FINAL REPORT OF THE WEST COAST COMMISSION.

Patea Mail, 20 July 1880, Page 3

FINAL REPORT OF THE WEST COAST COMMISSION.

The second and. final report of the West Coast Commission on Native Affairs has been laid beforc the House of .Representatives. It is a formidable document of 34 pages ; yet it would appear from the marginal notes referring to evidence, reports, letters, telegrams, vouchers, minutes, and notes of various kinds, the appendices to come must he something ponderous. VACILLATING POLICY. ' The Commissioners commence by saying: —“The further we went into the task your Excellency had commanded us to undertake, the more clearly we saw two things : first, that the disaffection of the natives on tho West Coast was but the natural outcome of a feeble and vacillating policy towards them during more than 15 years ; secondly, that the troubles which during that period beset every successive Government might have been mastered at any nmc, it omy scrupulous guuu rami waited on steadfast counsels and a consistent purpose.” SCOPE OF THE REPORT. The report is arranged under fourteen heads. The first part traces in bold and rapid outline the history of the settlement of the colony, ami our relations with the natives from the earliest settlement up to 1869—from.the days when the whalers and European traders, through the various wars, disturbances, and insurrections, up toJ'I’E Kooti’s followers being dispersed, and himself hunted into the King country. The second part deals with the aspect of affairs, after the suppression of the insurrection, when the country 7 between Waitotara and Cape Egmont had been all but deserted by the natives, when Sir W. Fox made the memorable promise that no native fire was to be lighted again by a rebel in the Patea country. The third part details minutely the circumstances, attending the return of the insurgents of tho Ngatiruanui tribe to the Waimate Plains in 1871, to settle on the land they formerly occupied. A CROP OF TROUBLES. This third part is an important chapter of the report, inasmuch as it shows that indecision and vacillation in our management of the natives sowed the seeds of a crop*of troubles that had to be reaped later on. It is while dealing with this part of the subject that the Commissioners manfully admit their own share of the blame for having, as Ministers of that clay, allowed ’a difficulty to grow up by small degrees, that afterwards became the unwelcome inheritance of every Government, TITOKOWARU’S REBELLION. After detailing the painful occurrences of Titokowaru’s rebellion, to the cud of 1871, the reports shows the position of affairs to have been this ;—The insurgents were coming back one by one in secret, spreading themselves over all their former settlements north of Waingongora. The Commissioners say that to attempt at such a time the policy of treating those men as rebels, and driving them once more away, was to risk all that bad been gained during two years of peace. INDECISION of governments. Alluding to the diverse treatment of Titokowaru and Tauvua early in 1872, they say, “ We say at once that tho right policy would have been to treat Titokowaru and Tairtia both alike. They were both representatives of the insurgents of 1868, and should have been allowed to return to their respective districts on precisely the same conditions, the principle of which should liave;beon that they were to settle on reserves assigned to them by the Government. This was the policy laid down for thoPakokohi, and should have been the same for the Ngatiruanui. Nor are we here to refuse, as members of the Ministry of that day, our own share of the blame. Have wc not allowed a difficulty to grow up by small degrees, which has since become the unwelcome inheritance of every Government? The wisdom of assigning specific land to the returned rebels has been proved in Taurua’s case, nor can it, we think, be reasonably doubted that Titokowaru himself, as well as the tribes which remained loyal, would at that moment have welcomed and accepted some definite reserves os the condition of his return in peace.” They conclude this portion of their report as follows: Thcrewcrc but three courses open to Sir Donald Me, Lean ; to drive them off by force, to insist

