LEASING THE AHURIRI PLAINS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 36, 6 March 1862, Page 2

LEASING THE AHURIRI PLAINS.

On Friday evening the 28th nit., a meeting was held in the Council Chambers, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Committee appointed, and to prepare an address to His Excellency to request his support and cooperation on the above important subject. The meeting was well attended, and would undoubtedly have been much larger, but for the knowledge that his Excellency's visit, immediately expected, could not take place. Mr. Buchanan rose to propose a chairman. He did so with regret, not that it would not now be as worthily filled, but that the Super-

intcndont. who appeared to Lo the mere functionary of the General Government, had at ‘ the last inoineut refused to act. He would propose that Mr Triphook take the chair. Mr. Tkii-iiook, having taken the chair, proceeded to read the advertisement convening the meeting. He would have liked to have seen the chair more worthily filled hy the Superintendent.

Mr. r. H. I iT/ciKKALD would not occupy the time of the meeting with many ye ip arks, hut would proceed at once to read the which had heeu postponed indefinitely. He was sorry that the meeting was not a fuller one, hut the intelligence so generally known, that the expected visit of Sir G. Grey \youKT • not take place, would account for the meeting not being larger. He then read the. following report— Your Committee, iu entering on the performance of the duties devolving on them had to regret that a scries of mischances prevented Uicm from having an interview with the hon. C. Ward, previous lo his departure for Auckland. They were gratified to learn, however, from 'communications made by that gentleman to one of their number—first,' that the misunderstanding that Mr. Ward appeared to labor under in reference to the views and wishes of the settlers at the public meeting on the 15th ult., had been removed; secondly, that Mr. Ward concurred in the propriety of taking some imme-. diate steps to open negotiations with'the natives ■ so as to prevent, it possible, for the moment, any further alienation of their agricultural lands, on the express and dist inct understanding that nothin" would be concluded, or no money paid or oconpin tion taken till the natives .had accepted the new form of government offered them, and the whole matter was approved in form by the legally constituted Ennanga with a liislrict Committee at its head. After the departure of the lion. Mr. Ward, your Committee lost no time in ascertaining the quantity of available agricntnral land on the Ahuriri plains and their borders, still iu the hands of the natives. They found t hem to amount in area, in round numbers to about 100,000 acres, including a small proportion of hill land that could not well be dissevered from them, about 75,000 acres being of the richest and most fertile description. Your Committee then deemed Unit the best and most straightforward course they could adopt was to address the native owners plainly and openly, pointing out to them what thoy desired from them, and tlio advantage to he derived on both sides by the of a regular plan of settlement of such lands as the natives did not require for their own use, and proposed in a letter to the chiefs already before the 1 üblic, a scale of Eatcs lor rent being in general Is. Gd., 25., and 2s. Gd. per acre, for cadi period of seven years during the currency of a 21 years lease, with a danse protecting the tenant in his improvements, or providing for a continuance of the lease at anjncrcase of Gd. '[.)■ acre for cadi additional period of 7 years. Your,committee believe these rates to be calculated on a fair, yet liberal scale, and that, no doubt can exist but’that they would bo the means of attracting quickly to the place a large population of working settlers, in case the natives n ere found to agree to them. T our committee did not attempt to direct, their attention to the construction of any rules or regulations under which lands so acquired should bo occupied, as thoy considered it would bo premature previous to the acquisition of the land itself, and that such a duty would more properly devolve on the Superintendent and our representatives in the Provincial Council, seeing that the provincial government would necessarily have to guarantee expenses of management, and the regular payment of the rent; but your committee have all along presumed that in those regulations there would, as a matter of course, bo a residentiary and improvement clause, and that, a fair limit should he put to the number v of acres to be held by any one person so as to shut out ■ speculators and provide encouragement hy every lawful means, for the residence of the working classes and actual occupiers. Your committee addressed a letter also to the natives about the Whiroa and the nor£hcrn*division of the Pro-vmcc on the same subject of the occupation of waste agricultural lands. As your committee consider the M airoa district, well supplied as it is with excellent timber, to be particidarly favorable to the occupation of that class of the community who possess no other capital than their own labor, and who, in that district, could not fail to succeed well if steady and industrious by saw- * ing timber during a portion of their time, and shippmg it to the Ampler market; They have not, as yet, received replies to cither letters, nor can thev look for definite answers for some time to come, ns the magnitude of the subject appears to he fully understood by the natives, who doubtless desire to reflect carefully on it, before committing themselves to any particular-course. l our committee believe, however, that the stops they have taken, have been attended with a good result in the causing of all negotiations for the further alienation of the agricultural lands of die province by way of lease to ho suspended. They regret that they cannot shut their eyes to the i fact that their aims and endeavors appear to have been, in many cases much misrepresented to the natives, probably by designing parties desirous of treating with them on their own separate account.

