WALMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 482, 6 December 1879, Page 2

WALMATE PLAINS DIFFICULTY.

The Taranaki Herald's Wellington correspondent writes as follows, under date Ist December :

The Bill to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the alleged promises to natives on the West Coast, from Waitara to White Cliffs, is distributed. It provides for the appointment of a paid Commission of three persons, who are to report in four months. It also provides for detaining the native prisoners. I fear this enquiry, in so very formal a manner, will give rise to very large claims on the part of natives which are now at rest—claims that will be difficult to resist on the part of the Government —but the Southern members will have an enquiry, so that justice may be done to the natives. I hope justice will also be done to the European settlers, whose propety and prospects have been so materially injured by the present disturbed state of affairs on the West Coast.

The Government, I believe, intend to deal with the native question in a satisfactory manner. The Plains will, I understand, be settled by a population, roads will be made, and ample reserves provided for the natives. Such a policy will settle the native difficulty, and I have great hopes of its being carried out, as two members of the Ministry at least are strong advocates of such a policy—l refer to Mr Bryce and Major Atkinson. I expect there will be a long debate on the Bill, and those who know little or nothing of native affairs will no doubt have the most to say about the matter.