EXTRACTS FROM BLUE BOOK, 1817.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 202, 6 May 1848, Page 2

EXTRACTS FROM BLUE BOOK, 1817 .

released fiom slavery, as well as those inhabiting Port Nicholson and Cook's Strails, feeling renssurnl by the presence of the Europeans, and regarding them as a protection against their former enemies, began to relurn to Taranaki, and soon finding themselves numrrirally superior to the Europeans, (who recently also had suffered some reverses, at Wairau and elsewhere, so that their power was supposed to be on tile decline), Ihey began to claim the whole disliict, and to turn the Europeans off their farms. Mr. Commissioner Spain, who was appointed to investigate these questions, came about tl>i» time to Tarunaki, and, after inquny, decided that a dtsUtot of s>i\ty thousand acres had been faiily purchased fiom the resident natives. My predecessor, however, in the latter end of 18 M, set aside the aw.ud of the Commissioner, and further stated, that he would recognise, in their fullest integrity, the claims of the absent members of the Ngatiawa tribe. He, at the same time, lepmchased a small portion (about 3,500 acres) of the district awarded by Mr. Spain, and notified tint the remaining portion of the tract of land claimed, vvas in like manner to he re purchased. He also required several European settlers to ah union their farms, and to move within the block, paying ihem a ti tiling compensation for the loss and injury to which they were subjected. Since that time, various individuals of the Ngatiawa tube, (which i** a vuy nuiueious tribe) anxious to share jn the expected payment, have been locating themselves tempoimily at Taianaki; and every separate family of the tube has been sending up some persons to "look alter their inteiests. Thece individuals Lave been qiuurelhng amongst themselves, regarding then respective claims ; and in order that Uipre might be much to pay for, have prevented the Kmopcans occupying any additional land, although many hundred thousand acrrs of the richest soil arc lying peifectly neglected and useless, whilst many European families have been left in comparative want. Indeed, the inability of (he natives to adjust their respective claims, now makes them unwilling to allow (he land to be sold at all, and they constantly asseit Sh.it those natives, who wish to sell land, have no right to dispose of it. Upon taking a review of the whole of these circumstances, together with our isolated and weak position in this portion of New Zealand, the only arrangement I thought could be advantngeously made, was to acquaint the natives, that I should oider, in the first place, that the most ample reserves for their present and future wants should be maiked off for the resident natives, as well as for those who were likely to return to Taranaki; but that the remaining portion of the country, in that district, should be resumed tor the Crown, and for the use of the Europeans ; that, in the fulfilment of the promises made by my predecessor, the value of the resumed land, in ita wild and defenceless btate, sh"u\d be assessed by a Commissioner, and that a Court should then be appointed lo inquire into the native titles to the whole, or portions of ths district soiesumed; and that thobe natives, who established valid ilnims to any paits of it, should receive the corresponding portions of the payment to which they would become entitled. But very few of the natives seemed disposed to asEcnt to thib airangement; but they distinctly understood that it was my intention to enforce it. I trust (hat it may meet with your Lordship's approval, as the best which could, under circumstances of such diffi culty, be made, and a* one which, whilst it ensures the interests of Her Majesty's European subjects, inflicts no injury on Her Majesly's subjects of the native race ; although I fear that these latter, now that their tupulity has been so strongly excited, may, if ihey think they are strong enough, endeavour to resist it by force of arms. I have, &c, G. Gsuv. The Right Hon. Earl Grey, &c. &c. &o. p.S. — I have the satisfaction of beiug able to sta'e to your Lordship, that, since writing the foiruoing despatch, I have ascertnned that the whole ot ths Ngatiawa tribe, with the exception of one family of it, named " Puketapu," have assented to the arrangement detailed in this despatch, and that several European settlers have already been put in possession of their land*. I have now e*eiy hope that the "Puketapu" family will shoitly follow the example of the rest of llie vibe. I think that a consideration of their own interests will lead them to take this step ; but should they adopt any hostile proceedings against the setileis, tl.eir iniluence is bo tulling, that they cannot cause any great amount of mischief, although certainly they in occision grpat expense and trouble to the Government. I will, in the meantime, take care that every jiiecaution for the piotection of the settleis is adopted. G. G.