Your committee have good reason to believe that had his Excellency Sir G, Grey boon able to accomplish his intention of visiting this plncc at. uio present jiuici lire, as up to the rccept of Hie in- ? telligence this evening, they hoped he would do, J they would have found little difficulty in obtain- | . ing a considerable tract of the Ahuriri plains for I * the occupation of the settlers by way of lease from the native owners were he disposed to forward their views, as from his former constant and wellknown anxious desire at all times to benefit the working classes in i\*cw Zealand, they cannot doubt ho would most gladly do. Your committee would, however, respectfully recommend that, as his Ex- A Eccllcucy’s visit had been unavoidably deferred, % the opportunity be taken of the lion. Mr. Eox’s i present visit to transmit through him a memorial h to h " Excellency on this all important subject, and

that Mv. Fox himself be asked to use the influence of his government to bring the matter to a successful termination, which would entitle him and the ministry of which he is the head to the lasting gratitude of Hawke’s Bay, and doubtless the good will and support of its representatives. _ Your committee deeply regret that their communication with the local government has not been of that satisfactory nature that the presence of Lis honor the Superintendent in the chair on the meeting on the 15th January, and his opening speech naturally led them to hope for, and they have been much disappointed at his Honor’s withdrawal from a movement which he at first headed, and which, as the chief magistrate of this Province, and considering its all important bearing on its prosperity and advancement, they think he ought still to head, especially as they find the ground of his honor’s withdrawal, alleged to be a fear of acting in opposition to the wishes of the hon. Mr. Ward and the general government, which, after the explanation given by Mr. Ward, your committee cannot think is a good one, particularly coming from the elected head of a Province, wholly independent of that government of which Mr. Ward was but a single member.

Your committee have further to regret that although an application was made by his honor the Superintendent to know how far the Provincial government would be ready to give the necessary guarautee for rent and expenses, if Sir G. Grey fwhose arrival was then looked for) could succeed in negoeiating with the natives for theland so much desired—that a reply was put olf—purposely, it would appear, till Saturday, Ist prox., when it would be too late for the purposes of this meeting of to-morrow, then deemed to bo of such consequence, owing to the hourly expected arrival of his excellency. In conclusion, your committee would recommend the immediate formation of an association to watch over the general interests of the working classes, and of those of the community interested in the regular and systematic occupation of the waste agricultural lands of the natives, whose business it would be by acting on their representatives in council by using every other legitimate means in their power to protect and advance the welfare of those very important, though hitherto neglected classes of the Province. Signed on behalf of the Committee, David E, Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay moved that the report he adopted: Seconded by Mr. Stevens, and carried.

Mr. Muxn spoke in condemnation of native leases; they were founded on a rotten basis. He thought they were going the wrong way to work altogether. He would put it to any one of the meeting, that supposing the natives agreed to give up 10 acres of their land, whether on such faith any one would fence it in.

Mr. Btjchaxax, before reading the subjoined address, observed that he should not move its adoption. He would leave it with the meeting. The community here was so small that the number of-■•signatures the address would receive, would be the best test as to whether it expressed the popular feeling or not.

The address, Avhich was moved by MivT. H. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. France, and carried, was as folloAvs ;

To ms Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Govcrnor-in-chicf of How Zealand, &c., &c. May it please your Excellency— Wo, the undersigned, Settlors of Hawke’s Bay, feel anxious to convey to your Excllency an expression of our disappointment by the unavoidable postponement of your Excellency’s visit to tliia province.