on their return, upon defined reserves, or to yield tacit consent to their re-occupation and bide his time. He chose the last. waingongora native awards. Part 4 refers to the Instructions of 1872 whercunder “ South of the Waingongora the lands awarded to the native tribes were to be defined and surveyed, and such of them as the owners were willing to sell were to be bought by the Government. North of tho Waingongora, the land along the whole coast as far as Stoncy River, although nominally’ confiscated,” was declared (except Opunake Township) to be ’‘available for settlement until arrangements should bo made with the natives for land sufficient for their own requirements,” and tho native owners were to be compensated for all lands they might relinquish, at rates not exceeding 5s per acre.” The Commissioners show, by reference to the records at their command, that the instructions could not be carried out os easily as at first anticipated, on account of legal difficulties. Divided counsels also evidently stay r cd decisive action. gratuities to natives. Part 5 explains the arrangements of 1873, which led up to the initiation of a new system of making the acquisition of blocks of land, simply by the payment of sums of moiifiv as gratuities. This was the foundation of the system now calico “ takpba," but the change of term, as explained by 7 the Commissioners, was wholly ineffectual to change the opinion of the natives as to what was really* meant by 7 the payment of money in that way 7 . Sir Donald McLean gave instructions to extend the rate of compensation from 5s fo 7s 6d per acre for tho country nortli of Waingongoro, on account of the extravagant views of its value entertained by 7 the natives, and the fact that they 7 had failed to recognise the reality of the confiscation. waimate trains. Part G relates to the survey of the Waimatc Plains, the main points of which will bo in the recollection of our readers ; but two important points are brought out very stongly 7 , namely, the laying out a road {brought the cultivations of Titokowaru, and tho neglect to lay off reserves for the natives, or even give them an uninistakeablc assurance that such would be done. The chapter is long and interesting, and seems to show that past experience in dealing with the native race had not brought about much improvement in our system of management. MR SHEEHAN’S TELEGRAM. —A MYSTERIOUS INCIDENT. Part VI. also contains some startling disclosures. It say 7 s that Major Brown was about to commence the work of surveying the Waimate Plains, when he j-eceix-ecl a telegram from (lie Undcr-Sec-rotary, informing him that “ tlie Hon. the Native Minister (Mr Sheehan) requests that you will suspend the survey of the Waimate Plains till ypu arp further instructed.” The report goes on : —“ On what ground, or by 7 whoso advice opposed to the advice of Major Brown, (he Government acted in stopping tho survey, there is. little in the official records to show. The only trace wc have seen is in a minute in the margin of a curious document in tho Native Office amongst letters and telegrams relating to the survey. This document is not recorded in the usual manner. There is no date of the official receipt, nor anything to show how it got into the Government office. It is in the handwriting of Mr R. T. Blake, who was employed by Sir D.M’Lean as au agent on the West Coast, who (according to Major Brown) had endeavoured to excite Opposition to the survey among the natives, and whom he had bribed by the. promise of £SOO with the approval of the previous Ministry to assist them, but who instead of helping him is accused by Major Brown of having told the natives, on Mr Shoe* ban’s authority, that he (Major Brown) was not authorised by Sir George Grey or tho Native Minister to take the survey on the Waimate Plains.” A LADY IN THE CASE. The report continues:—“ The document to which we are now referring is dated November 10th, 1877, and appears to consist of copies of; two telegrams addressed to Mr Blake by 7 Takiora Grey 7, then known as Mrs Blake, and who is now Mrs Dalton. One of these telegrams, among other things not material, tolls Mr Blake that ‘ Major Brown says the survey is to cross over to the other side this month.’ Mr Blake replies to this—‘ Pay no attention to what Major Brown says; it is not right that the survey should bo commenced first and the discussion taH« pn.uo „ctv.« mno. After both parties have made arrangements it can proceed, I am going to-day to Mr Sheehan and Sir George Grey. Expect another telegram from me. Major

