THE WEST COAST DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4963, 17 February 1877, Page 3

THE WEST COAST DISTRICTS.

(from our special corresrondent.) I regret to say that a downpour of rain, which lasted so long that it made people believe it never meant to leave off, compelled me, in the face of flooded rivers and impassable country, to give up a visit to Titokowaru and the Waimate Plains, and to make a rapid return to Wellington by coach and steamer. I am not however without some remarks which, in the interests of the districts, I desire to make, and which the people of the disti-ict I am certain would wish to see obtain publicity. In the first place, then, a question has arisen which has given much—and I cannot say "roundless—discontent throughout the whole Patea District, and that is, the sudden removal, of Major Turner from the appointments of Eesiclent Magistrate and officer in command of the colonial forces stationed there. The circumstances are very simple : Major Turner is a gentleman who in the Imperial service greatly distinguished himself in action against the rebel Maoris, lying for months at death’s door in consequence of a wound received at Taranaki, and being no less esteemed for his bravery than for his talents in the detail and what may be called the x’outine of his profession. He subsequently sold out of his regiment, with the rank of major, given to him for his conspicuous merits, and entered the colonial service at a time when trouble was expected at Patea. In consequence of the practical re-occupation of some of the confiscated lands by the Maoris, Major Turner was taken from Wanganui and placed in command at Patea, avowedly because by his bravery and ability he was deemed fitted to cope with the anticipated difficulty. He was subsequently appointed in addition Resident Magistrate for the district, but practically only drew one salary for the two offices. One of the first practical effects of the retrenchment policy to which the present Ministry is pledged was the reduction of the Armed Constabulary, and Major Turner’s services in a military capacity were a very short time ago dispensed with. But not only was this done, but without any assignable reason he was deprived of his Resident Magistracy, and this could not haveinvolved any retrenchment, as another Resident Magistrate was immediately appointed. The whole thing has even on the face of it an ugly look, not for Major Turner, except so far as it might affect him from a purely worldly point of view, but. for those who, it is to be hoped in pure carelessness, deprived him of an appointment, to give it to another ; for such things to the vulgar smack undoubtedly of favoritism or “ billet-hunting.” And I may say here that the feeling throughout the district in reference to this matter is very strong indeed. I had numerous conversations with the settlers, and they in all cases broached the subject whilst carrying on those conversations which gentlemen will carry on with the special correspondent of a journal whose province it is of course to listen to all that may be said in. reference to the affairs of a district. In no one case was the conduct of the Government defended, except I am free to say inferentially by myself, in order to test the feeling on the other side. It was said by all that Major Turner as an officer, as a gentleman, and as a Resident Magistrate was esteemed on every side, and no one could see any reason for his being deprived of his position. In what I have written I have not exaggerated in the least ; I have simply detailed the facts as they came before me, and from them those who read what I have written must judge, THE WAIMATE PLAINS. A rumored attempt to purchase the Waimate Plains by a company formed in the Eangitikei-Manawatu District, aroused, a storm which may be truly termed “ a storm in a teapot,” since it was impossible, that the plains could have been so purchased. But it is very easy to understand why the matter should have aroused a storm all through the West Coast Districts, though very little notice indeed of the matter was taken in Wellington; for I have been assured by those competent to judge that fair and fit for settlement as is the coast land from Wanganui to the north, already under occupation, that beyond it, or lying between it and Mount Egmont, the Waingongoro Eiver being between them, surpasses all the rest. v± This portion forms what is called the Waimate Plains. They are open, or intersected by strips of bush, and are well watered. The beds, too, do not run through sandy gullies, but over a hard conglomerate. They are stated, and I believe with good reason, to offer unexampled facilities for small settlement. The question of obtaining the plains is one that has, as it were, drifted into a native difficulty. The whole' of the land on this West Coast, from Wanganui to White Cliffs, was, at the close of the war of 1863 and 1864, confiscated. Subsequently some portions were returned to the natives as reserves, and some portions’of the confiscated lands were surveyed, and occupied by military settlers and purchasers. Unfortunately no attempt was made at that time to occupy that portion between Waingongoro and Stony River. Subsequently, at the close of Titokowarn’s rebellion, a small block of 1560 acres at Opunaki was surveyed and occupied. Had a small redoubt been placed in the centre of the Waimate Plains at the same time, the natives would have regarded it as occupation, and the question would not have, merged into a native difficulty. The natives have a law or custom among themselves that if a tribe conquers another, and there follow confiscation by occupation of the land, the country is lost to the original owners, but where occupation does not follow confiscation the land reverts to the original owners. In the instance of the Waimate Plains the conquering pakehas have made no effort to occupy those lands, or define any reserves for the conquered natives, who were quietly allowed to settle down where they pleased, and gradually to occupy the whole of the plains. The unfortunate mistake made by the Civil Commissioner in asking Te Whiti’s permission 1 to continue the telegraph line of wire from Opunako to Stony River, was another serious mistake, regarded by the natives as an acknowledgement that we regarded the confiscated land as their property. The unoccupied confiscated land question has merged into a native difficulty through a series of blunders, the chief of which are the want of justice shown to<Honi Pihama and his people, causing us to be deprived of their full support for a time; the want of firmness displayed towards returned rebels who, as a rule, were better treated than those who remained friendly; the great oversight in not laying off the reserves they were to occupy, and the want of an Act to severely punish Europeans who attempted

to deal with returned rebels for confiscated lands legally the property of the Crown. _ Taking into consideration the series of blunders made, in conjunction with their own laws of confiscation, we cannot wonder at the natives now regarding those lands as their own again. It has now mex’ged into a moat difficult question to deal with if it is to be dealt with as confiscated land. The question is yearly more difficult, as natives who sell out their lands in other, parts of the island, if they have any relatives or claim on the West Coast, avail themselves of the excuse to locate themselves thei’e. These have experienced the evils of parting with too much land at low rates, aud strongly urge the holding the laud until such time as some alteration in the law allows their selling to private individuals at the highest obtainable price. Several pakeha friends also counsel the same.