It was our wish to give personal utterance to the pleasure afforded us by your Excellency’s assumption of the government of these Islands at a juncture when the material interests of the colonists were iu such great jeopardy; and though, for the present, this hope cannot be realized, wo shall remain in anxious expectation of the time when it will be in our power to prove that we are not unmindful either of the sacrifice which the removal from awidcr, if not a more useful sphere of action, has ednailed upon your Excellency ; or of your instant readiness to incur that sacrifice at yoiir Sovereign’s command, influenced as wo believe it in part, at least, to have been, by a lingering feeling of affection for a colony whoso early prospects you had long anxiously watched over and promoted. We also desire te assure your Excellency that it is our earnest wish to aid, to the full extent of our respective influences in the endeavors now being made to restore amity and confidence between the European a nd aboriginal races inhabiting these islands; by a steady submission to, and acquicscicncc iu, the laws that at present govern the relations between those races. We moreover fed convinced that whatever new regulations your Excellency as the chief authority iu native questions may think fit to establish, will, be devised in a spirit of equity and justice to the British-born as well as to the Maori subject. While wc deplore the general stoppage of progress in wealth and prosperity that this Province suffers under in consequence of the apparently unalterable determination of the Maori race to sell no more of the waste lands in their possession, wc bog respectfully to solicit your Excellency’s kind intervention in obtaining from the tribes in the vicinity of such tracts of the valuable agricultural lauds adjoining Napier, as it is understood they arc disposed to treat for under lease to your Excellency.

Your Excellency is acquainted with the fertility of these lands ; and (from theii immediate proximity to the port) their surpassing suitability for agricultural purposes, renders it unnecessary to comment on the Invigorating influence which their occupation by an industrial population woidd effect.

In submitting for your Excellency’s consideration the mode of alienation herein suggested, we especially desire to guard ourselves from the imputation of striving to run counter to the arrangements initiated in this Province in regard to laud

transactions with the aboriginal population. We wish to support both the laws and your Excellency s endeavors ; and in whatever steps wo have hitherto taken on this subject, sight has never been lost of the fact that our solo hope of ultimate success lies in your Excellency’s cooperation. We are quite conscious that the title under which we seek to hold is not so attractive generally to the public mind as a possession in fee simple would bo. The latter form of tenure being no longer procurable, overtures to the former in the hope of its affording a partial alleviation of the difficulties engendered by the locking-up of lands ready for instant tillage, and from which a remunerative return m’ght bo obtained at a minimum expense; and wo trust to Providence, time, and the future enlightenment of the native mind, that will thence ensue, for their complete removal. Mr. T. H. Fitzgerald observed that the address passed at a former meeting was now inapplicable. Sir G. Grey could not visit us in consequence of only one war steamer being available, and it was not thought prudent for it to leave the Auckland waters. The Waikatos, fully armed, were in close proximity to the soldiers, and as it was impossible to tell what might occur, Sir G. Grey did not think it prudent to be too long absent from Auckland. He bad, through Mr. Fox, expressed bis great regret that he could not come, and but for this disappointment, he (Mr. Fitzgerald) was sure the room would have been overflowing. There was only now one of the resolutions unfulfilled. This was an association proposed to be formed. They eouhl see the difficulties existing between the Government and the natives. It was necessary to agitate the subject to prevent its being forgotten, or to sec the land occupied in a manner they should regret. The people had a claim that it should be agriculturally occupied. He need not say that the plan of leasing native lands was not new. It was agreed upon at a former meeting. The formation of an association was the more necessary because the Superintendent and bis Executive, who were so ardent to promote the scheme, bad now lost a ll interest in the matter. There are none of them hero to-night. They were afraid of Mr. Fox. (Interruption.) Mr. Tucker : No, no. Confine yourself to facts. Mr. Buchanan : Facts speak for themselves. Mr. Tucker : Facts speak the truth. Mr. Fitzgerald continued : The Provincial Government might have plenty of money hut it was impossible to keep men always employed. The Government could not keep men fully employed during the wet weather in winter, ami the consequence was the people went away because there was nothing for them to do. The result of leasing the native lands would he to produce agricultural employment for the people. Nothing could he done Avithout money, and in order to meet the incidental expenses, such as printing, Ac., it Avas proposed that members of the association should pay a small annual subscription of 10s. He asked the meeting to approA'G of these resolutions, and he did so from a firm conviction that in time the business would he settled, and that the fine lands in this place Avould not he long unoccupied ; not, he feared, Avithout a good deal of Woodshed. He did not think the natives could he brought to reason Avithout a contest; hut that, he hoped, would he confined to the North, and would not have to he decided here. He had not any doubt about the scheme of leasing answering. As an instance, a gentleman had informed him that he had leased 200 acres of land at ss. and 10s. in Canterbury, and had made it ans Aver, and it Avas very likely he might he tempted to come here d the leasing of the lands Avas effected. Ho concluded by moving the folloAving resolutions: — That an Association be formed for the promotion of the regular and systematic settlement of the waste agrxcvdtural land in the Province still in the hands of the natives, to be called “ The Ahuriri Agricv’tural and working men’s Association.”

