The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 221, 23 May 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1877.

The Wanganui Herald lately stated that it was the “ intention of Government to take immediate steps for the survey and consequent sale of the con • fiseated blocks between Waingongora and Kaupokanui.” While of opinion that the statement is premature, we still hope it may prove true. Undoubtedly, the natives are gradually becoming reconciled to the idea of giving up possession of the plains. The unanswerable logic of the Civil Commissioner, as lately noted on several occasions of natives meeting that gentleman, to consult as to particular blocks of land, is telling on the native mind. What applies to lands already handed over to Government, applies equally to the Waimate Plains, The natives were unable to continue effective fighting, and had to re Lire before European Forces—therefore, although they have been allowed, temporarily, to re-occupy, they cannot reasonably expect to be allowed to retain possession of what is known as confiscated land. There was no imperative need for the plains being occupied by white people immediately after former native owners had vacated. There was an abundance of land in the possession of Government in various parts of the Island —more than enough to meet the requirements of intending settlers. It would have been inconvenient for the Government, with but a sparse population, to have,forced settlement. Had the land now referred to been actually needed, it would have been used ; and the natives would have found it very inconvenient to have removed settlers placed there. It would be even more inconvenient to do so now. The time is approaching when the plains may be peopled with advantage to both Europeans and natives. Through steady perseverance the boundary line between confiscated and native owned land, has been clearly marked. There can be no excuse for natives not knowing what Government claim. So much are largo numbers ol natives getting reconciled to the idea that they have no legal claim, and that it is hopeless to regain possession by conquest, that it is resolving itself into a question of what can be got out of Government. It is seen, too, that settlement by Europeans gives value to land that comparatively small blocks, in the shape of reserves, will yield more, and can in a hundred ways be turned to more profitable account, in districts occupied by Euro peans, than would over be the case where the -whole land of the colony solely occupied by natives. With the growth of a taste for European modes of life, the necessity for turning the land to profitable account becomes more apparent. It is short sighted policy for phiio-natives to urge that the full value to Europeans should bo obtained for all lands disposed of by natives. If it pleased Europeans to withdraw, what then would native lands be worth ? It would be profitable to largo native owners absolutely to give away portions of their land for the sake of the enhanced value which would be given to the remainder by the location of Europeans on it Some natives are getting wide awake enough to take somewhat of that view of the case—hence tne eagerness to hand over land to Government. They know that land now valueless to them, for the reason that they do not actually require it, and cannot let or sell it, would return handsome revenues, once it had been passed through the Native Land Court, and sold to Government or leased to Europeans. If it were not that natives are in many cases badly advised, by professedly European friends, the broader view of the land question taken by a few, would become general. Undoubtedly the natives require both counsel and aid from clearheaded honest Europeans, and protecti®n from Government, Unfortunately Maori advisers, as a rule, sacrifice their clients’ interests to their own vanity and greed. They like the homage paid them and like to feel that they are as little kings amongst the natives, and that they will become as princes in the land. They always look after number one, and secure large slices of the most valuable land. If this class of obstructives would retire, or could be removed, there would be less trouble in dealing with native lands, and both races would be benefited. Some similar measure to that proposed to have been enacted by tho late Sir Donald McLean, would effectively cut the ground from under the feet of obstructive and meddlesome Europeans.

Sir Donald proposed, that, natives desiring to sell land should hand it over to Government, who would undertake to survey and sell the same, giving the native owners, after deducting survey and other expenses, a fixed proportion of whatever sum the land fetched at public auction. vVhether the land fetched ICs., or £lO per acre, the native owners would get the proportion agreed upon, and be correspondingly benefitted. In the matter of the Waimate Plains, as in the case of portions of confiscated land already settled on by Europeans, and out of which liberal reserves have been secured to former native owners, it will come to be seen to be more profitable for natives to take reserves offered by Government, and burry on settlement by Europeans, than to attempt to regain possession of the whole for their own purposes. The comparatively small reserves will be of more value to the owners, with a European population around, than the whole plain would be worth in solely native bands. While we think the statement made by our Wanganui contemporary premature, w r e still hope it may prove correct. There are other nearly settled difficulties to finally arrange, after which the attention of the Government, through the Civil Commissioner, may be directed to the Waimate Plains. We have no doubt of the ultimate result.