The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1882.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3564, 11 December 1882, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1882.

It is expected that the Hon. Mr Bryce will be in the neighborhood of Taupo thia week to settle if possible the long outstanding dispute relating to tbe occupation of the Murimotu country. This dispute is one of the out-comes of the policy of 1874, when the Government established a system ot leasing native lands for the purpose of settlement. The poli'jy was a failure. The history of the Murimotu difficulty was fairly stated by Mr Bryce when moving the second reading of the Rangipo-Murimotu Agreement Validation Bill last session. The Native Minister said:—ln 1872-73 certain private parties were in negotiation with tbe reputed owners of the land on the western side of Lake Taupo for the lease of a large block. The Provincial Government of Wellington at that time had an interest not only in the settlement ot the land, but also in the land revenue. Consequently the Provincial Government —as I think very foolishly, and, I might almost say, very improperly — sent up parties to negotiate as against the private individuals who were in treaty with the Maoris, and complications of a highly disagreeable character arose, and it became pretty evident that, what with the contending offers to the Maoris, and the suspicions instilled in their mind by both sides, there was little chance of anything being done. That being so, the then Native Minister, Sir Donald McLean, became convinced that it would be conducive to the settlement of tbe country to enter into Maori leases; and, knowing the disagreeable complications that were arising in that country, he, arranged a meeting between the private parties, and provincial authorities, and himself with a view of coining to terms. The terms arranged were these : that the private individuals who were in treaty with the Maoris should retire from their attempt to get the land, and that the Government should obtain a lease from the Maoris. After having got that lease, the Government would in turn lease tho land to the private individuals for tourteen years, retaining power to keep 25 per cent., of it for settlement purposes. I think the whole thing way a very foolish proceeding, and that no permanent good to the country was likely to accrue from it. However, that was the arrangement, subject of course to the approval of Parliament, and the private individuals maintain that the Government should, in accordance with the agreement, try to get the lease, and induce Parliament to complete tbe transaction. Matters drifted on, and there appeared very little probability of getting this lease completed. Then applications were made by tbe Maoris to the Native Land Court to ascertain the title to tbe land, and at last the case was brought before the Court. There were great difficulties in the way, which I need not enter into, in the chape of obstructed survey, and so on ; but at last the matter was brought before the Court, the title was ascertained, and tho order made. Then an application was jpade for rehearing, and just before the

House met this session the ease was determined at Wanganui. Since that the lease has been largely signed by the native owners, although there are still a considerable number of them who have not signed. Should this Bill pass, the process will be that the remaining owners will be invited to sign the lease. If they should do so well and good ; if they should not, then applcation will be made to the Native Land Court to determine the Crown's interest under the lease, and the interest of those who have leased to the Government will be separated from the interest of those who have refused to lease. I have endeavoured to make it clear as far as I have gone, and I would only point out that, supposing this agreement with the company is not carried out, that would leave tbe lease to the Government; but I do not think it would be of much use to the Government. It is not land that is adapted for agricultural settlement. It is what might bo called in the North Island third-class pastoral land, or what would perhaps be called in tbe South Island second class pastoral land. Speaking generally, and more especially with regard to this land, I think the Government cannot hope to do anything in the way of settlement by keeping these lands.