IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 424, 24 May 1902, Page 1

IN THE KING COUNTRY.

MR CARROLL’S GREAT SUCCESS,

| Special to Times. | Auckland, last night. Tho Hon. J. Carroll deserves cou- ’ gratulation on the result of the negotiations with the Waikato natives, allies under Mahuta’s authority, on a difficult question of boundaries in the Waikato , Native Land district. Matters have not yet quite reached a final stage. Mr Carroll accomplished a great deal in inducing the gathering of tribes at Waahi to allow the matters in dispute to bo settled between him and Mahuta jointly. Those who know the Maori fashion of discussing everything in tribal meetings will appreciate the diplomacy and tact displayed by Mr Carroll, resuiting in the people agreeing that Mahuta alone should act for them. One of, the results of Mr.Cdaroli’s negotiations is that he has been promised b'J' Mahuta that the natives of Waikato will accept the new Government legislation, and will proceed to elect their council under the Lands Administration Act, so that any lands not needed for tho people’s actual occupation may be handed over to tho council for administration with the view to European settlement, and the rest set apart for the use of the Maori owners for food cultivation, villages, etc. The election of “ Marae ” Councils, or village boards, will be proceeded with immediately, so that in matters of self government the Waikato will fall into line with other tribes in New Zealand. As to tho disputed boundary lines, which most 'of tho Kingites desire should bo shifted from Puniu and Kawhia away south to Parihinihi (the White Cliff's) in Taranaki, and thence across tho island to Tauranga, it is confidently expected that the line will bo run as Mahuta and Mr Carroll agree, which wffl satisfy both sides, and appease Waikato, while not injuring the large landowners in the Ngatimaniapoto country. Tho Kingite people desire to have the Kawhia territory and also the Itaugitoto block in the territory of the King Country put into the Waikato Council’s district. This will bo one of the details to be discussed between Mahuta and Carroll in town to morrow with tho survey maps of tho district before them. The obstructive party in the King Country and in Waikato are on the whole not the large landowners. The latter are naturally anxious to have their lands operated on by Councils, and opened for European settlement.

Mr Carroll succeeded in establishing most friendly feeling as between himself anil thoso of the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto natives who have hitherto systematically upheld tho Maori kingship and maintained a front against Government measures which did not exactly meet their wishes. In this respect his mission to the Waikato has resulted in .the establishment of a position which no previous Native Minister could boast of. The Waikato people are very proud of their position as a tribe. Waikatos are not influential in the sense of being large landowners. They lost most of their patrimony in the Waikato war. The lands they claim in tho Rohepotao are chiefly gifts from their old allies, the Ngatimaniapotos,

Mr Carroll and tbo Ngatimaniapoto landowners consider it wise to confine the Waikatos to the limits of their own lands. There will have to be a certain amount of give and take on both sides. The indications are that a mutually satisfactory ending of the trouble will he arrived at, and that Waikatos will now”eomplcte the one gap in the “ circle of the tribes,” as the Native Minister put it, and utilise their lands to the best alvantage. As to Mahuta’s future political position more will doubtless be heard shortly. At Waahi this week Mr Carroll asked the people to leave their chi d Mahuta to him, so that he might exalt him in a manner befitting his rank. This was variously interpreted by the people present to mean anything from a “ Kingship ” down to an M.L.C.-ship. No doubt Mr Carroll in this indicated his renewal of the offer of a seat' in the Upper House to Mahuta. Should it be accepted it would undoubtedly give satisfaction to both Europeans and Maoris, except to the oldfashioned nativo faction who still hail Tawhiao’s son as “ king.” Mr Carroll and Mahuta will arrive in town this evening, and confer to-morrow on the boundary question. Mr Carroll spent last night at Otorolianga, addressing the principal Maniapoto natives on land and local self-govern-ment matters, and was to be joined on his way to town at Huntly by Mahuta and one or two of his ohiefs.