Mr Rees in Auckland.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 537, 27 November 1890, Page 2

Mr Rees in Auckland.

PUBLIC CHALLENGE. THE GOVERNMENT EXPOSED. (SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD.) Auckland, last nigh’. Mr Rees spoke at Eden Hall last night, attacking Mr Mitchelson’s railway management. He was taken to account for thp East Coast Native Land business. Mr Ewington said, as Native Minister, Mr Mitchelson had been obliged to stand between Mr Rees and the poor natives in connection with the East Coast Land Company. / The poor natives had quitted their hrtod, • and had received nothing for it. The people who had bought land now ran their sheep on it, and so did natives, and there were continual conflicts between the two parties. He called on Mr Rees to explain. Mr Hees said Mr Ewington was there as Mr Mitohekon’s champion. He would challenge Mr Ewington, Mr Mitchelson, and the WlftrtStcrowd to meet him and he would undertake to show that this East Coast land swindle was the greatest blot on Mr Mitohn.’rm's Government of anything they had ever flonr. The natives had assigned their lands to a Company to get tjrem settled, Govammatt opposed the Company’s attempts"to settle the land. When the natives wereseriouely involved he (Mr Rees) went to England with a native chief to get help, but Mr Miteheleonts Government sent a telegram to the Home Government, which was published all over the country under the heading •• Mr Rees’ scheme deneuroed by his own Government.” On Lord Knutsford’s advice he sent his correspondence and proposal through the Colimial Office to the Government of this colony, but instead of the latter’s replying through the same channel, Sir H. Atkinson 'eent the Speaker a private telegram, which was not worth a snap of the fingers. Thun the Marquis of Lome, Lord Aberdeen, and_such men advised him to go back to Naw Zealand and see Government. Sir H. Atkinson told him during the interview they had that Government would help him, bnt he had not got 6d out of it. Instead, he bad been obliged to pay £1.400. Mr E wiogton : It’s t not true. Mr Reas: It's not" untrue, and ynu knAw it. Will you JOSO to the Hospital if it’s true ? Mr Ewington : Yes. Mr Rees then said: " Hare's %. fair thing ; then, 111 give £5O if I'm wrong, and Mr Ewington will give £5O it ha's wrong.” Mr Rees said certain bills endorsed by Mr G. M. Raed to B. Russell -were not P«H at maturity, and Mr Russell handoi over there bills to Mr Ewington for collection, Mr Ewington: It’s not true 1 Mrßses, confirming, said the East Coast Native Land Company had forcid him into the Banltruptcy Court, with debts ot about £3,000, most of which ha had since paid Out Ttt his own labor. The Minister had asked bint to make a fuss, aud he eatd all be wanted was to tee that rhe natives did not lore thsie laode, In the Bank of New Zealand, in Auckland, Messrs Mitohe son and MwfaA and the speaker had sketched out the terms' on which sorae of the stocks ware to be taken over. Mr Mitchelson went to Wellington, and telegraphed that kt a full Cabinet meefrog the Ministry had deciled to take over thp lands it the Minister of Lande thought them • valuable. The Minister of Lands bad vI«M the district, and snid that ho had never seen better land, but then the Ministry threw 4h« speaker and the natives over. He would have the East Coast land question out, they might depend. Mr Mitchelsnn would not thank Mr Ewington for that night's work. He wontd put a public challenge In the newspapers to Mr Mitchelsnn, tn meet him here in.AuSh^ - land, As a result ot the controversy the following advertisement appears in this evening's issue of tbe Stgr: “In onneeqnenpe of the statements publicly made, interring that my proceedings in connection with tbs East Coast Land Company were improper, I shall give a public explanation of the whole matter, including the action taken by the Government, and invite Mr Mitchelson or any other member of the Government to be pre, sent at such meeting. Due notice of plane and time of meeting will be given.—W. L. Rees.”