MAORI LANDS PURCHASED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 10, 15 October 1857, Page 4

MAORI LANDS PURCHASED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

We insert for the information of our Maori readers the description of certain Blocks of Land which have been purchased by the Government from the native proprietors. These lands are now ready lo be divided into convenient portions and offered to the public W sale..

In future, we intend to publish in the * Maori Messenger' notices of Government land sales, that those of out Maori friends who wish to become possessors of land under a Crown title may know when there are opportunities of doing so. Why should not the Maories buy land of the Government as well as the Pakehas? A piece of good land bought of the Government and seemed to the purchaser by a Crown grant is a valuable possession, and one which will i urease ia value every year as the Pakehas become more numerous iu the country. Now, why should not the Maori share with the Pa&eha in the advantages arising from the progress »f the Colony and the continually increasing value of landed property. That they should do so> is the wish of the Government and of all their friends. Let them not say that the Pakeha wishes to dispossess the Maori of the land and to get it for himself. Many of the Pakehas who buy landat the Government Land sales came to New Zealand with limited means, and it has been more difficult for them 10 obtain the money they have to pay for their land than it is for manv of the Maories to get a like amount. They have done so only by working hard for it and taking care of each shilling as it has been earned instead of spending it, as the Maories o/ten do, upon trifles which are of no real use to them. The Government buys of the Maories the land which ihey cannot use themselves, but not to sell it to Pakehas only. Both Pakehas and Maories may buy. It is acquired by the Government in order that it may be cleared of all uncertainty as to ownership, so that each individual who buys a piece may receive it from the Queen and hold it under her, and may be secured in possession, by her Laws. But it is open alike to Maori and Pakeha to buy; the Maori is not required to pay more "for it than the Pakeha nor the Pakeha than the Maori. Any person, Pakeha or Maori, by applying to the Waste Lands Office, may at any time obtain information as to what Government lands are open for sale and selection, with all other particulars.

Any of our Maori friends who may wish lo purchase land of ihe Government and are at a loss how to proceed, should apply to the Native Secretary's Office, where every necessary assistance and direction will be afforded. These are the lands which have been lately bought by the Government.