REPORTS TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM OFFICERS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 297, 11 August 1875, Page 2

REPORTS TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM OFFICERS IN NATIVE DISTRICTS.

The following refer to Poverty Bay. Dr. Nesbitt writes:— Resident Magistrate’s Office, Gisborne, llth May, 1875. Sir, —I have the honor to report that if there is any change in the condition of the Natives in this district since last report, it is for the better, inasmuch as the land question, which has been so long agitating the Native mind, has, through the instrumentality of the Native Land Court, been for the most part satisfactorily settled. r Thus the owners have been enabled to deal with a large portions of their lands, and are at present in receipt of a considerable income from rents, probably as much as £5,000 a year in this district. The admissionhoweverof so manyclaimants by the Court into each block presents a great obstacle to the completion of leases, much complained of by intending lessees, and now regretted,! think, by the Natives themselves. I regret to report that Native schools in this district have proved a failure. The Turanganui school is closed, the pupils having ceased to attend. I attribute this failure in a great measure to the nomadic habits of the Natives, and the consequent difficulty of inducing them to cultivate continuously in one place, and also the carelessness of the parents, who do not at present appear to appreciate the value of education. I think the English sehool established under the Board of Education might be made available for sueh Natives as choose to send their children. I believe sueh a proposal has been suggested to the Hon. Sir D. MeLean, but has not yet been carried into effect.

I think the general disposition of the Native population tends to peace, and they seem inclined to live on good terms with their European neighbours. They also invariably appeal to the law in their disputes, whether amongst themselves or with Europeans.

The sanitary condition of tha Native population has been in a satisfactory state during the last year; there have been no serious epidemics. Ido not think habits of drunkenness are increasing, if one may judge from the quiet and orderly manner which characterized the large assembly of Natives during tbe sitting of the Native Land Court. On the whole I think the Government are justified in considering the general feeling and condition of the Natives in this district highly satisfactory.—l have, &c., W. K. Nesbitt, Resident Magistrate. The Under Secretary Native Department.

Mr. Locke R. M. states his opinion thus : —ln the general Inclosures Act, 1845” (England), clause 20 (see Cooke on Inclosures and Rights of Common), under the head of “ Incapacitated Persons,” it is .stated, “And be it enacted that whenever any person interested in lands as foresaid shall be an infant (minor), lunatic, idiot, feme covert, or under any other legal disability, or beyond the Seas the guardian, trustee, committee of the estate, husband, or attorney respectively, or in default thereof such person as may be be nominated for that purpose by the Commissioners, and whom they are hereby empowered to nominate under their hands and seal, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be substituted in the place of such person so interested.”

Some provision, such as the above, in the Native Lands Act, might tend to meet the difficulties likely to arise in tbe future, but provision is also required to meet cases that may crop up daily out of past adjudications. The troubles existing for so many years in this district have to all appearance ceased. The complications, however, in regard to land titles are only partially over. The settlement of the great difficulty of the subdivision of lands which have passed the Poverty Bay Commission, referred to in my last year’sreport, isnot yetcommenced, but will be shortly. Thevexed question of joint, tenancy will then come on for hearing, when it is hoped that the ambiguity in the provisions of the 4th clause of “ The Natives Grantees Act 1873,” will be cleared up. Certain reserves are being set apart in accordance with clause 24, “ Native Lands Act, 1873.” As aEuropeansettlementthedistrict is advancing rapidly. This is shown by the fact that the European population, which in 1869 did not exceed two hundred, people, now numbers some two thousand, having a Customs revenue of £7,000 per annum. One of the great wants of the place has been just supplied in the opening up of the telegraph to Gisborne.

The road to Opotiki and Ohiwa, ifi'the Bay of Plenty district, is being cutj but forit to be of any practical use it will require to be cleared a chain wide, with open spaces at convenient intervals, for camping grounds for cattle or sheep. It would, however, be better if the road were made passable for drays. A road formed by the way of the oil springs at the head of the Poverty Bay settlement, and through by the Mata and Waipu Valleys to the landing at the Awanui, would open up the centre of the Peninsula of the East Cape, and render a large extent of good, land available for occupation. Of nublic buildings (for the construction of which £4,000 have been voted) for office.s of the different departments of the Government, there is much need.

One of the great drawbacks experienced by the settlement is not having either the road metalled or a tramway laid between Gisborne and Ormond.—l have, &c., S. Locke, R.M. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington.