PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1922, Page 9

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

TROUBLES WITH THE NATIVES. SIR GEORGE GREY APPEARS. (By “Juvenis.”) In my last contribution I dealt with the land problem in the early days in Taranaki and the difficulties created by the action of Governor Fitzroy, who, fortunately for this part of the country, was superseded by Sir George Grey, who able to arrive in New Plymouth in 1847. Governor Grey took a practical view of the question. In abandoning the*s6,ooo acres to the natives. Captain Fitzroy had recognised their right thereto and any attempt now to wrest that tract from them would lead to war. which, however successful, must seriously retard the progress of the settlement. In Taranaki peace had been constantly maintained, and this pacific character it was most desirable to preserve. But, as more land was absolutely requisite for the increase and advancement of the settlement, every effort had to be made to acquire it by purchase. It should be observed that during the long period which had elapsed since Captain Fitzroy’s visit, the two races had preserved a friendly intercourse; trade and its relations had produced the usual humanising effect on the savage. The natives in this settlement could be divided, locally, into three bodies—th** town and Waiwakaiho. the Mangaraka, and the Waitara party. The Governor assembled them, questioned their exclusive right to the whole district. reminded them of his Waikato friends, counselled them to avoid trouble [by selling that which they could never require, pointed out the advantages derivable from a large European community in increase of trade and civilisation, and promised to make them good reserves wherever they might desire, in separate blocks. NATIVES SELL • The first party soon evinced a disposition to profit by the proposal, and. I after several interviews, agreed to sell. The -onthern natives, owning the district adjoining Mr. Spain’s award, came to offer more land?- Tt was then ex?pected that the Mangaraka party, on see : ng the fine reserves made and the increased wealth of the sellers, would ultimately follow* the example, and so influence the 'Waitara natives that the greater part of Mi^ Spain’s award would gradually be acquired. Having thus disposed of this long vexed question. His Excellency departed leaving the authorities in charge to press the completion of the purchases with all possible despatch—when the land so acquired would at once be made over to the company for the requirements of the settlement. The purchase first effected was the Grey block, comprising nearly 10.000 acres, sold by the town natives for £3OO. to be paid in annual instalments. It formed part of Mr. Spain’s award and a portion of it was originally surveyed by the company. Tt surrounded the Fitzroy block, and consisted almost entirely of bush. The soil was great fertility; it was level, well watered, and contained a quantity of valuable timber. The native reserve consisted of 1,150 acres in two or three separate portions. The second purchase was the Tataraimaka block, comprising nearly 4.000 acres, sold by the southern natives for £l5O. It was detached from the settlement, distant about ten miles; it was purchased for a cattle run. The third purchase was the Omata block, adjoining the first, but just out of Mr. Spain’s award: it comprised 12.000 acres, and was also sold by the southern natives; the'price, £4OO. being paid in annual instalments. It was of similar character to the Grey block, but contained more fern and light hush s land; it was perhaps the more valuable district of the two for their wants of the settlement. The company had laid out part of this block in a most efficient manner. SCRUPULOUS BEHAVIOUR. The completion of these three purchases occupied several months. The Government officers were scrupulous in obtaining the consent of every individual interested. Title deeds in the Maori tongue, showing boundaries and reserves, were duly signed by men. women, and even children; and the whole business, conducted with the greatest fairness and publicity, was concluded to the satisfaction of both native and European. As before observed, it was expected that when this was accomplished the Mangaraka party would follow the example set by the town and southern natives. This body, however, numbering about one hundred men, consisting* chiefly of the returned slaves under the guidance of a petty, turbulent chief, was the original cause of all the trouble. They had ever been unfriendly to the whites, and were still so decided in refusing to part with any portion of their laud, that such efforts as were now made in this quarter proved abortive; and. as the ; southern natives were desirous of treati ing for further sales, the officers of Govi ernment appeared most inclined to ob- ■ tain land bv purchasing in the easiest, direction. The acquisition of the Mangaraka district, however, consisting of rich open land lying beween the Grey block and the Waitara river, was so earnestly desired, that, on a representation of the case. Governor Grey again visited New Plymouth in March, 1848. FURTHER PURCHASES. The settlers now prudently requested the direct assistance of the company’s late agent, F. D. Bell. Esq. (afterwards Sir Dillon Bell, father of the present Attorney-General), and the Governor having expressed a similar wish, this gentleman at once commenced operations, with such vigor and judgment, that he soon succeeded in effecting a first purchase of 2000 acres in the heart of the Mangaraka district, whilst, by an excellent arrangement, the payment j was made in cattle —a more durable kind of property than blankets and tobacco. and which may be regarded as additional guarantee for the natives’ advancement in the arts of peace and civil- , isation. This small block, as a portion of Mr. Spain’s award, was surveyed, but it Was an acquisition much less important from its intrinsic value than from the admirable results it induced. Tt effectually broke up that system of exclusion which the natives, baffling every effort of the Government, had so rigidly maintained for a period of five years. By Hie tact displayed in the negotiation. the very men who. in its first stages, were most opposed to it. were co won over as to become anxious to sell more land. MAORIS BROUGHT BACK. During the Governor's visit, he made J *n arrangement which he pro*

posed soon to carry out. It will he recollected that, when Te Whero Whero defeated the Ngatiawa, most of the fugitives settled near Port Nicholson, and although some had been attracted back, a large number still remained. Part of these, who had settled at Waikanae, amounting to about 270 men, and who; in 1914, had assisted the Governor in quelling Te Rauparaha, now longed to rejoin the headquarters of their tribe, and return to their old homes on the banks,of the Waitara. As allies of Government. their location on that river would command the approach to the settlement from the interior. As civilised and industrious natives, possessing boats, horses, and one or two coasters, they would afford a supply of labor, aud materially increase trade and exports, if cultivating good land on the banks of a navigable river; whilst those resident on the Waitara had urged the absence lof their relatives, and the necessity for their consent, as a. reason why they ■could not justly part with any portion of the land. Moved by these considerations, the Governor had offered to assist I them up to Taranaki, and* locate them jin the north Waitara district, having its north bank for their southern boundary, to lay out a site for their village, and to try to make them a model native I settlement. i Under Governor Grey’s excellent arrangements, then, a tract of nearly 30.000 acres, in a district which is proverbially the garden of Now Zealand, was. peacefully obtained, at an expense of tenpence per acre. So far so good, but - troubles later arose, leading to conflict with the natives. and the setting back of the settlement for many years.