TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 521, 31 October 1857, Page 4

TARANAKI.

We have New Plymouth papers to the 15th inst. The ' Taranaki Herald/ of Oct. 10, contains the following intelligence bearing on the present aspect of the native question:—

A considerable muster of natives took place on Monday last near the residence of the land purchase Commissioner to agree to the boundaries of the land offered to the Government by Rawiri in 1854 and by Katatore recently. From the unlucky circumstance, however, of some of the natives coming to the meeting armed, the object was noti r attained. It should be stated in explanation of, apparently, so anomalous a proceeding, that the consent of several sections of the tribes interested, each having separate interests to urge, had to be obtained to Katatore's offer. Foremost amongst these were the family connections of Rawiri and of the other natives who were killed on this land, and besides numerous other bond fide owners, there were allies who claimed land in the neighbourhood of the block offered for aid rendered during the native disturbances, but who had not succeeded in inducing the Government to recognise the claim—they, consequently, regarded with jealousy success attending any other offer of land. It will be already gathered from this explanation that although all had ultimately acquiesced in the sale, the position of the tribes was antagonistic, and required much circumspection on the part of the officer empowered to deal with natives so circumstanced. In this, as we previously ascertained from the natives, Mr. Parris" had succeeded, and a day was appointed for them to meet in town (according to custom) to formally declare and surrender their interest in the land to the Government. The Ninia natives set the bad example of coming to this meeting anned —the example was not lost on others, and it required no keen knowlege of native character to see that an angry word uttered on a subject which had' already occasioned the natives heavy losses might readily lead again to acts of violence. Fortunate it was, perhaps, that a steady cooling rain set in, which had the effect of separating the natives for the remainder of the afternoon.

The meeting was by arrangement to have been a friendly one—the details having been previously discussed. But the groundless suspicions of one of the tribes led to precautions occasioning mutual suspicion and distrust. It is a maxim with the Government that land shall only be purchased with the consent of all the owners and claimants, and if they are foolish enough to qxiarrel about it, they must even settle^ it themselves. The public safety, however,'demands, that on no account should they be permitted to introduce their disturbances on our soil. Those natives wha took part in the Puketapu quarrel were given distinctly to understand that they must discontinue the practice of passing through the town with firearms, and the direction was obeyed. The carrying of firearms on Monday was a direct,though,perhaps, unintentional infringement of the order, and had they been resorted to, according to Taranaki custom, to enforce argument when other means fail, who can say where the fray might have ended, or to what it might have led. Nothing is farther from our minds than to to impute blame In this matter with the authorities. The arming was the result of sudden im-

pulse, and only became known to them as the natives arrived on the ground. Having however occurred, it only needs to prevent a repetition of it. If the natives cannot trust each other, or from other cause are unwilling to discuss their interests amicably, let them be told to remain at home, and not introduce their squabbles amongst us. Experience should have taught them fere this that the pick of their land is not worth fighting for, and that they themselves can only prosper by consenting to be placed on the same footing as the settlers in regard to title, thus getting rid of those claims in common which lead to interminable disputes, and not unfrequently to bloodshed.

C Since the foregoing observations were penned, we learn that Mr. Parris has completely succeeded in restoring the good feeling which prevailed amongst the natives up to the day of meeting on Monday, and that his duties are so well advanced as to enable him to arrange for cutting the boundaries of the block. As a preliminary step, we take this to be quite necessary for the mutual protection and good understanding of Government and native sellers, inasmuch as from the omission of it in some purchases of land in Taranaki, the blocks have been found to contain less than was estimated from the particulars furnished by the natives. The discrepancies arose not from wilful misrepresentation of the natives, but from the impossiblity, notwithstanding their singular knowledge of the natural features of apparently untrodden woodlands, of judging of area without a flying survey of boundaries. This concluded will enable the government to price the land which, we must add, has been already somewhat incautiously discussed amongst ourselves. The embarrassment it may entail cannot be lightly estimated. There is but a small sum available for land purchase, and the good it is capable of accomplishing is in proportion to judicious and prudent expenditure of it. Raw, unreserved land has a very limited value, but should the native owners not unnaturally attach importance to our careless^hap-hazara estimates, instead of taking them at what they are worth, the Government cannot be blamed if they decline negotiation against such hopeless odds.