OUR NATIVE POPULATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 97, 12 August 1879, Page 2

OUR NATIVE POPULATION.

« The annual report by Mr Ward. R.M., upon the natives in the Manawatu district will be read with interest. Tt is dated Marlon, May 27, 1879, and read* as follows : I have the honor, in forwarding my an nual roport on the natives of my district, to state as follows :— I find that the general conduot of the natives during the past year has been good. There has been less crime recorded than in many preceding years. The great progress made during the last year by, and the general prosperty of, the Europeans in the distriot of Manawatu, have had a corresponding benofioial effect upon the natives of the district. A few subdivisional surveys have been, stopped on the Bouth side of the Manawatu River, but on explaining to the ua'ives that any differences as to the proposed boundaries of the land would be fully heard, and, if possible, adjusted by the Native Land Court, the obstructions in each case were at once removed. I have noticed that a strong desire has been growing up for some legislation for legalising native marriages. Many of the leading men say, "■ You. Europeans nave your law regarding your maariages, and you oonaider it one of your most important ones; why should we not have our marriage laws placed on such a footing as would enable courts of law to recognise them, and so to make our marriage contracts legally binding P" The natives on the south side of the Manawatu Eiver owning land through

which it is proposed to talco Iho FoxtonWollington Kail way aro favorably disposed to the project, knowing that ib will improve tho value of their property, and afford them what they have always want;d — a moans of transmitting their produce to a ready and good market. A. county ioa>! U already in course of formation between Foxton and Otaki ; this also is favorably considered by the natives, who, with their European neighbors, nre looking forward to the time when it will be open for traffic. So far as I have observed, there is a general desire to have claims to land individualized, and so Orown-granted I notice that the natives living contiguous to the railway line in my district make great use thereof, in fact quite as much as, if not -more than, their European-neighbors. For many months past the Maoris have evinced a very strong desire that their l'unangas or committees should have certain powers given them by Parliament, enabling them to settle small local disputes and punish minor offences at their own kaingas. During the last year the Maori mind in my district of Rangitikei and Manawatu has been much exercised on this subject And here I venture to say that I think there is iv this something worthy of consideration. I believe certain restricted powers given to these committees, with rights of appeal to the Resident Magistrate of the district, would work well and be of great benefit to the natives. . During the past few months some of the leading Natives have been considering the licensing question, and in many of their kaingaa have determined to do what they can to suppress the consumption of spirituous liquors in their villages. In some instances they have taken the initiative steps to bring into operation " The Native Licensing Act, 1878." One chief, Ronata Ropiha, of Mbtuiti, in order to show his people that spirituous liquors should not be sold on his land, caused an information to be laid against one of his own tribe for selling spirituous liquors without a license on a Maori racecourse adjoining his village ; the case was duly heard, and a fine inflicted, I think the introduction of " The Native Licensing Act, 1878, " a step in the right direction, but would venture to say I do not think it goes far enougli to put down the large amount of drinking that prevails among tho Maoris ; that uniil " The Sale j of Spirits to Native Ordinance, 1847," i 9 actually enforced by the police I fear thit not much will be done to lessen the evil of intemperance which does to a great extent affect the Maori race.