The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, WEDNESDAY, 7TH JUNE, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 275, 7 June 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, WEDNESDAY, 7TH JUNE, 1865.

A considerable amount of discrepancy existing in the opinions held by various parties on the subject of the “ plains,” as to the extent of land leased from the natives by the “ twelve” and the rental agreed to he paid, we have taken the trouble to refer to the Civil Commissioner’s return, dated 1864, as supplied to an order of the House of Representatives made July 28th, 1863. With regard to the return itself Mr Whitmore, in a foot note, says . “ This return is entirely compiled from information given to me by settlers, in most cases by the }»ersoas concerned themselves, or by their neighbors ; and so far as the area of the land is concerned, it is impossible to ascertain it until the lands are surveyed. Rents differ so very much that no rule can be deduced from such as have been reported to me; but I believe the gross rental of Maori lands leased to settlers is not less than £12,000 per annum.” With regard to the plains themselves, he'givesusthe names of nine out of the twelve lessees, the others being probably given in another part of the return. He estimates the extent of the land at about 20,000 acres, and tells us that the rental, believed to be paid is £750 per annum. He adds [this is] “ a recent lease, which excited considerable discussion at the time. Previously the land was used very commonly

by the settlers, and the natives complain that they were very irregularly paid for the pasturage of * their* stock ; since sheep have been placed ou the land cattle have been driven away, and this accounts for much of the excitement produced by the lease. It is difficult to see the difference between the pasturage of sheep or cattle, as far as the culpability of the proprietor goes; but it makes a great difference to the natives in point of income, and it is argued that if leased to sheep owners they are not likely to, sell the lands.”

We have given' these remarks in full, as we believe they will be found new to most of our readers. We consider that they were quite uncalled for, but they are at the'same time interesting, as showing the animus of the writer. He does not think the agitation of two years since was owing in any way to an objection on the part of the public to illegal squatting, nor to any desire felt that these plains should be secured by the Government, and reserved for the location of a population; but hints that it was owing to a selfish feeling on the part of the settlers whose cattle were driven away by the sheep. Again, he is unable to see the difference between the accidental wandering of settlers, cattle on to common or waste lands (the true idea of these uanalienated lands) and the direct violation of the law in the leasing them as sheep runs, “ but it makes a great difference to the natives in point of income.” True it does so, and hence the culpability of the lessee, who able enough, knew that it was never the intention of the Government, nor for the public good, that the Maori should derive an income from nnalienated lands-except through the Crown, as this was the especial condition of the original treaty, well known by all the colonists, and indeed the foundation of that truly wise, though but half-enforced measure, the Native Land Purchase Ordinance.

Mr Whitmore proceeds—“ It is argued that if leased to sheep owners they are not likely to sell the land.” Of course not, whether to sheep owners or others. The authorities, by permitting the violation of the law so far as to allow the natives to derive an income by way of lea-e from the waste lands, has thrown the only, and at the same time effectual, obstacle in the way of the acquirement of those lauds by the Crown, and likewise of the advancement of the colony.

The Prince Alfred.— -This steamship left Auckland at 12 noon on Saturday, the 3rd, and arrived at Napier at 11 a.m. on Monday. She brings us our files to the date of her departure : His Excellency was still at Kawau, but the Eclipse was to leave Auckland again for him on Monday. The schooner Kauri and cutter. Lapwing were both to sail for Napier on Saturday. The schooner Lark was loading for Napier at Turanganui. Arrival of the Ladt Bird, —The s.s. Lady Bird, Captain Renner, arrived in the bay at 7 o’clock on Tuesday evening. We have our usual files by her, but must from want of space defer uutil our next issue any extensive extracts from our contemporaries. We do not notice any item of more than ordinary interest:— The telegraph continues to transmit messages between Otago and Canterbury. The p.s. City of Dunedin, it is feared, is totally lost. The p.s. Sandfly had returned from maeing a search for her, but without success. The arrival of the s.s Rangatira from Nelson to Wellington, in reporting that the City of Dunedin had not arrived at Nelson, sufficed to destroy the last hope. Portions of wreck have been found on the coast, but nothing to identify as belonging to the ill-fated vessel. The General Government is sending home for an electric cable ; estimated cost£2o,ooo.