South Canterbury Times, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2538, 10 May 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1881.

Settlement in the North Island, especially in the province of Auckland, has made very substantial progress during the past few years. It is a frequent remark that the native difficulty is virtually at an end, and the remark is essentially true. Nothing could more fully illustrate this than the increase of the European population in the Waikato district—the stronghold of the native race. Not many years ago the most powerful and influential of Maori chiefs expressed an earnest desire never to see the lace of a white man. Time has modified llewi’s views, and before Sir George Grey left office it was intimated to the old warrior that he could have a seat in the Upper House, or rather he he could have the two hundred and odd pounds a year,—the honorarium which is attached to the position of a Legislative Councillor. Rewi declined to come to Wellington to attend the session, but nevertheless a generous Ministry persisted in paying the honorarium of the “ honorary ” Legislative Councillor. Rewi, who is regarded as a truthful man, denied that he had ever received a penny of the money. However, somebody drew the cash on behalf of the guileless Maori aristocrat —“ hoary headed old rebel,” as some people still call him. The Government had a house built for Rewi. We are not aware that he has ever taken up his quart?rs in it. Although the chief of the Ngatiamopotos declined to receive anything substantial from the Government, there is no doubt that the blandishments and delicate attentions of Sir G. Grey and MrSheehan have considerably modified the views of Rewi regarding the white man. With the hostility of that chief, settlement would not have progressed in the Waikato. Rewi for

years has been the chief adviser of Tawhaio, and the Minister is more powerful than the King. Railway construction, no doubt, had a great deal to do with the European taking up his home in the Waikato, but the most important consideration was that he would be allowed to live in safety. It may be that the railway extension had a beneficial effect upon the Maori mind. At any rate, at the present day, a settler in the Waikato appears to be as safe from disturbance and outrage as a farmer on the Canterbury plains. We were led to the above remarks by that which occurred in the Native Lands Court a few days ago, when 90,000 acres of land in the heart of what was formerly called the King Country was thrown open for settlement. We are told that two or three years ago the survey and investigation of the title would have been impossible. The local journal states that the opening of the block marks a new era in the history of the country. It practically means that half-a-million acres of land hitherto untrodden by Europeans, and occupied by Maoris, bad passed under the authority of the Queen and the law. This has been accomplished in the most peaceable manner. The Maoris who attended the Court argued their case with great coolness and considerable ability, and above all, there was little question as to the jurisdiction of the Court. It is true the Queen’s writ does not yet run over the whole of the North Island, but recent events point to the conclusion that the day is near at hand when the Queen's law shall penetrate to the utmost recesses of the country..