The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1878

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5430, 22 August 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1878

Some time ago a pamphlet hearing the title “ Ryotwarry : A Solution of the “Maori Land Question,” was published at Auckland, and having been widely circulated, secured a good deal of attention. The author is Mr. Thomas, a gentleman holding a high judicial position in the Indian Civil Service, who is now travelling in Wow Zealand. His proposal is to apply the Indian system of land tenure known by the name of Ryotwarry to the utilisation, in the interests of natives nnd of Europeans alike, of the immense territory in the centre of this North Island still in the hands of the Maoris. In Southern India the usual rate or trot imposed by way of rout equals abrxut one-fifth of the gross produce of tihe land. After stating the modification of the Indian system which ho propoijoa, Mr. Tahian says— “ If

this luud system is adopted as the “ principle, it will lie apparent that, a “ Ryotwarry lease becomes, by attention “to its terms, a lease only in name. It “ would bo a binding contract for all i 1 time between the Maori landlord and “ the tenant.” Estimating the area to which the system could be applied in this island at 10,000 square miles, or six million acres, one half of which only might be regarded as available, Mr. Thomas concludes thus : Largo figures will not, of comso, bo reached at flr*t —not perhaps for five years—but supposing the rental to commence at £300,000, This sum, produced at once by that which is now lying idle, waste and useless, and without expenditure. Is surely an amount not to be discarded without consideration. Under tills system the Maori will retain the proprietary title of landlord, a.id obtain the value of his land. The Englishman will obtain the use of it. This gentleman clears the way for an impartial consideration of his proposals by giving the assurance that he lias no personal or prospective interest in making them. “ Being about to retire on " a pension from the Indian Govern--11 ment, and not to commence life as “a farmer or rnnholder,.he trusts his " views may be received and weighed as “ those of one who has no selfish into- “ restsat stake.” Tha pamphlet is abort; it shows perfect knowledge of the subject, of which it treats, a clear grasp of its econoraio principles, and a benevolent and statesmanlike desiro to see them applied to the solution of the native laud difficulty here. Mr. Thomas, in the course of his travels through the country, has got to Taranaki, and, with the interest in the native question which ho feels, he not unnaturally desired to meet and to converse with the native chief Rewi, who is tha representative man of the Maoris at this moment. He met, it appears, an unusual obstruction in trying to effect that object, unusual we say iu the surroundings of the Ngatimauiapoto chief, because the obstruction was in the shape of a policeman. We quote from our report of the proceedings of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the following very curious passage ; The Hon. Mr. Foi.sild there, was e.t prelent travelling in New Zealand on account of his health a gentleman named Thomas, who was a Judge in the East India Company’s service. Mr. Thomas desired to see Bewi, but he was unable to do so except hi the presence of a constable. Mr. Thomas had telegraphed to him ashing him to see if the obstruction lie complained of could be removed. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan said the Government had been informed that a person of the name of Thomas was desirous of having an interview with Rewi about a proposition with regard to Ms land. Ho (Mr. Sheehan) had written to Mr. Thomas asking him to desist from his scheme tor a time with the Waikato and Taranaki natives. Ho had not yet received a reply, bat ho hoped it would be in accordance witii the expressed wishes of tho Government in the matter. With regard to Ids belli ■ under the surveillance of tho police, that would bo Immediately removed. and he (Mr. Sheehan) might say that this was tho first the Government heard of it. Ho hoped that a gentleman who had occupied so high a position in the East India Company’s service would not interfere with negotiations that wore pending between an Important section of the natives and tile Government of this colony. (Hear, hoar.)

“At last,” then, we have established peaceful relations with Ngatimaniapoto. Rewi is under the surveillance of the police at Waitara, and we ourselves have established an “ aukati ” on the Taranaki side. A peaceful traveller from India who desires to interview the “Commis-sioner-Chief ” must get a pass from Mr. Sheehan, and talk to Rewi in the presence of a detective. How are the mighty fallen! In 1803 a groat meeting took place at Rangiaohia ■ to determine what part. Waikato should take in the new Taranaki war. The first speaker, Mr. Gop.st tells us, was William Thompson, who, after condemning in the strongest terms the proceedings of Rewi which had led to war, declared his opinion that tho Maoris were wrong, and that Ngatihana, his tribe, should take no part in the fighting. As soon as Wi Tamehana sat down, Mr. Gorst goes on to say, Rewi rose and, without speaking, thrust out his tongue and made horrible grimaces at the rival chief. Tamihana asked what this meant. “It means,” replied Rewi, “that I shall go. Where ) “Right on,” said the chief, “into the mouths of tho Governor’s cannon.” Ho was asked if he paid no regard to tho words of tho King. “I care nothing,” he said, “for your “ King. I have anointed my sword and “ spear to bo kings over me.” Rewi is getting old, and has no doubt suffered much of late from male and female emissaries of the Government, from Ministers themselves who have been sitting on him, and from independent reporters for the subsidised public journals; his spirit may consequently be thoroughly broken, and he himself in - process of being gradually reduced to imbecility. But it is impossible to contemplate without sorrow the picture we get of the old Lion under surveillance of a Bobby; debarred of intercourse with suspicious characters like the travelling Indian Judge ; tapped occasionally by a reporter when the Native Minister requires a telegram to confute Mr. Fox in the House ; and abandoned in tho intervals to Mr. Joshua Jones, who wants to go to— Mokau. A Bill has just been passed to prevent cruelty to animals ; but the interpretation clause would not we fear include a “Commissioner-Chief.” The Legislative Council is now, perhaps, the only refuge left for poor Rewi.