclined to play with it, the irrepressible Sydney Taiwhanga being as active in the matter as a frisky kitten

As the Commission now takes its place in New Zealand history, a short description of it may be interesting. It is held in a cosy little building known as Whinray’s Hall. One feature that strikes a visitor is the intelligent type of natives assembled, dogs and fleas, which usually predominate in Courts of the kind, seem to have no existence in this model Court. The greatest nuisance is the noise which the natives make troopin and out. Some ins. inct seems to guide them as to when the proceedings are likely to be important or the reverse; they are always present in force when any remarks concerning them are being made from the. and only two or three are left when a prosy witness comes on, but those two or three pay the closest attention to the proceedings and report to their fellows at a later stage. . . . The Court is very good tempered towards the natives. Judge Edwards takes everything very smoothly, until there is a necessity to frown, and then he does it with a great effect, patting fear into the hear's of the natives. Mr Cpmmiesioner Ormsby remains all through * as solemn as a judge,’ and doesn't seem tn have the faintest conception of a joke. Judge Edwards appears to have made himself far more popular, and at the same time reverently respected by the natives, thau has Mr Ormsby. Both commissioners take full notes, and directly Mr Ormsby himself speaks he seems a changed man, there being on his countenance a gleam of intelligence which shines whet, he becomes eloquent in his own tongue. Lieut,-Colonel Porter, as interpreter, has given much dissatisfaction to the natives, He was at one time engagrd as agent in connection with the Tokomaru block, and the natives naturally think that this having been so must make him prejudiced against th j m. An informal objection was made in Court. It was read out in Maori, but when His Honor heard what was coming in English he would not let it be read. Still this did not satisfy a reporter, who either knew or took the trouble to And out the meaning of the document. Mr Ormsby, speaking in Maori, assured the natives that the intrepreter was only a part of the ordinaiy machinery, and so far his interpretations, which he had paid close atten lion to, bad been very fairly done. On that score there seems to be no cause whatever for (complaint. Mr Wilson, the Clerk of the Commission, is quite a young man with quite a cosy, rosy billet, having little to do beyond supporting the dignity of the commission, and announcing the opening and closing of the i Court, There is a goad deal of humor in I the proceedings, and Mr Wilson enjoys it > immtiMeljh as his radiant stnilu tsetil;,