THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1906, NATIVE LAND COURT SITTING FOR KAWHIA.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 281, 19 October 1906, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1906, NATIVE LAND COURT SITTING FOR KAWHIA.

The constant stream of hungry seekers a f t°r land that c me '‘burning with high hope” to sacure toe lease of even a little of the wide wit xrness of native land that bangs like a dark cloud over ouj county, is a m.-dler surely quitf sufficient to wake our sleeping enterprise and cause us” to try and he p those would be settlers to some success. As it is now, within a few hours of tieir arrival among us, they are met wi‘h such a wall of insur* mou nable native obstacles’ tbat they are turned bacu wiffi disappointed hop.' et g'ndering feelings of embittermant against our much-talked of Kawhia Tbe feeble protesla we m ke a r.nst the lockt-d i p native lands, upon which tbe Government lavish so much ” earnest consideration,” ia Ito indefinite, and our effoits should be directed on some strenuous practical intention, We are persuaded that our object should be to obtain a sitting of the Native Land Court in Kawhia, for we fe 1 sure that its good results wou* l be most far reaching. Thera is no doubt tbat the first knot that has to be unravelled is the individualisa* tion of these huge blocks of native land that practicably form a complete’ band round our harbour and are so hurtful to our most vital interests. Our L c d experience teaches that the n dives are not inclined io leave their homes and travel long disjanceH, in curring heavy expense (which (hey cannot afford), with tin purpose of sub dividing at outside counts, wherees if the court Lio am ;ng hum th y nr* keen to .e.k partition. |'l’Lo net ves o this district have on scvernl occasion entreated the powots that be to thi end, but were not satisfied. A la .d Cjurt held here ifoufti induce great activity, for the action of the progressive na iv(B who wish to have their claim*defined would make it imporatiyc tba> their more conservative brethren mus also to apply to the court to prut c their interests; sub division would thus become automatic, aud iL-. great blocks would be cut up and hd . by natives with definite titles wbicl could be easily dealt with. We could then write ho/i »■! to this vast land blot that low darkens our county* There are l2o*ooo acres to bo dealt with, all of which could (and would) be leaeod, aud instead of its

unproductiveness something like £120,000 wou’d be its return per annum to the farmers and their families it Would support, while a direct and very .substantial income of £5OOO 0 moresicb year would accrue to its n >w poverty’iricken native owners who are receiving charily, in tbe way of poti tees and other seeds from tbe pakeha, whose very progress their locked up DA'ive lauds are piecing a veto on. Ye Gods I wh-it a s a'e of things I Wi'h sub division oom*»s an ability to r-te th > na ivo ■ wner thus !>. j r ico -jfa -.pce t!:a. cu-iu y ’• ■ turns by ..-ift'h l ' d ds of p 'uryi? P annum; S > S nwf ,1, ny, kke are tbo c •-•"'Ltc -s a/fe.Qtu g he.nativlands that r ; r •n- *■ -f pigh’ na Briii h ersare '.’r< , Jt , So ni’-mentou 4 ? »r» the gnus ( J. iori a d P-kebe alik* ) that h"og i. :h4- mat er uf iu-Hvidn 1 i ai 'H ia K woiamu: rai eb-r i idigi:&nt c y ami esc, Dur c« j ase noi. until the establishment of a Native Land Goart fitting in her midst.