THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1578, 11 March 1879, Page 3

THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

[Press B|>cci»l Wire.] [by SPECIAL BEPOETKK TO PBKB3 AGENCY.] Hawkea, March 10. £SOOO was about the sura the Natives obtained from the sale of grass seed grown on the Waimate Plains and gathered this year. This will show how strong are the reasons for the discontent which exists among tho Natives at seeing the survey of these plains progressing. They know that the inevitable day of alienation is fust drawing nigh, A disy.ufe has arisen about this grass seed. The Maoris

say tlat early in the season they contracted i with a local firm to take all the produce of the plains at 5d per ]h , but as later on grass seed , 'fell, the firm would only pay 4d. The M toris, headed by iito Kowaru, have resolved to take the matter into Court. There are four survey parties at work on the Plains, and from twenty to twenty-five thousand acres have been surveyed into blocks of fifty acres, and ranging up to 320 The fifty acre blocks are to be put up on the deferred payment system. The surveyors report the land as being of uniformly excellent quality throughout. At the back there is found to be far more open land than was anticipated; in fact, save to the Natives inland, the territory is absolutely unknown. Very varied are the eel imates as to the price the land will fetch, the lowest overage being £6, and the highest £ls. The question of reserves has not yet been dealt with. The Natives refuse to have anything to do with them. The Government having in their opinion taken the land wrongfully, they say that on them (the Government) shall rest the responsibility of making reserves. There is deep though unmanifested anxiety on the subject among the Natives. Yaguo rumors have been current among thorn that Te Whiti was going to do something for tho conservation of their lands. However, the peaceful occupation of the plains by European settlors may be regarded as certain, and the population this land will carry and the impetus thus given to the settlement of the Coast will form an epoch in out Northern settlements. There are forty-five men, all told, in Waihi redoubt* and ten at Opunahe. Waihi is not garrisoned as it should be were there any fears of an emeute , for it would take at least double the number to hold the post were an attack made on it, and the ammunition it contains would be a fine prize for any belligerents, Tho garrison has recently been increased from twenty-two to forty-four. Above Opunake, between Te Namu and Whitiana, a person called Stevens, of Rangitikei, is trying to lease from the Natives a block of land some 15,000 acres in extent. This is in tho direction of Parihaka settlement. It appears that the late Government promised Win. Kingi, of NgatiruanUi (not Wm, King, of Waitara), a reserve for himself and his people in this locality of 15,000 acres. The surveyors on the plain having nearly reached Oeo, the site of this promised reserve has to be determined, and so Stevens has gone north to see what terms ns to leasing he can make with the Native owners, taking an interpreter and lawyer with him. An aged Native here suggested that the Government would only act the good part if it were to supervise for the Native people all such leases and covenants as may be entered into between the two races. Wi Parata, with some four or five of bis family, is at Hone Petama’s place, en route for Parihaka.