The Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 614, 22 April 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1878.

The IJonorable3 R. Stout and J. it is said, are preparing a new Native Land Bill, which is to be introduced into Parliament next session. The moat prominent feature in the measure will be the prohibition of private dealings with the natives for native lands. Those who know the history of the native lands of this Colony would concur in the action of any man who would take decisive steps to eradicate, mot. stock,, and branch, the evils with which native land transactions have ever been invested. ..Messrs. .Stout and Balla-Vk have made a study of the native lands question : a study which has been forced upon them in consequence of the crying evils which have arisen from past legislation in reference to the matter. Session after session has the battle of the native lands been fought in Parliament. Flagrant has been the conduct of men in high places, as exposed by those representatives who were anxious to prevent the public estate from falling into the hands) of a few. But the plunder was j worth lighting for, and although it it must be confessed that there was nothing in 'he behaviour of those that hungered and thirsted after land possessing even ill'.; .s.-mblancti of honesty, iheyj fought hardly. They li id well nigh succeeded in gaining thei.* point. Possession of power for another term, and they would have pusssjesed themselves of that for which they had bartered principle, and, casting aside the brazen patriotism with which they had covered their illegitimate intentions, they would cease* to work for the good of the Colony. But it was not to be thus. Narrowly watched by keen men, sworn to protect the interests of their country ; men, who, although they might be at fault in matters of smaller import, would not atoop to robbing the people who had confided to their charge the conduct of their affairs—they were, when just on the verge of attaining their nefarious ends, bluffed. Two hundred thousand acres beyond Cambridge had proved too tempting for the same clique that is now attempting to acquire the Murimotu block near Wanganui. They attempted to secure the first-mentioned block—thirty square miles of magnificent country—but the natives with whom they had to deal had become too smart through almost constant contact with such gentry, and it was impossible to get the land through the Native Land Court before stringent steps were taken by Parliament to prevent such ruinous monopoly. It is refreshing to read that it is not improbable that the Murimotu negociations are | not unlikely to meet with a similar fate. There is consternation in the camps of schemers. Bribes are being doubled in amount. Men who would view it as an insult for their grocer to ask two prices, have bid higher, so it is rumored, 111 order that Murimotu may not share the same fate as the other big transaction referred to. We hope to Heaven that they may lose Muriiuohi too. We think their fears are well founded, for Parliament will put its veto 011 such monopoly, for a moral certainty, if it is not acquired when Parliament next meets. Then, we [ suppose, Government will be asked to pay compensation. Compensation for what ? j If a number of men band ihepiselves J together with the object of monopolising j as much of the country as they can, to the detriment of the majority of Colonists, and fail to succeed through the adoption | by Parliament of .a measure to prevent 1 such a ruinous and unjust disposal of the - ! Colonial estate, are they to receive com- | pensation ! For aught anybody knows, tluj land might never have become theirs, even if Parliament had not interfered. If such were the rule, it would only be necessary for capitalists tj make pretence to purchase native lauds preparatory to the introduction of an act to illegal is e such transactions. Bogus purchases would be stopped, and the applicants would apply for compensation. Such wienare excessively

generous ; they would only ask for some small return for their great outlay. They would say that they had expended several thousands of pounds. Perhaps so ; but it is not usual for them to lead the native mind into profligate habits by such liberality, and we suspect that men of their stamp would not object to adding a naught in order to transform hundreds into thousands. There will be a fight nest session between the true representatives of the people and native land purchasers or their friends and co-speculators, because the stake is a large one. Despite all opposition, however, we have confidence that right will be also might during the approaching session so far as this 'juestion is concerned. It would take much stronger arguments than those that have ever been adduced in favor of indiscriminate land purchasing from the natives to sway Parliament as at present constituted. Land schemers have played their game long, and have fattened 011 their plunder ; they had now better, without fractious opposition, allow the Government to have an innings, so that the profits accruing from such dealings might find their way into the public purse, and other people may have an opportunity of becoming possessed of land in reasonable sized areas for themselves and families.