THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1905. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 196, 10 February 1905, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1905. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Wk are pleased to be able to announce the fact that the telegram despatched at our suggestion to the Hon. James Cartoll, Native Minister, asking him to visit Kawhia shortly has had good effect, as the following wire, received by us on Saturday from Mr H. J Greenslade, will show'• Hon. Carroll decided to visit Kawhia. Date not definitely nettled." With the exception of a fow hours spent here in the company o! Lord Ranfurly and suite ebout seven yean ago, when Kawhia was little mon than a Maori kainga, thia is virtually the first visit of the Native Minister to the town and district of Kawhia. Seeing the position he bolds, and bow the whole of this valuable district is situated rela* five to Native matters, it behoves the residents of thin community to bestir themselves and decide the many subjects that are to be brought under the Minister's notice. We believe that if properly placed before the Hon. Mr Carroll, tbe numerous anomolies and injustices to the Fakehas which abound here will be either amended or swept away altogether, thus placing tbe district in a tar better position than it is at present, Mr Carroll should undoubtedly be put in possession of facts relative to the bungling which goes on in the Native Department before a lease of Maori land oan be eecured, and the unnecessary delay that takes place relative to tbie matter. It must also te pointed out to him tbe benefit that would be derived by tbe district—in fact by tbe whole oolony—if tbe Matakowhai block of Native land were taken over by tbe Government, surveyed and thrown open for selection. This block of valuable land contains (approximately) 47,000 acres, and is described as being of a highclass nature, yet there is not a single soul residing on it, whereas if the opportunity were presentedit would be the home of hundreds of industrious settlers, whereas now it is only a draw back to the whole of the land abutting on it. There are no roads in or about it. Those settlers who adjoin it lose tbeir stock through having no fences, unless they care to erect them at tbeir own expense, having no neighbours to share tbe cost. Noxious weeds are at liberty to grow untouched, and consequently spread rapidly. These reasons alone should be sufficient to cause immediate' action to be taken. Surely a blrok like this which extends from the Aotea Harbour to the Waikato, from Kawhia North block to Waitetuna, should not be left unproductive when hundreds of willing but laudless men are hungering for a place to settle on. We would suggest that residents meet and decide on the various matters that are to be put before out distinguished visitor. If this is done we feel sure that nothing but good—maybe incalculable good—will be gained by Mr Carroll's visit to Kawbia, should he keep hie promise and come. The Royal Commission, which is to meet shortly at Wellington han a very difficult and arduous task to accomplish, and for it to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the vexed problems of land tenure, etc., it is imperative that the members comprising it m ust have full and correct evidence of the condition of the settlers under existing laws and circumstances. The lot of the land holders in this district ie similar to that in other parts of tbe oolouy, but we submit that Kawhia would be a splendid centre in which to obtain evidence, owing to tbe many and varied obstacles its setliars have to surmount, and Vie different titles under which they hold their sections. There is no doubt but that the Commission must eh in soma part of the King Country, and we know ol no

pilot where more varied evidence oouid be obtoined irom witlers wh<v have spent the greater part of tbeir lives in enquiring valuabe knowledge ob this vital qoMtion than Kawbia. Let a request be eent to Übe Chairman of the Oommiarion jetting out tbe above facta, and we have no doubt that backed up as it would bo by Mr W. W. M‘Cardlo the members will see that it would be highly advantageous to in* elude Kawhia amongst tbe places where evidence will be taken. But this course mart be put into operation without delay. Too late! too late! It will soon be necessary to use these words, if something is not at once done to remedy the evil so well put forward in this issue by Mr Percy W. BeL. That all he says is only too true everyone in this district knows. Already is the yellow curse in our midst: Pakerekere has it, Te Puru has it. There is no time to wait till Parliament sits. The plants are in seed and want immediate destruction. If this matter is neglected much longer it means that £20,000, not £2OOO, will be required to even keep ragwort in oheck, to say nothing ol eradicating it. Remember: the seed is nearly ripe end our clearings are just burned 1 One of tbe gravest subjests to bring before the Hon. James Carroll on tbe occasion of his approaching visit to Kawhia, and implore his immediate assistance, is the eradication of this menace to our prosperity.