THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1908

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 393, 25 December 1908, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1908

Once m >ra we have the pleasure ©f tendering to our readers the compiimenig cf ;he season, and-heartily wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This Chri.-tmas is also the fourrb aiinivorsaiw of our over tho editorship of iJiis■ paper. It is with feelings of much satisfaction we are able to record that our venture, that with f|w yifsfivjngs on our part, but many on the part ef onr friends has, tbanks to the support affirded us by the public of the Kawhia district, so far been successful, and has gradually grown with the growth of the district. . That this growth—©l paper and district—has not been greater is we think not to be placed to the discredit of tbe Settler or of ; the , settlers. .Under the conditions orS'rttleiamt as it obtains here it i»-now vary plainly realised. ’ that the effort inado toward the betterment at K.wb i i»v iodividuiL' off looai b>die.4 buve been hampered and uuliifi d by i bo wretched native lands policy, or want of policy, on the part of the G v .raiaent. Year follows year and the -etll«intnt of the native-owned waste lacd remains much the same—* (•’till unsettled, still uoprqdudtive, still tinrateabk, of but little benefit to the native, and in every Way'a drawback 11 tbe settler and a bar to progressWe reengnie that this native’ land question is. not one to be quickly or easily settled, bat tbe Governtftent method of leaving it to time to settle Is one that bears verf hardly and more or, less cFrftistrously on Europeans here. We tote tba‘, among tbe members of Parlimient, tbe feeling is taking root* and spreading that native matters | should be more deaU

- with by tho Native Department. We have a member who is alive to'the ser iousness of the position and who will, we hope, before another Christmas anniversary, be able to do something to accelerate the tardy movements of the Native office. Unfcrrtroately oOTinem ber in one of tbe small number in tbe House <^hi«g« 7 e purest itf this ,o .iaeatiou ; we muft therefore ooniinua to agitate i.tid to do ail we can tn strengtGeu bandn. But u.’ithuugb iLu ci hmJ ■ g’ilta liUhj'sigDg of lifting 1 in this 7 quarter, there is di-ftinot* improvement else where. Tbe building cf bridges, and tbl opening up nf roads, is proceeding at. a very satisfactory pace, and the ith privement in shipping facilities row tn derwayin the harbour will bo of con•riderabieadvantage, T , butter fackly Jaiely started iis making i!s beogffss fth arid much credit must "be given to its plpcky and capable proprietors. We ! bejar of sums of £9 to £lO a week be I •Lgmade b/"small families, and of ef- I forte being made by many settlers to become suppliers during the following reason. Tbe improvement in the price of wool, and the prices realised fur stock and farm produce, is all heartening to tbe “ man on tbe land.” H) with reasonable hope of our wish E.'ing fulfilled we repeat— A UHRISWAS A® A hapUy Übw Y'EAR.- ‘ ■ ''