That ah residents within the Province, paying a yearly subscription of ten slh I,: ngs towards the expenses of the Association be eligible as members. That the members of the late committee whoso report has been just adopted bo original members of the association and the committee to draw up rules and regulations for its conduct. That Mr. W. Miller be appointed convener of committee and association.

Mr. Tucker said that h : s presence there that evening was the result of accident. He rose to make a few observations, as lie could not sit down and hear imputations thrown upon the Superintendent and his Executive when there was none of them present to reply. It was a stab in the dark, and exceedingly ungenerous coming from one whoso past official conduct was not without reproach. He believed that cveiy man wished to see the Ahuriri plains occupied (cheers), and would like to see them occupied for agricultural purposes ; hut he foresaw nothing hut difficulty until a better understanding was effected between the natives cul the Government. He believed that the

Provincial Government would lie placed in a false position by becoming the lessees of native land. It might with more propriety be leased by private people. Mr. T. 11. Fitzgerald explained that the reason he had said that the Provincial Government had been throwing cold water on the scheme was, because the committee had waited upon the Superintendent, and asked him to become the lessee of the native lands, who would then be able to re-lease them to persons wishful to occupy them. They wished his Honor and his Executive to agree to pay the expenses of the survey and guarantee the rent. He thought there would be no difficulty in thus getting the money advanced until it could be again obtained from the people. The committee required an answer before the meeting held here to-night. The question was no new one. The Superintendent’s excuse was, that Mr. Alexander (one of the Executive) had to go to the native feast, and he con'd not then give an answer. The fact was, it was a shuffle out, for what was the use of an answer and after the meeting had been held this evening, after designedly putting it off ? The truth was that the members of the Council could only bo brought to interest themselves by the pressure of public opinion, which the committee were desirous of bringing upon them. Mr. Tucker could not see the force of the argument that Mr. Alexander being away shoo'd be the reason of the Superim tendent’s not deciding. He (Mr. Tucker) thought it better before deciding to wait until the Council met. Hut Mr. Fitzgerald was an autocrat.—[Mr. Fitzgerald : No.] He (Mr. T.) would not say, that in the many wild schemes of the late Superintendent, that that gentleman had not thought for the best. He must do him that justice. Captain Carter was elected by the people (Cries of “ No, no,); he was elected by the Council, and indirectly by the people, and he believed that if the people had had a direct vote the present Superintendent would have been elected. The Superintendent felt his responsibility, and hesitated to act without tjie opinion of the Council. He (Mr. T.) could not see the conclusion that because the Superintendent had seen Mr. Fox that morning that his (the Superintendent’s) reply was influenced by that interview. He thought that too much distinction was made between the town and country interests. He considered they were nearly identical. They might have a little jar occasionally, especially as wool was down and trade dull, but they were in fact all polling the same way. This was not a time for the execution of wild schemes, when the Provincial chest was low and economy so much required.

The resolutions were seconded by Mr. J. Begg, put to the meeting, and negatived. Sir. J. Hakdixo, in moving the following resolution, observed that he saw but one older settler in the room than himself; there might be some, but he did not see them. Much had been said that night about working men ; it had been a good deal worked upon. It was a term that he hated, for it was used by demagogues at home, and it was used by people here for particular purposes (interruption). He had not lived 20 years in New Zealand and kept his ■ eyes shut, and he must say that he never saw anything so calculated to mislead as the letter of his friend Mr. T. H. Fitzgerald. He did not think that any Briton could have penned such a document. As long as people had not occupied native land, the natives had been willing to sell. Donald McLean, the great gun, had been occupying a certain portion of native land for the last 3 years, and previously to this the natives were willing to sell it. If the great ones break the law, why should not they ? Donald McLean was not the only law breaker ; Captain Newman, Messrs. Ormond, P. Russell, G. S. Cooper, and others, occupied native land. If the J.lVs break the law, how can the natives respect it ? He would here correct a report that had appeared in the Times. The money claimed by the natives from him was not for the grass his bullocks had eaten, but for grass it was supposed they would eat I It was believed that, supposing the native land were leased, that numbers of people would come from Otago. He did not believe this* as he was convinced that no one would come to be the tenant of a Maori landlord. He therefore moved — That this meeting is of opinion that there can be no hope of a satisfactory state of the relations between the two races, European and native, unt'l the natives are brought to see that British Law mnst be respected and obeyed, which this meeting considers the policy of his Excellency, so far as it has up to this period been developed, has not tended to effect: nor can the native race be brought to respect British Law, whde they sec Europeans violating it with impunity. Thismccting, therefore, desires to express its conviction that all attempts to effect a more satisfactory state of affairs w’:'lfr’l until ah those in the jl’evl oreuwf‘on

