The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 364, 12 October 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1878.

After much effort on the part of some members of the Assembly, ami of the Opposition Press, Government lias, at last, presented the long promised papers on the subject of Proposals made by Sir George Grey to Tawliiao, at the meeting at Hikurangi on the 10th May. The A. Z. Times, ns it has lately done on several other matters, has contrasted the promises with the performances of the Grey Government, and in tins case with what had previously boon done by the late Sir Donald McLean. “ When Sir D. McLean met Tawliiao in 1875, at Waitomo, and in the following year at Kaipiha, a complete report of the proceedings, from the invitations down to the final words of adieu, was on each occasion presented to Parliament, and may be found in the Appendix to the Journals of the House of Ropresentatives for the years 1875 and 1876 respectively. The whole story is there told, not by the Minister, hut, independently, in the separate reports ol three or four officers of the Native Department who were present upon the occasion. The proposals for a settlement made in 1875 to the King, were briefly as follows : (Ist) Tawliiao to exercise authority over the tribes within the district where he is now recognised as the head ; (2nd) A certain number of chiefs to be selected by him, to assist him in maintaining order and repressing crime amongst his people ; (3rd) The Government to support him in carrying on the duty which would thus devolve upon him; (4th) A suitable house to be built for him at Kawhia, and certain portions of laud on the Waipa and Waikato Livers to be guaranteed to him. Tawliiao at that time was urgent that there should bo a meeting with the Governor at To Kuiti in the next year, hut Sir Douaald McLean insisted that the meeting should take place at Kawhia. At the meeting in 1876 there was perfect friendliness and unreserve exhibited by the King and his people ; the proposals of the Government were not altered, but there was further time taken to consider them. The ‘certain portions’ of land proposed to be given were defined as about 8,000 acres purchased near Alexandra, some allotments at Ngaruawahia, and a restoration of certain burial places named. Had Sir Donald McLean’s life been spared, we believe that, in the presence of her Majesty’s representative, a settlement with the Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos would have been arrived at last year, upon the conditions above specified.” Following a reprint of Sir George Grey’s proposals, the I'imes says —“ We will ask our readers to look at the difference in the price offered for ‘ friendly relations’ now, and in 1875. Sir Donald McLean offered land near Alexandra, which he purchased for £3OOO, an allotment at Ngaruawahia which might bo valued at £IOO, and a house at Kawhia £SOO ; including contingencies, let us say £SOOO in all. Sir George Grey offers, first, all the confiscated laud between Waipa and the sea, roughly estimated to contain one hundred thousand acres, which at the minimum price of £1 per acre, is worth one hundred thousand pounds; five hundred acres at Ngaruawahia, £10,000; unsold allotments in all the townships in Waikato, say £IOOO ; house at Kawhia, £500; and an annual tribute, which could not be less than £2OOO. This is for Tawliiao and the Waikatos only. Wo have then Rewi and To Whiti, and Tito Kowaru and the others to settle with ; all this means money or land, and either or both in a very large measure. This will give some idea of what the ‘friendly relations’ between Sir George Grey, Mr Sheehan, and these great tribe's, are likely to cost. The ‘ relations’ being exactly the same, the difference in price, at present apparent, is that between £SOOO and £150,000.”

shall be qualified to vote in the election of members of any Highway Board within the 'Wellington Provincial District. The Wairoa Highway Board was so elected. The term for which the Board was elected has expired, and ere this a new election should, properly speaking, have taken place. It happens, however, that there are no ratepayers in the district qualified under the Wellington Highway’s Act, by which only a new Board could be elected. The Bating Act ol 1876, compels all Local Bodies to rate under it, which is on the principle of value to let. In the Wellington Highway’s Act the rates are levied on value to sell. Bates have been levied and paid under the Bating Act of J876, and not under the Wellington Act. Consequently there are no ratepayers in the Wairoa Highway District who have paid rates under the Act of 1871 or 1871, and there are no voters. There is a Clause iu the IS7T Act, which empowers the Board to remain in office until their successors are appointed, so that all business conducted by them, on behalf of the ratepayers, is quite legal, though the term for which the. Board was elected, has exexpired. Were another Board elected under the present Bating Act, difficulties might arise which would lead to litigation. Other Highway Boards arc in a similar fix, and it was partly with the object of meeting this and similar cases that Government this session introduced the Bond Boards Bill, which Mr Bryce, M.H.R., has written to say has been withdrawn. If the short Bill, which Mr Bryce says Government has promised, is passed, a new election can then take phu.e. Otherwise, if the business of the district is to be continued, the present Board will have to remain in office.