Native Lands.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 352, 6 March 1908, Page 2

Native Lands.

HINDERING PROGRESS. KAWHIA AS AN OBJECT LESION

Last week the Auckland Weekly ‘News published the following interesting article from their Wellington correspondent:— A few years ago Kawhia talked about as a place that was going to

grow beyond the wildest dreams of tbe land speculator. Its fertile backcountry was to be covered with crops, herds, and flocks, and punctured with trains. Its harbour was to be crowded witb shipping, its streets humming with trade, its hillsides brightened with the villas of merchant princes, but to day Kawhia remains pretty ) much as it was before it was boomed nt all. True there has been some pro gross, but the mountains of tail talk faavs brought forth but a very little mouse of actual achievement, or to exchange the classic for the American metaphor, the hot air that was so freely generated has raised Kawbia to no commanding height of prosperity. Native land ownership is usually assigned as the course os this disappointment. Said a gentleman who latterly visited the district to a Dominion reporter, “It was ancioipaied that the district would have made great progress, but it is still retarded by tbe owoership of much of the laud not bt>ing ascertained. A large stretch of country immediately adjoining the Harbour is owned by natives, and it is impossible to obtain a lease of this land, because not even tbe natives themselves know just who the owners are. Some of tbe best blocks have a hundred or even 200 owners, who do not all live in the district, and whose claims and interests ars still undetermined. The Government has acquired some land in various parts of the district, and has leased it on different tenures, the occupation with right of purchase being the most in favour with the settlers. The Opafiu Valley consists principally of Crown land held under that tenure. “The Native Land Court is at work upon the individualisation of titles, and in this connection the natives have a grievance just now. After sitting for a week at Kawhia the Court, under Judge Gilfeddfir, adjourned to Otorohanga, and the Kawhia natives who ware concerned in the cases that still bad to come before it were obltged to journey to Qtorohanga, and stay there at considerable expense while waiting for their cases to be dealt with. One very large block of land that is still looked up in communal native ownership is tbe Matakowhai Block of 45,000 acres. It is thought that very greet benefit would result to the neighbourhood jf a road to Hamilton were made through this blook t and other areas that are tied up in the same way the Taumatatotara Block : (11,000 acres and the Tabaroa Block I (6000 acre?)." Tbe Court froth time "fo time clears up the titles to somaof the land. Tbe natives generally do not wish to sell the land, but they prefer to retain what they can use and lease tbe rest to settlers. As the rent is based upon a fair valuation this is the best plan forthem, as they cannot spend the whole of their substance. They ocmplain, however, that in cases where such ar« angements are made the proceedings are often retarded by delays in the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district, who has to approve cf the leases, Belli, in spite of all the hindrances, the di&trict is making some progress. This is evidenced by the fact that the Northern Steamship Company is about to put an additional steamer on the Auckland-Kawhia-Waitara service. The township is still woefully behind hand in such matters as roads and drainage, but it has charms that are all its own. There is its beautiful harbour, teeming with fish, the Te Puia hot springs on the sea beach, and the noble group of pohutakawa treet overlooking the spot where tradition Bays the Wainui cahoe was landed. Along the harbour frontage of the Msngaroa Block are the finest groupsfeof tree feans I have ever seen. It has been suggested that the Government should acquire that spot as a scenic reserve.”