WANGANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5338, 7 May 1878, Page 3

WANGANUI.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ‘I . ' Having watched carefully and' critically the progress of events among. tbe'.Maoria of .this province and adjoining districts, including the: up river and more ' northern .tribes and hapus,' I will, before giving my general ’ impressions of their present state and. probable' future,. endeavor to recall past events in the form of a brief resume. We all know that the land question has for years been ever uppermost in the native mind. And this subject was never mofe freely discussed by them thau during the gathering at Wanganui in July, 1877 (last winter).' Whole hapus from up river and inland, comprising hundreds of all ages, camped bn the banks of tho river, with a view to attendiugat the Land Courts, and also discussing matters connected. with land sales and leases with friends from' various quarters. whom they had not seen for years. The chiefs andpeople of Pntiki, with a view to a general expression of opinion on these and other important topics, had everything prepared for: a runanga on a large scale. A' large and handsome whare had been erected by. them, to which visitors from every.district in'the province,’as well as many natives of rank’from other ’ provinces, were courteously ' invited. Printed forms containing a list of all the proposed, new resolutions and laws had been previously prepared, and, each visitor- received j a copy on entering. Ror days these meetings of Maori representatives went on, and were, iu my opinion,' attended with favorable .results. And this year’s meetlugatPutikiwasproductiye of great bine fit, which the future, I believe, will prove for itself. During the runanga at Putiki the Government Land Courts were daily thronged in Wanganui by crowds of. Maoris of both.sexes, and also great numbers . of pakebas, all intent on the settlement of laud claims; some ; arranging' leases, some passing lands through, the Court, others,,pakeha aud; Maori, negotiating fresh deeds and agreements for sale or lease of new blocks', of land, or settling arrangemouto for .long-standing or - disputed claims. During . three months this miniature carnival went bn, but at last all departed homewards tired; out; and some halfstarved, blit • not -, satisfied,; for on their veturn up river, and inland, fresh committee and runanga meetings were held, and the all-im-portant topic was of-course the land. Great evils may have resulted frem these, meetings, but the spirit of inquiry had become fairly aroused, and my belief is that if they can, carry out their present views 'nothing but real good will eventually accrue to the Maories as a people. They have now begun fully to realise their, position as landholders, and wishing to make the most they can of it, they are now- considering the questions of leasing and selling, always keeping iu view large reserves. . Some few wish neither, but would prefer to .let the land remain intact; but these are only a very small minority. This feeling among the generality of disposing by sale or lease of their lands according to the best advantage, is worthy of, encouragement 'by an enlightened Government,, and I trust the idea at-.present prevalent among the up-rivers, and inland natives (who are anxious for immediate surveys of large blocks of land) may be fostered and promoted, as tending to the ultimate good of both races. Butaduring the! past real evils have cropped up, and, these.must be guarded against lejt confusion and trouble may ensue. Of ;these, with- permission, I will treat briefly on another occasion.