REPORT OF THE NATIVE COMMISSIONERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2309, 11 August 1880, Page 2

REPORT OF THE NATIVE COMMISSIONERS.

AREA OF CONFISCATED LANDS. HOW THE DIFFICULTY MAY 13E SETTLED. The final report of the Native Commissioners deals with the question of future settlements of surplus land, repeating the caution as to belief in the existence of large territorial revenue to come out of it. It is stated that on the Waimate Plains there will be about 20.000 acres of first-class open land,and 80.000 acres of first-class bush land ; the Parihaka block will afford 15,000 acres of open and 6,000 of forest, and the old block of 1,500 acres of open and 16,000 of forest—total, say, 113,000 acres, subject to a reduction of perhaps 10.000 acres. The gross value of this for sale at present is estimated by competent authorities at somewhat less than £750,000. This will include all land available for sale and settlement within the confiscated boundaries, and all White Cliffs andWaitotara. It will require most careful administration to make it cover the cost of acquisition to the colony. The Commissioners express a decided opinion that the present difficulty might bo settled b} r the aid of Te Whiti, whoso strange influence is allpowerful with the large part of the West Coast population. The report concludes as follows :

Lust of all, if there is one thing that day by day comes clearer than another to our minds it is that Te Whiti should not be left in his present isolation, and that serious and persistent efforts should be yet made to influence him. The West Coast question will never be settled —unless, indeed, we do it by resort to force—except by some arrangement with him. To fill our gaols with prisoners not for crimes, but for a political offence in which there is no sign of criminal intent, is not only a harrassing and perplexing process, but the worst of it is that it docs not advance the one thing that is really wanted —peace upon the Coast. As Mr Bright said in the House of Commons in a debate on the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill for Ireland, “ there is no statesmanship merely in acts of force and repression. Such acts can only bo justified on the ground of political necessity and in self-defence ; but even then they often stand in the way of the solution of difficulties which mere statesmanship if left to choose, would have solved in^ another way.” It seems to us that the time has come when, if our suggestions arc accepted by your Excellency, definite instruction should bo given to Te Whiti of the manner in which it is proposed to deal with the disputed districts and he should be invited to concur in that sharing of them with your Excellency which lie appeared prepared to acquiesce in at the date of his interview with Mr Mackay ; but he should be made to understand that in any case the Government is going to take its share. In what manner he should be approached seems to us a matter for the consideration of your Excellency’s advisers. We only venture to suggest that no time should be lost in doing so.