National Park on the Trunk Railway. Magnificent Gifts by the Natives. Wellington, Feb. 15.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 192, 19 February 1887, Page 4

National Park on the Trunk Railway. Magnificent Gif ts by the Natives. Wellington, Feb. 15.

A dksire has been expressed by Te Heuheu and other chiefs of tho Ngatituwhavetoa tribe, in the Native Lands Court at Wanganui, to mafce a free gift to the Sta»o of the mountains Tonpariro, Ruapehn, and Ngaruahoe, with u'i the surrounding land as far as the level country, for the purpose of establishing ft national park. Steps are being taken by the Government to enable the chiefs to cauy out their idea The land hag already been mailccd, anJ a bill is now being prepaied in order to give effect to the wishes ot' tho chiefs. That bill will be first circulated among the donor.", and if it meetb with their approval, it will be submittsd to tho Legislature at the incoming ee ; sion. Mr liallance proposes to vest the park in a Board, consisting of three trustees, one of them to bo Te Heuheu, the principal chief of the tribe, the other the Ke?ident Magistrate of the district, and a third to be named by the Governor. The person named by tho Governor is to hold ohice for time years, Te Heuheu for life, and upon his death or resignation a successor to be appointed by a public meeting of the natives convened for the purpose. Provisions will be made for the planting and improvo ment of the Park out of such monojs as the Hou.^e may from time to time appropriate for the purpose. The land to be given to the Government comprises a two mile radius round JNgaruahoe, and the same round Tongariro, while the present area of the lluipehu land is about 9,000 acres. The generous offer made by the chiefs is ono of the best proofs yet afforded of the gradual extinction of native superstition, for Tongariro has been strictly tapu. A valuable mineral spring Howb near the ba?e of this mountain, which is largely prized by the natives for its curative properties, and will, no doubt, be largely reeorted to by Europeans.

Purchase of Land. Negotiations for the purchase of the land comprised in the celebrated Waimarino block, through which the North Island main trunk railway is to pass, ie progressing very satisfactorily. Already 000 out of 1,000 ehareß have been acquired from the natives, and the Court will proceed immediately to " cut out " the shares of non-sellers. It ia expected that out of a total area of 490,000 acres comprised in the block the Crown will obtain 400,000 acres. Most of the non-eellere are scattered all over the country, but the signatures of all the principal resident owners, with the exception of Pehi, have been obtained.