NATIVE LANDS RATING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 137, 21 May 1884, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS RATING.

The following communication has been forwarded to the County Council, in answer to an advertisement which appeared in the JFaka Maori newspaper, setting forth the valuations placed on the various Native blocks, together with the amounts due as rates. It will be understood that all Native lands situate within five miles of any Government road are liable to this rating Gisborne, 20th May, 1884. To the County Council. We have seen your notice of the 14th day of May inst. in the JPa&a Jlaori demanding that the Maoris shall pay rates upon certain lands mentioned in the schedule of your notice.

Now, friends, great was the surprise of us Maoris on receiving such sudden notice of this law, especially as it was not first published in the Kalriti for our information. Now, our opinion is that our lands have not been valued in a proper manner. What rule has the Government adopted in making this valuation of Maori lands, that is, £1 an acre for one block and 10s. an acre for another; for when the Government purchased our lands they valued them at Is. 6d., 25., and 3s. an acre, and that is the price we received for our lands from the Government. We object to this amount of rating—it is most exorbitant. It may be correct to rate the lands of Gisborne in this way, for they are more valuable. This is all. Henare Potae. Meiha Ropata. and others.