NATIVE STATEMENT.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 80, 21 September 1878, Page 3

NATIVE STATEMENT.

On Tuesday evening Mr Sheehan made his Native Affairs Statement. Relations with 'the Natives are now satisfactory, and there are now well-grounded hopes that the Natives may be gradually elevated to a condition of civilisation. Statistics were quoted to show that the Maori race is slowly but surely becoming extinct. Since 1874 their numbers had decreased by 1956. This decrease was due to the want of proper care for the very young, and neglect for the old, poor diet, bad dwellings, indulgence in liquor, and their communistic, depraved way of living. A hopeful sign was the fact that the half-caste was of superior physiqnp to either European or Maori. Religion was being revived amongst Lliom, aud this was producing good effects. The taste for strong drink was also decreasing. There

W r-vi' 60 Native schools, attended by aboii! 2')iH) children. They proposed to spend -.'14.000 this year on these schools. Maorii- ought to be allowed t> net hr jurors in Courts o justice. The hit Native .meetings had i een prodini. ve of much g <d. During the last ight months t ! ree turn s the amountof bind had passrd through the Courts than in ilie previous year. Considerable injury and embarrassment had resulted from the acquisition of land by private persons, but the Act of last session had put a stop to this. The number of Native judges should be increased. No Government officer should be allowed to traffic in Native land. Regarding purchases, negotiations were in hand for the purchase of blocks amounting to 3,143,000 acres. £186,000 had been paid, and £593,000 was yet to be paid. Government might not be able to acquire the freehold of all the Hot Lakes district, but they could prevent its pasing into private hands. A Native Lands Bill would be introduced, restricting purchases, and compelling private purchasers to complete their title in a public manner. The claims of the South Island Natives with regard to certain alleged promises made to them respecting their lands should be investigated. He hoped the time was not far distant when the Native question would be no more, and the Native department abolished, both races obeying one law, and speaking one language.