New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 3, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 288, 3 May 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 3, 1848.

The recent arrangement with the natives at New Plymouth for the purchase of land to enable the New Zealand Company to fulfil their contracts with their purchasers, and the difficulties which have attended the previous negociations for this purpose, cannot fail to suggest the necessity for a general

adjustment of these different claims. The principal difficulties connected with the natives have arisen chiefly out of the land, and if these questions were finally settled, the task of governing them would he comparatively easy. And it is plain that these difficulties must be carefully dealt with, and speedily removed, before the tranquillity of the country can be thoroughly established. In the North the difficulties raised by the claimants under Capt. Fitzroy's penny-an-acre proclamation, in the South the right of pre-emption waived in favour of the New Zealand Company, has prevented any systematic plan from being acted upon; it is time, however, these questions were disposed of, since the longer they are suffered to remain in their present state the more difficult will be their final adjustment. Look at the settlement of Otakou for example ; by the purchase of the district under the sanction of the Government all disputes with the natives have been avoided. The settler there not only has a Crown title to the lands which form the settlement, but has also the opportunity of obtaining a squatting license from the Government for those lands beyond its boundaries which may be eligible for the purpose of forming stations for stock. Here on the contrary, because no proper system has been adopted in the first instance, those who have established stations hold them on a precarious tenure from the natives, while a stop has been put, for the present, to the formation of new stations from the uncertainty in which this question is involved. If the Local Government had adopted the necessary measuresfor the acquisition of the Wairarapa before any stations had been established, with sufficient reserves for the use of the natives residing in the district, and the purchase money divided into annual payments, we think that such an arrangement would have amply contented them. Now that they have been allowed to let their lands to the settlers, the amount of rental which they receive for the comparatively small portion of the district which is occupied has enhanced its value in their eyes, and every additional station which is formed increases the difficulty by increasing their rent roll. And the same difficulty will arise with other districts if the same state of things is permitted to obtain. The greater part of the country lying between Wanganui and the north bank tf the Manawatu, particularly that portion of it about Rangitiki, which is admirably adapted for keeping stock, we have reason to believe might be easily acquired by the Government; if sufficient reserves were made for the use of the natives, they would be readily disposed to part with the remainder, and if the., jsystem of annual payments were adopted/ the cost being divided over a number of years would render the arrangement less burdensome while it would contribute more effectually to the improvement of the natives. A fine district would then be open for forming stations which might be held on a settled tenure under the Government, instead of at the caprice of the natives. The district would have several advantages over the Wairarapa in the facility of landing stock at Waikanae, which is but a short distance from the district in question ; the cost of obtaining supplies and sending wool to this port would also be less than at Wairarapa, while it would be conveniently situated for supplying either Wanganui or this settlement. It is also probable that when the Wairarapa natives saw that stations were forming in other districts, they would be more disposed to acquiesce in an equitable arrangement for extinguishing their title. One thing is clear, whatever is done must be done by the Local Government, as any arrangement made under its sanction would be more binding on the natives, and when completed the Company might be allowed, as in instance of the Porirua and Wairau districts, to have such portions of these purchases as were necessary to complete the arrangement entered into with them by the Government.

Natiyb Mills. — We took occasion lately to notice the erection of three mills for grinding corn belonging to the natives, which were either completed or were in progress of erection, between the settlement of New Plymouth and Patea. We are informed that Puaha, Mohi, Charley, Kanae, and other chiefs of the Ngatitoa tribe have determined on building a water mill at Porirua, on a fine stream of water between the pa Tapuahi and Mr. Couper's house. The mill is to be erected by subscription, or by a sort of joint stock company among the members of the tribe for whose use it is chiefly intended. The estimated cost of the machinery and European labour required in its erection is about £300, they have the greater part of the money ready from the last instalment of the purchase money of the Porirua district, and they have requested his Excellency the LieutenantGovernor to deduct from the next annual payment for the land the balance

which may become due on the execution of the works. They have also requested that his Excellency would appoint some competent person to superintend for them the works during their progress, so as to ensure their proper execution. They say that the steel corn-mills which they at present use grind sufficient corn for their own consumption, but that they grow more wheat than they can possibly use themselves, and that they will obtain a much better price for it, if converted into flour, and therefore they have resolved to build a mill of their own. Charley and Kanae, who take an active interest in this project were not long since prisoners with Te Rauparaha on board the Calliope. The erection of this mill may be taken as a proof of the advancement of these natives in civilization, and may be reckoned among the other advantages arising from Captain Grey's settlement of the land claims of this District.

Quantity of raiu fallen in April, 1848, — 2in. 9-tenths.