THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 53, 21 February 1908, Page 4

THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

'Hie chairman of the J-rymonl t'oimtv Council, at the meeting on Friday. I» might up tii,. .-iiilijeet oi' up the block <if land surrounding- l'ariliak.i (say, the Opunake Times). Since the demise „t' 'J'e AVhiti Hi,, natives have s iowji a desire to work, and are anxious that the lands should lie thrown open, lo do that it is necessary tlwt tlic road should lie made through the block and connects with the Carrington road II i- not often that the natives make a fn»s about wanting to <f<-t on the land, but tliey apparently recognise the benefits to lie received by working the land, and as they have interests in it, it is hut natural that they .should want their own property. In (he old dav.s of Tarihaka they worked in a. half-hearted kind of way, which was (or a bare living onlv. To Whiti getting all the 'buttei-fatV' while they had to be content with the "skimmilk." The chairman of the Conn'•ll pointed out that when the land i--etlled the rates will be more collected, as the native, will liave something to work on. It is understood that the lleserves Agent approves of the block being opened and (lie road made, and the .Minister of Native Affairs is lo .lie asked to accede to the wishes of the natives (bat (hey can get settled. It i- admitted that the natives who have been under ibe ban of the pernicious inllucnce of I'arihaka have made le>s progress than those in other parts of I (lie i-land. a nil now lhat an opportnnil v ; h*" srii I'.-r llieir position lo be im- J moved V. :■ feel <e] tain Ilia! <hosf- men j " 11 " have 111 ■ p.ACT win that the j tin lire Wei far" «. t" the native- will lie j i "!)-idrred. It m 'ans not only an iin- j orovcinent to themselves, but by produc j lion tin' prosperity of the district will ( bp increased. |