I Brown is; perhaps preparing ;tojembavvas the new Government.’ This document is endorsed > in ;Mr Blake’s hand WritingMemo. for J, B. and Sir G. To Kerenga.’ How it came into Mr-Sheehan’s possession does not appear, bnt on November. 24th, 1877, it was minuted in the margin by Mr Sheehan to the Under-Secretary thus : ‘ Do you know anything of this ? Captain Blake suggested to me that it might be desirable to stop the survey at present.’ The Under-Secretary replied ; ‘ I know nothing of this. Major Brown has not reported the circumstance of any difficulties with the surveyor ? We have found no other trace whatever of any ground on which the Ministry stopped the survey than this suggestion of Mr Blake’s.’ ” MU MACANDREW’S PLAN —HALE A MILLION WANTED. A few days after the writing of the above minute, namely, on December 6, 1877, the work was stopped. On May 22, 1878, Mr Macandrew made the following-minute: — “ I desire to submit to the Cabinet the expeniency of there being no further delay in taking the necessary action towards surveying for scttleiv ent and disposing of the Waimate block. In my opinion, the Government lias shown great rernissness in not having had this land in the market now. Il would have placed us in funds,to a very largo extent, «nj cuabloJ public works to bo carried on so far irrespective of loan. I know that there are numerous purchasers prepared to occupy and turn to account this land at once, and to pay a good price for it. My belief is that it will place in the Treasury close on half a million sterling. I would suggest that a strong detachment of Armed Constabulary should be located in the neighbourhood, and the surveyors started on the block at once, and that the Native Minister be apprised that such is the intention of Government,.unless he is of opinion that good policy absolutely forbids it.’ Mr Macaudrcw’s views were approved in Cabinet, but no action was to be taken till the Native Minister bad visited the dis trict.” NATIVES INTERRUPTING THE SURVEY. “ NO INSTRUCTIONS.” The report proceeds to deal with the survey of the Plains, which proceeded quietly from August 10, 1878, until February IG, 1879. The Commission say that on February 28 the Chief Surveyor reported that Ids difficulty was the native clearings and cultivation, and that in cutting one of the lines through a bush the natives kept on hindering the surveyors in every way. This report was at once submitted to the Minister by the SurveyorGeneral, bnt remained apparently unnoticed for a month, when Mr Sheehan minuted, ‘No special instructions. Attach to other Waimate papers for the present. J. S., April 22.’ The interruption of the survey meanwhile was increasing. On March 12 one of the surveyors reported that the section pegs were rapidly disappearing from one of the blocks, and that from station to station, for several miles, the pegs had been pulled up. The surveyor to whom this happened "would not allow that the changed conduct of the natives was connected with Ins laying off a road line near Titokowarau’s settlement at Ohaiwa, but after careful inquiry, we ourselves entertain no doubt (hat this road was a principal cause of the surveyors being turned off the Plains.” The Commissioners ask ; Were any instructions given to Major Brown in reference to making reserves on the plan either before the commencement of the surveys or during their progress ? To this the Commissioners’ reply is practically in the negative, and they add that there can be no doubt that it would have been better if specific instructions had been given to Major Brown. NO RESERVES MADE. As a matter of fact wore any reserves made ? To this, after giving full reasons for their opinion, they reply, “ On this question then, we can come to no other conclusion than that it is true, both in the letter and the spirit, that no reserves were made either previous to the commencement or during the. progress of the surveys, that none were ever marked off on the ground or any plan except in the manner just described, and not even those marked off on the plan were.ever made known to the Natives,” If none were really made either before or during the progress of the survey, there arc good reasons for believing that if they 7 had been made, the removal of the surveyors and the subsequent embarrassments would not have occurred ? PROPORAT. P.V TV. wniTt.. The Commissioners refer to Mr James Mackay’s famous interview with To Whiti when To Whiti said, “ As you came along, Blake, did yon show Mackay the lino cut

through the cultivation at the door of Titokowaru’s house?” “ Yes,” replied Mr Blake, “We saw that.” “ Then,!’ .continued Te Whiti, “Where is the piece to be- retained by 7 the Natives ? Where are the promises !of M‘Lenn and Parris that the lands in the cultivation of the Natives should hot bo taken from them ? But for the surveyors being turned off we should receive no consideration at the hands of the Government.''■ The works of McLean, Parris, and the old Government were different to the acts of Sheehan, Brown, and the new Government. Parris always came and told us his intentions before taking action.” He went on, “ Tho people might not sit down quietly and submit to'the land being surveyed under their feet. You say 7 , let me and the Governor sit down on the blanket together. The Governor will not do that ; ho is dragging it all away for himself. Again, are you authorised by 7 the Government to offer rue a part of tire land, and agree for them to take the other part ? It seems to me from the way the surveys are being conducted that y 7 ou wish to take the whole of the blanket.” On this the Commissioners comment, “ In our own opinion what passed between Te Whiti. and Mr. Mackay amounted ; to an unmistakeablo overture from that chief to the Governor to make him a definite proposal for tho Settlement of the existing difficulties, and showed that lie was prepared at that time to sec those difficulties solved by 7 a division of tho land by 7 sharing of the blanket, provided , only; that the Governor did not drag it all away for himself.”

