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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1023, 14 January 1882, Page 2

It is becoming hackneyed now to talk about the necessity of getting the lands iu this district individualised. Everybody is aware that the only barrier to our progress as a community is attributable to the fact that our land titles are shaky and the lauds themselves held in a state that almost borders on communism. It is but poor consolation to know that under the existing aspect of affairs, things are likely to become worse instead of better, and why need we wonder? It is perfectly useless for the people of this district to bewail the difficulties that surround them, and be calling to the gods for help, if they will not take the bull—or rather the hydra-headed monster—by the horns, and set about helping themselves. A ray of hope, however, illuminates the darkness of the way. A movement is on foot which eanuot too highly commend itself to the attention of every person in the district who

really has the welfare of the place at heart. It is proposed, and the initiatory steps have been taken, to call together the leading people of the district —irrespective of the political, social, or other views they may entertain—for the purpose of uniting in a work that is for the common good of us all—the farming of a Bill to deal with the Native land question and to be brought forward at the next Session of Parliament. During the late festive season, when so much has been preached about “ Peace on earth and Hood-will towards men,” it might not be out of place if that Christian precept were put into practice. We certainly think that there is an excellent field in Poverty Bar wherein it might be exercised. While people work, as has been too often the case in times gone bv, at such cross purposes, our land titles will remain in the unfortunate state they are, and we may bid adieu to “peaceon earth,” at least so far as this portion of the sublunary sphere is concerned. The project now being taken in hand has not commenced one moment too soon. It is imperative, if we really desire to assist Mr Allan McDonald, M.H.R.. in his representative capacity as member for this district, in bringing before Parliament a suitable measure for dealing with the lands held under the different Acts, that such a Bill should be framed before the House meets, so that on the assembling of Parliament, it could be among the earliest Bills introduced. It is bv the adoption of such means, and the exercise of a reasonable amount of enerev on our own part, that we can all help to lifting the district out of the mire of its land troubles where it has too long wallowed. From what we can gather the Chairman of the Cook County Council and His Worship the Mayor will be asked to sign circulars to the residents of the district who are likely to take a prominent part in the undertaking, and whose counsel may be of great avail. The members of the two local bodies—the County and the Borough—from the representative position they hold will be looked to, to take a prominent part, as—if we are not speaking too prematurely, such a contingency might arise as their having to memorialize the Government on the subject. There is one thing that may, in our opinion be looked upon as extremely necessary to the speedy adjustment of the difficulties that encumber the district in respect to its lands—and that is the passing of a special Act to deal with lands along this part, of the East Coast. Here we have lands held under joint tenancy, tenancy in common, Native title, and almost every other species of land tenure resulting out of trusts, gifts, and exchanges, that the mind of man could conceive. We urge that it is only by special legislation that we can have the various accumulated intricacies set right. There should be no objection on the part of the Legislature to passing a special law for the East Coast District. Parliament has done so before. In fact it is in a measure owing to special laws relating to this district only—such as the Poverty Bay Grants Act of 1869, that we can trace the cause of the difficulties that have outcropped ; and it will be only by special enactments thatthose difficulties will be overcome. Doubtless a meeting will be called so soon as a definite scheme can be submitted to the public. For the present we may take leave of the subject, feeling sanguine that with the cordial co-operation of the settlers themselves, the association contemplated for promoting legislation in the important direction indicated will prove fruitful of consequences that cannot fail to ameliorate the unfortunate condition of affairs that has so long thwarted every movement, towards settlement in the district, and which it is our own fault if it be permitted any longer to prevail.