THE MANAWATU CLAIMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5101, 30 July 1877, Page 3

THE MANAWATU CLAIMS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —It may not be generally known to a great number of the present generation that in the early days of the settlement of New Zealand some of the original founders of the colony, that is to say, the New Zealand Company’s settlers, were purchasers, in good faith, of certain lands in the country, under land orders, paid for in hard cash, thirty-eight years ago. These selections were made in the Manawatu. The holders of these selectionshaveingood faith, like Job, waited patiently to get possession of their lands. Hitherto, through the amount of trouble arising out of the numerous native difficulties that have for years past taken place, the purchasers referred to have been prevented from deriving any benefit from their selections. Nevertheless they have held on, in the full hope that whenever the native title to these lands was extinguished they would be able to erect their tents and live under “the shadow of their own fig tree.” The bright hope of possessing what they had paid for years ago, has been on the point of being realised several times. “Nil desperandum” has been their motto, and they have felt a security in the fact that when the Government waived their preemptive right to the lands of the colony, these selections were specially protected by Acts of the Legislature; that is to say, the selections referred to were guaranteed by Act of Parliament—“ whenever the native title was extinguished.” The value of these particular selections was the inducement of the holders to retain their position, and ■ in many instances these selections form an important item in the expectancy of those to whom they have been left by will or otherwise. Several are absentees, whose rights are supposed to be honestly guarded. I make this remark, sir, because there have been attempts on the part of the Legislature to alter the guaranteed position of these Manawatu landholders. These attempts were made by those who were not acquainted with the circumstances ; and as the new Native Lands Bill will occupy the attention of the present Parliament, honor and justice will demand a proper recognition of the position of these claimants, who will be perfectly contented, and who are justly entitled, to get the identical laud they have patiently waited for, or compensation of at least £5 or £6 per acre. These selections in the early days of the colony were valued at £5 per acre. I say, Let justice he done.—l am, &0., Halifax.