SUCCESSIVE MISTAKES. Tho natives gained au idea that their confiscated land would bo restored, and hastened to return to their old settlements. Parliament and rival Ministries let slip the opportunities for a steadfast policy 7 , and no sooner was one step taken than it had to be retraced. Meanwhile the re-occupa-tion of the Waimate Plains by the natives was going steadily 7 on. Port 7 deals with the proposed sale of the Plains, which was 1 followed by the ploughing of the settlers’ lands, and the arrest and imprisonment of the offenders. NATIVE PLOUGHING AND WHAT FOLLOWED. Part 8 deals with the historical ploughing up of settlers’'land. Tho Commissioners quote the words used by the “political ploughmen,”namely, that it was done in order to force a settlement, and that To Whiti only wanted the Governor to come and settle affairs. The Commissioners comment upon the absolute uselessness of Air Mackay’s services as a Commissioner. This portion of the report concludes : “From this date the .ploughmen up to the number of nearly 200, were followed up by the police, arrested at various places, ami sent for trial at Carlyle and Wellington. It is unnecessary here to continue the story 7 of events. So far as tho ploughing is concerned ; it entirely ceased at the end of August. The detention of tho ploughmen and the postponment of their trials under authority of an Act passed by the General Assembly, do not appear to come within the scope of the investigation we were commissioned to make. Wo will merely 7 add that they7submitted to arrest without resistance, acting under Te Whiti’s orders, ami that they were told to remain in custody 7 awaiting the final demonstration of his power, which ho prophesies will release them and bring about tho revolution he predicts ” The Commissioners proceed to deal at more or less length with the following questions, namely 7 —the incidental causes which impeded the Government, the awards of the Compensation Court, tho Government awards, and abandonment of the confiscated land. SECRET SERVICE PAYMENTS. They 7 deal at some length with the system of “ Takota,” with respect to which they 7 say 7 ; “It was simply 7 a make-believe. Their contciiipt for the pretence that it made any difference could not be better put than in the language of Air Mackay’s report to MrSlieehah : ‘ Although the term ‘‘ Takota” (gratuity) is well understood by the Maoris, it is absurd to think for a moment that they 7 do not look on any “ takato ” payment made to them as being consideration for their lands.’ ” MORAL OF THE STORY, In conclusion the Commissioners say : “The story speaks for itself. - Weentirely believe the moving cause of all our difficulties to have been ever the same, that the tribes wo had encouraged to return to the Waimate Plains, have never known wnat lauds they rcaDy own ; and if any of us arc tempted, as au easy way 7 of escape from reproach, to say that the-fault is all Te Whiti’s, we ought not to forget how our own records show

he never took up arras against us, but did his best in all that time to restrain from violence his" unruly and turbulent tribe." If the story we have told has not made hisj clear, we have told it to your Excellency in vain. It still remains foi us, however, to say what we think should be done in- addition to tho measures we advised in our first report, in order that the Crown may 7 fulfil its promises and heal every 7 real grievance on the Coast. One thing is certain, that nothing can be done without new legislation, as every power which formerly existed has been repealed. In this report, long as it is, we have only been able to speak of the past; and we ask your Excellency’s permission to offer to you, in a few days hence, our suggestions as to what such legislation should do for the future. A BRIGHTER FUTURE. Tile report concludes :—We hope a brighter time-may come. In January the Armed Constabulary crossed the Waingongoro to cany through the Parihaka country the road which for years a handful of disaffected natives had (to the humiliation of our people) forbidden to bo made, bimultaneously wc tried to learn wlmt promises had to be fulfilled, what grievances to be redressed. This enquiry has now been completed, the road has been passed through from end to end, and the really OOOOJltii.l - roooiTt. boa honn mni'ltoj out upon the ground. A line cut through the forest, from Stratford to Opunake, has shown a level fertile country 7 fit for settlement. Cross-lines have been cut to unite this line with the Waimate Plains, and the Plain itself is being rc-survcyed to open the land for settlement next spring. As y 7 et this work has all been done without serious opposition, and though the greatest care and caution must continue to be exercised at every step, we say, to your Excellency, that the natives arc now realising, for tho first time since the insurrection, that there is a Government which will treat their claims with generosity 7 , but is resolved to be tho master, all of which is with groat respect submitted to your Excellency. “ William Fox, “ Francis Dillon Bell.”