NEW ZEALAND LANDS SETTLEMENT COMPANY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1075, 18 May 1882, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND LANDS SETTLEMENT COMPANY.

(from our own correspondent.) Tologa Bay, May 12. A meeting was held in the Runanga I whare, at Tologa, on Wednesday even- ' ing last, at which about 100 Maoris j and Europeans were present, to hear the statement of Messrs Rees and j DeLautour with regard to the progress of the Company in re their lands. Mr Epiha Paran and Mr Jno. Walker acted as interpreters. Mr Rees in opening, said he was glad to report that the position of the I Company was improving Sales of i shares had taken place in England, I and the Company was strengthened by I plenty of funds. In Gisborne also the Native Land Company is going on very well. He was also pleased to state that arrangements were in progress, and in a fair way of settlement, with Mr. Mullooly for the purchase of Panikau, and he hoped very soon to be able to announce the successful issue of the negotiations. One thing he would like to impress upon the Maoris, viz., that they should make up their minds as to what they were willing to do with their lands, and then act together, in getting the titles properly settled, to act in concert as to the blocks they desire to have passed through the Court, in fact work conjointly with the Company. Man- ; gaheia No. 1 has already passed the Native Land Court and is free, immediate action should be taken to open up the lands in order that settlers might be placed upon them, and a mutual benefit accrue. The larger area of land, the greater number of people, and t he greater the prosperity of the Maori people Mr. DeLautour, M.11.R., followed. He had spent the afternoon in going over the land near at hand, and was very much pleased with the character of it. It was his opinion that the land was suitable for settlers. He however hoped that he should soon be able to spend a week or two in going over a much larger area. His present idea was that the three blocks Mangaheia Nos. I and 2 and Parramatta should be dealt with as a whole, being bound together by rivers. The Company could not do things in a hurry, it was not possible Io push on with very great rapidity. Mr. Murphy for instance had a very large interest indeed, and it was impossible to deal with him like a bag of kumaras. The Maoris he contended should benefit at once, the directors are favorable to speedy settlements as far as possible, and he saw no reason why the Maoris should not reap present benefit. Mr. Rees is heartily supported by the Directors in his efforts to obtain settlements of blocks under negotiations, and more than this the Company are now in a position to pay the money down for such blocks as may come into their hands. Mr. Rees is working very hard to carryout what has already been arranged for and consented to by you (the Maoris). The Maoris have so far dealt fairly and honorably with the Directors, and the Directors are equally a« anxious to deal fairly and honorably with the Maoris.

Hori Mbkai in reply said that the Maoris were very much dissatisfied with the Companye actions in regard

to the Parnikau block, and as regards Mangaheia No. 2, the natives were not willing to proceed any further with the negotiations. They first wanted to see proper arrangements or settlement made with Mr. Murphy. So far all had been talk, no good. They (the natives) were quite willing to enter into negotiations with the Company for several other blocks, but Mangaheia No. 2 must be set aside. Hepaha Maiti, and one or two others spoke in a similar strain all being most determined not to proceed any further in the Mangaheia No. 2 block. Mr. Rees in replying expressed his faith in the Maori, he had never been deceived by the Maoris yet, and he knew he was not going to be deceived now. Still he could not keep from expressing his feelings, more especially as regards Mangaheia No. 2; which block he said the natives had agreed to proceed with immediately. He complained bitterly of the way those present treated his proposals, and the determined manner in which they expressed their intention of not proceeding further with Mangaheia No. 2, until some definite arrangements had been come to between Mr. Murphy and the Company. I have told the Directors the natives would sign, and now you say you will not, and what shall Ido ? He stated that the principal owners in the Mangaheia No. 2. Albert Rangiuia, Patra Rangi, Karauria Pahura, Kingi Hori, and Hatta had called on him in Gisborne this week and requested him to proceed with the preparations of deeds, and as soon as they (the deeds) were ready, would sign them, also instructing him (Mr. Rees) to inform tho natives present at this meeting of their intention, and request them to sign also. This did not produce any apparent impression on the natives present, nor would they budge one inch from their detetrminatioii to stay all negotiations regarding Mangaheia No. 2. An ofier was then made by Mr. Do Lautour to pay them £lOO at oneo, one half the balance when signing commenced, and the remainder when the deeds were in the Land Court. But the natives refused to concede anything of their determination. Another proposition was also made by Air. De Lautour—that he should send up a skilled accountant to examine all the accounts due to pakehas by the Maoris, and agree as totheamoun s to be paid by the Maoris, when, if possible, the company would endeavor to arrange for payment of them. 'This idea seemed to please the Maoris greatly, and Kapai I Kapai I was generally shouted. A little desultory conversation followed, and the meeting terminated.