MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1474, 2 March 1886, Page 2

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

The Hon. John Ballaoce drove out from Timaru on Saturday morning, and reached the pah at Arowhenua at 12 o’clock. His visit was expected, and preparations were made by the natives, who had their meeting house nicely decorated with evergreens. The floor of the meeting-house was covered with ferns, etc., and at the end, where some tables and chairs were placed for the Minister and those who accompanied him, mats were laid out on the ground. There was a large attendance of Maori women and their children, but a great many men were away shearing, and consequently the meeting was not so large as was expected. On Mr Ballanco arriving he was met by Mr Pratt, M.H.R. for the Southern Maori District, Mr Rickus, Native Assessor ; and several of the leading Maoris. On his entering the meeting-house the women set up a song of welcome, and wheu he look his seat Mr C. To Mdiharca rend an address to him which was to the effect Hint they heartily welcomed him as ho was the man whose advent they had been looking for. He was the greatest physician who had come to see their sickness, and to give them a token of relief. They thanked him for coming and they hoped he would consider what they had to lay before him. The lion. Mr Ballance in reply said : Friends, native people of Temuka, I am very glad to see you. I listened to your address with great pleasure, more especially as it was read by a son of the distinguished old chief, Te Maiharoa, whoso praise I have heard in all quarters as a leader who spoke wisdom and guided his people well. You refer to my visit as having long been looked for, to give you a token of relief. It is my de'sire to visit every native settlement so as to meet all face to face and know you personally. I desire to know your wants so that I may remove any trouble which I understand to be the cause of the sickness you mention. Let us discuss these matters so that we may understand each other. I will hear what you have got to say and see whether your troubles can bo removed. It will bo my duty to remove any sickness that may affect you. I hope you will tall me all so that I may understand what is the cause of your trouble. Mr John Kahu was the first to speak. He expressed great pleasure at seeing the Native Minister present, and said the great trouble was the di vision of the land so that each should have Lis own share. This was their trouble. 1 Land had been leased by the trustees, and the money was kept by them—and the others got none of it.

Mr Harry Kahu said they were living in darkness owing to the reserves. At the sitting of the Land Court in 1858 a list of the persons entitled to the land was made out, and it was suggested that they should get equal portions of it. The trustees leased the Kapunata reserve of 600 acres at £3O a year for seven years and they kept the money. The lease of another reserve was made out byTomati Terawati, who kept the money for four years, amounting to £4BO, only £IBO of it being divided among the people. The money kept by the trustees and Tamati was about £320. 200 acres were leased by Tamati Terawati to Mr Cox for 14 years at £3O a year, and the other people got none of the money. At this time a strong good-natured looking woman entered with a poor old man on her back. He was wrapped up in a shawl, and she carried him about and let him down on the ground as she would a child. Never have we seen a more wretched looking human being. He was a complete cripple, and could not move without assistance, and although bis features bore strong marks of tatoo his akin was almost as white as the few straggling hairs on his head. The woman treated him with great tenderness, put him in a sitting position on a mat near the wall, pulled the shawl closely round him, and generally treated him as kindly, and with as much fondness as a mother would her infant baby. He was, we understand, the father of the Kahus, and is over 100 years old.

As soon as he was seated Harry £ahu continued—He said ; “ That old gentleman,” pointing to the new arriva, “ was one of the trustees, but he got no money.” Mr Ballance : Why did lie not gel it I Harry Kahu ; Because he is a cripple and could riot walk, and the others kept it. With reference to the pah land one person leased it in secret, and they came to know it when the European had his crop en it. Half the burial ground was European land, and the other half belonged to the Maoris, and both cultivated it. There were about 500 people buried there. Other people might think nothing of this but he did. He hoped the Minister would give it consideration.

Mr Whatuira Terawiti (young Tommy), was glad to see the Native Minister. He agreed with the subdivision of the land, but the chiefs should have a larger portion, and smaller portions should be given to those who had no interest in the laud. It was true the land was leased, but he knew nothing about the money. Lately the money was stopped altogether, and was kept by the Europeans. His father wae dead, and the Europeans don’t know who to pay. He asked the Native Minister, Who was entitled to take this land on behalf of his father] There was very |little trouble, only that all looked upon themselves as chiefs. Every one whs a chief. He was the chief, because it came to kirn from his ancestors, and the interest in the land came to him from his ancestors also. Ho wou'd agree to divide the land, provided it was given according to the title of it. Mr Rickua, of Waimate, Native Assessor, said that the administration of land from Ashburton to Waitaki was once held by Puhio. la 1880 Puhio made a will, and appointed him (Mr Rickua) as his representative to see that the money was divided, amongst his sons, his wife, and his people, who had an interest in the land. He a*ked ferawati for a sharp of the money, but he took no notice of him. He had spent over £6OO. He went to stop the money till a division was made amongst those entitled to it. He was then appointed Assessor, and got £OO, a half-year’s rent, and asked the Maoris to put it into the bank until they agreed as to the division, A Native Committee was appointed to divide the money, and some of it was given to peisons who came lately, on whom the M.oris took pity. There was some other trouble, and he wrote to Mr Clark, and he had not paid since. He asked the Native Minis-

ter how to get this money and how to divide it., There were only seven persons raising objections against the Cnnnaittee, or the way the money whs divided. He always tried to divide the , money fairly amongst them all. Cope Terawati said at the Land Court bis father’s name was placed at the head of the list. The Europeans recognised bis father as the chief ; none of them would take a lease of the laud unless his name was to it, and that was the reason he made all the leases. If his father did what be ought not to do why was there no law to prevent him doing so ? He objected to giving money to persons who were not entitled to it, and would not agree to divide the land until his own title, which he derived from his ancestors, was acknowledged. The trouble was they all ["'wanted to be chiefs. Eli Terawati and others spoke to the I same effect, and when the speaking was done, Mr Ballance said he would carefully look into ail that bad been said. He thought that in future it would be better to place the rents in the hands of the Public Trustee, and let him divide them fairly. He would see with regard to the division of the land, but it would be necessary to put it through the Land Court to prove the title. After the speaking was over a sumptuous dinner was served up. The dinner for the Native Minister and those who accompanied him was served up in European fashion, and cloths were laid along the floor of the house, on which the eatables were laid out for tho Maoris. After dinner Mr Ballance drove away amidst tremendous cheering, and came over to Temuka, It was his intention to visit the Linseed Factory and the Butter and Cheese Factory, but as it was 3.20 p.m. when he reached Temuka, and he had to proceed to Christchurch by the express train, he found it impossible to do so. He then drove up the Main Road as far as Cass Street, turned down, and visited the Roman Catholic Church and the District High School, and reached the railway station just in time for the express train, in which he proceeded to Christchurch. He expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance of Temuka, and said it was the prettiest country town of its size he had seen. He was astonished at the Catholic Church, and wondered where the money wae got to build such a splendid seboolheuse. He expressed great regret at not having been able to see the Linseed Factory, as he understands a good deal about it.