(No. 27.) No. 3. Com oi a Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey. New l'lymouth, New Zealand, March 4, 1847. My Lord, — In order to illustrate the disposition evinced by the natives now inhabiting this place to impose upon the Gr.venimenc and settlers, I think it right to sUte the following occuncncc, which took place in an inteiview I had with a large body of them yesterday. About 12 months since, the chief of a small body of natives who inhabit a pah, called " Waiwetu Pah," a few miles from Wellington, came to me when I was arranging the kind claim> in that settlement, and complained that no adequate portion of land had been reserved for himself and his people. Upon inquiring irom the Superintendent of the Southern Division, whether he considc ed this complaint to be a juit one, he informed me that he considered the interests of the inhabitants of this particular pah had been overlooked, and that the Government ought to procure more land for them. The chief, a young man, was therefore directed to choose a section of land (containing about 125 acres) in the vicinity of the pah, and he wai in formed that I would '.hen endeavour to purchase it for them horn the European owner (the Government at that time having no land in the vicinity of Port Nichol« son which was applicable to the wants of these people). A section ot land was accordingly selected by the Waiwetu natives, which I was informed was one of the finest in the diatnet ; the Government had to pay the sum of 350 J. for it, and it was then made over to these natives, who were delighted with the unexpected liberality which had been shown to them, and admitted that their claims to land had been settled by a moat ,ust and liberal airangement. Yesterday, however, at the interview I had with the natives, a young native got up and addressed me, requested to be informed, whe.her it was my intention, in the arrangement I was making here, to act so unjustly ab to leave him and his people without lands, or the means of subsistence. As the face of this young man was familiar to kip, I stopped him, until 1 had made inquiries about him, and found, to my surprise, that it was the young chief, with whom so liberal an arrangement had been made at the Waiwstu, 12 months previously. It appealed, that this chief having acquired all he could from the Government at Port

Nicholson, anil finding ill it the land question, at this place, had been again opened up by my predecessor, had come on here (not expecting to be recognised) to try what he could obtain from the Government at New Plymouth. I at once taxed him in the presence of the assembled natives, with his ingratitude in adopting such a line of conduct towards me, after my having previously treated him so generously. \ie was evidently very much ashamed and abashed at the discovery which I had made, and after a few moments' thought, ha publicly and candidly admitted that he bad acted very wrongly; that my trputraent ot him had been most liberal and Kind, and that lie was much ashamed of what he had dine : he ;hen sat down a^aui. This, instance, and thuie are many others of a worse natuie, will show, that it once the cupidity of the natives is excited, it is impossible to b<iti«fy them : indeed I have nevi'r seen the native character uudei so bad a point of view di at Taranaki. 1 luve, &c, G. Grey. The Right lion Earl Giey, &c. <lc. &u.

(No. 25.) No. 4. Coi'v of a DesrvTCii from Governor Grey to Earl Guky. Government House, Auckland, Match 20. JBl7. My Lonn, —l have the honour to report, that I arrived lieie Kite, upon the 22nd mst., having completed all the arrangements 1 contemplated, in the Southern Settlements. The short period of time which has elapsed fcinre my leturn to Auckland, lias preven'cd me from completing in time for the p»c»ent oppoitumty, the Despatches which explain in detail, the several measures 1 Ihvo adopted. I am, however, unwilling to lose this oppoitunity of stating, that affnirß throughout the whole ot these Islands, are proceeding io a most satisfactory manner Comnu-ue and agriculture aie rapidly extending the improved methods of <uliivation adopted by the natives ; the large quantities, of wheat they now produce, and the election of mills throughout the country, some of which are their own property, aie gradually rendering them an ngncultuial population, whose pioperty will be too viluuble to permit them io engage in war ; and although there are still home warlike spirits who miy occasion partial disturbances, I do not tee any piobabtlity of any extensive cutbicik ever again taking place. The revenue, as might be expected, is rapidly inCicasing, indeed, so nipidly as to smpiss my most stnguine expectations ; und as the natives, under the present system of taxation, contribute laigcly to that revenue, every itnpiovement in their condition will afford the means of pioviding more efficient protectionfor propmly, and lor the future peace of the country. Her Majesty's subjects, both European and native, appear to appreciate fu'ly the advantages of their present position, and not only evince the most giatifymg contentment, but generally aft'oid me the most chteiful and active assistance in carrying out my various measures. I need hardly add, that this assistance is molt valuable to me, and that, in the case of the native chiefs, it hns lecently enabled me to arrange, in the most amicable and advantageous manner, the gieat mass of the land claims in the Southern Districts, winch, had they not met roe in a spiut of the fullest confidence, I should have found it most dilticult to adjust satisfactiiri'y. I trust, m a lew days, to have an opportunity of transmitting to your Loid-hip, detailed accounts of my lucent proceedings in tlu bouthem Settle,nents. I have, &c, G. C hey. The Ri»ht Hon. Earl Grey, t\.c, &c. &c