of native lands are ejected, and punished according to law. Mr. P. Seakles seconded the motion. The Chairman was about to put the motion. Mr. T. H. Fitzgerald said he wished to make a few remarks before tlxe chairman submitted the resolution to the meeting. He would ask if anything could be more absurd and ridiculous than to censure Sir G. Grey by passing such a "Why, his policy was not even known. All that we knew of it was what had been published in the columns of a newspaper. He really hoped the meeting 'would look upon this as a serious matter, and that nothing so ridiculous w’ould be committed as to puss a resolution so entirely contradictory to the one that had already been carried. He would, therefore, move— That the resolution of Mr. Harding he consider ed this day 6 months. Mr- Buchaxax observed that the subject of the illegal occupation of native lands had been mentioned to Mm Fox this moinimr, and that Mr. Fox replied that it was not his fault that the transgressors -were not punished. He hoped Mr. Hard-'nv’s good sense would cause him to withdraw Ins resolution. Mu. T. B. H.v rdi xg would not detain the meeting five minutes, but must crave its indulgence while he made a few r remarks in reply to what had fallen from Mr. Buchanan. That gentleman had said, because the squatting system had existed under the late Governor and the late ministry, the present Governor and ministry were not to be held responsible for its evils, which -would not have been permitted bad they been in power. He, (Mr. H.) begged to differ. When Sir Geo. Grey arrived amongst us, and found the laud regulations (which it should he remembered were his own, introduced dining his previous administration in the Colony) violated to the great extent they were with impunity, his tine course was clear—to show the natives his determination to uphold and enforce the law, by first of a” bringing it to hear upon the illegal holders of native lands, ejecting them fiom their lauds, and inflicting the proper penalties. Had such a course been pursued the greatest benefits would have resisted to the colony; the native race seeing the law r enforced against the European wmuhl have learned to respect it. They wonhl have been deprived of the revenues they derived from the squatter, and their lauds speeddy offered to the Government for sale, in short, the land question w-ou.ld have been in the same state as it was at the time of his departure. He. (Mr H.) thought it w r as the duty of tHs meeting to'place upon record its condemnation of Sir Geo. Grey's policy, and should he arrive amongst us as was expected, to show him that it was utterly and entirely disapproved of by the settlers of Hawke’s Bay. Mv. Tucker observed that there was a great deal in Mr. Harding's resolution hi winch all could agree in. He believed that the leasing of native land wound u’thnately tend to their being acquired by the Grown, and he considered also that the illegal occupancy of native land had been winked at, because the law was iuopperative. He agreed with Mr. Fitzgerald to pass the resolutions just read-would hut he hlowmg hot and cold. This was probably the last opportunity he would have of addressing them, as he was on the eve of departing for England. He regretted to observe a growing antagonistic feeling between tbe town and country settlers. He asked if their interests were not bound up together; could one advance without the other ? He hoped these differences wouhl be forgotten, and that in uT discussions in the Council, he trusted that the members would not look as to whether measures were introduced by tovn or country representatives, but wmuld consider wdiat would most advance the interests of the province at large. Mr. Begg spoke amidst great interruption. Tbe disturbance was so geat that to take notes of His remarks was impossible. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tbe business of tlie evening.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 4th February, 1862. It is hereby notified that the Native Title Las been extinguished over the block of land whereof the boundaries are mentioned or described in the schedule hereunto annexed, Wiliaaiu Fox. Provjxce of Hawke’s Bay. Clive District. Wa .‘UreivU Block. Bounded on the North and East by the embouchure of tlie Ngauiroro and Tukituki rivers : on the South by a hue imming from "Waipureku, on tbe last mentioned river, to the top of Makaramu, and thence to Waitukukaha, on the Whakamarino river ; and on the West and North-West by the Whakamarno to its jnnc : ou vGlh the Ngmuroro.