PROPOSALS OF MR SYDNEY DAVID TAIWHANGA, M.H.R., FOR THE COLONISATION AND SETTLEMENT OF MAORI LANDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 334, 16 January 1889, Page 3

PROPOSALS OF MR SYDNEY DAVID TAIWHANGA, M.H.R., FOR THE COLONISATION AND SETTLEMENT OF MAORI LANDS.

Inalienable Lands. — There shall be set part an area of land equivalent) to acres for each man, woman, and child of the Maori race, including half-castes, except Hori Kerei Taiaroa, who is otherwise provided for. Such area shall be selected in such parts of North and South Islands as the Maoris may decide upon, and every allotment granted under this provision shall be inalienable. The allotments shall be selected by chiefs and people according to priority in rank. A suitable portion of such area shall be set apart for a town. Such town shall be vested in the Council as common property of all Maoris (except as aforesaid), and shall be governed by a Council or Board similar to Municipal Councils in other parts of the colony. Rules and regulations shall be made for the management of the town, the health and recreation of the inhabitants, the education of the children and generally for the peace, order, and good government of the people, and in pursuance of the 71st section of the " New Zealand Constitution Act, 1852." Maori Lands. — All other lands belonging to Maoris, or to which they may be entitled, including reserves, and whether Crown granted or not, shall be deemed to be Maori lands, absolutely freed fiom all tribal and other rites and restrictions whatsoever. Such lands shall form the Maori estate, and shall be dealt with as hereinafter mentioned. The land laws and mining laws oE the colony in force for the time being for the sale, leasing, mining, or other disposition of Crown lands shall apply to Maori lands, and such lands shall be dealt with accordingly. Subject to existing leases or other tenancies the whole of the Maori lands shall be open ior application and settlement. The "Counties Act, 1886," shall apply to Maori lands. All lands required and appropriated for roads shall vest in the Crown. All lands required for roads, railways and other public works may be granted without payment to the Crown, or to any public body or company making such railway or public work, iiud giants of land in aid may be made. Reserves may be set apart for public purposes similar to reserves in other parts of the colony. Management of Maori Estate. — The Maori estate shall be managed by a Council or Board, consisting of — Maoris. The Council shall be elected in a similar manner as Maori members of the House of Representatives are now elected, such election to take place triennially, and for the first election the colony may be divided into tour districts each district returning members. The Council so elected shall appoint a Piesirlenfc who may be an European and shall hold office during good behaviour or until removed by the unanimous decision of the Committee. Tnc Council shall be a corporation and have a common seal, and may sue and be sued, and its principal office shall be com onion t to tlieseatof Government. Tht, functions ol the Council when dealing wibh-Miioii lands shall be analogous to the iunction? oi the « ands Boards ot the colony Regulations shall be framed by the Council for the p> oper conduct and management ot business, and all proceedings shall be open to the public, and all plans and other records shall he puolic records. The President and Council shall receive such rcmuiferation for their services as may be decided upon. The Council may at any time state a case ior the opinion of the Supreme Court, and subject thereto all decisions of the Council shall be final and conclusive. I General. — The Native Land Court shall bo abolished, and all incompleted business &hall be dealt with by the Council or by a special commission. All statutes affecting Maori lands as above denned shall be repealed, and all Crown giants or memorials of ownership affecting lands belonging to Maoris shall be null and void, but without prejudice to any existing contracts affecting the same and save and except " The Taiaroa Land Act. 1883," unless Hori Kerei Taiaroa shall consent to conform to these proposals. Crown grants for Maori lands shall be countersealed with the seal of the Council, but all leases, licenses, etc., shall be sealed with tiie seal of the Council only. Finance. — The Council may obtain advances for the general management and cost of survey ot the Maoti estate, and a lien shall attach to Maori lands for such advances. The proceeds of all sales and of all rents and income derivable from the sale, letting and disposition of Maori lands shall be paid into a, bank to the credit of the " Maori Estate Account," and all compensation and other moneys to which they may be or may become entitled shall form part of the same fund. All salaiies, office and other expenses of the Council, including expenditure on the common propeity, shall be paid out of the fund. Subject to such expenditure and the repayment of &nch advances, the fund from time to time available shall be distributed half yearly between and amongst the Maoris in the .shares and proportions to which the chiefs and Maoii people are respectively entitled to the same. Before making such distribution it shall be competent for the Council to expend such poitions of the fund as may be considered necessary in making the common property available for settlement and occupation. The accounts of the Council shall be audited by public auditors and published in the Maoii and English languages. CifiNS Uh. — As soon as conveniently may be, a complete Maori census shall be taken, distinguishing the chiefs from the common people. The chiefs may be divided into classes, according to rank and distinction as they may determine, and the shaves of each class shall be gt eater than the shares of the common people in such proportion as they may also determine. Certificates in accordance with the census shall be issued to every Maori, representing the share to which be or she is entitled to par-> ticipate in th« Maori E&tate Fund, and every distribution thereof ; such certificate shall not be transferable or assignable or bo available in bankruptcy. A register of such certificates shall be kept, and upon the death of any holder such cci tilieate may b,e transferred or a new certificate issued to his le^al personal representatives. The shares of infants shall be payable to their parents* or guardians for their maintenance and! education. S. D. Taiwhanoa, M.H.R.

Cholly : ' You look tired old fellow : whafccher beon doing ?' Dolly (briefly) : 1 Literary work.' Cholly (surpiised): i You don't say so. YVhafc branch, old man ?' Dolly : ' Well, you see, I know a man who whites for papers, and this morning he asked mo to help him count the words in an article 'he 'was. going to sond to town. Mighty hard \\ oik, ] a.^uie }ou. AlmoaO as havd as writing, don'beher know.'