392 TUTIRA 



another litigant in a more celebrated case l when my adversaries' 

 adviser from time to time had the audacity to wish good - morning to 

 my people. 



I was not destined, however, to perish in the supple-jack entangle- 

 ments of the law. Unknown to me, out of Court, a life-long friend, 

 who, by all the laws and rules of human nature should not have 

 interfered, did so on my behalf. By his interposition and influence 

 further interference with my affairs was barred. The appeal to the 

 Privy Council never came off; the Ikaroa District Land Board signed 

 the lease. 



With the settlement of the trouble both the writer and the 

 natives were satisfied. The former was pleased at any cost to have 

 the matter definitely done with, to be free once again to improve ; 

 the latter had enjoyed a really excellent run for their money. 

 Deputations had been again and again down to Wellington in con- 

 nection with the matter. Members of the Lower House had been 

 snowed under with pamphlets and counter-pamphlets. Native members 

 had been consulted ; sheets of oratory had been distributed broadcast. 

 The mana of Tutira had been raised high above all other lands in 

 the district ; all knew of its name and fame ; that beloved bit of 

 land, its beautiful lake and ancient legends, had enjoyed its rights. So 

 stimulating, indeed, and diverting had been the litigation to my 

 native friends, that in all goodwill and gravity several of them 

 were astonished at my demurring to pay legal costs for both sides. 

 Why, I had won the case ! Was it not natural, therefore, that I 

 should pay? With childish frank - heartedness I was congratulated 

 by my opponents on their defeat. I suppose what is inconceivable 

 to one race of men may seem to another the baldest matter of fact. 

 Almost without exception the native's house is built and his crops 

 grown on communal land. Because there is ample room for each 

 and all, trouble regarding these plots is practically unknown. It is 

 impossible for the easy-going, simple-living Maori to comprehend the 

 white man's need of finality, his mania for "improvements." Why 

 could not the pakeha be content to live without a lease ? They 

 themselves possessed no leases. Why this extreme anxiety for the 

 destruction of fern and manuka? It was excellent cover for pig, an 

 animal favoured by the natives far above mutton. Perhaps the 



1 Hard ell v. Pickwick. 



