TEMUKA NATIVES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2440, 20 December 1892, Page 3

TEMUKA NATIVES.

On last Saturday the Honorable A. J. .Cadman, Native Minister, visited the Maori Pah at Temuka. He was accompanied by his private secretary, and received by the natives was headed by Mr J. Kahu, with a song of welcome. A meeting was then held in the Maori Hall. The walls were festooned with green bouglxs, amongst which the weeping willow predominated to denote, as Cope afterwards explained, that the natives were weeping for their grievances, and desired the Government to do something for them. There was a large meeting of natives, although some were away shearing, and after the Native Minister had taken his seat at the table, Mr John Kahu stepped forward and bid him welcome. He reminded him that those present were the descendants of those who once owned the land, but it had passed to the Queen, and now their grievance was that they wanted some land to live on. He asked that 40,000 acres might be set apart for them between the Pukaki and Tekapo lakes. Some twenty or 30 men and women spoke much to the same effect, each saluting the Minister by such endearing names as the “ white crane that comes but once,” “ the bird that sings in the summer,” etc. Some of them said that 15 or 16 people had to live on a quarter acre section; some said they had no land at all, and one old lady demanded money as she was too old to make any use of land. The specehes were very monotonous, but the women had the best of it. Mrs Moses made the best speech of the day. Mr T. Pratt, M.H.R., acted as interpreter, and after having heard them all for about two hours Mr Cadman replied. He thanked them for the welcome he had received. It was the most natural welcome he had received anywhere in the South Island. He had come by request of Mr Pratt to hear their grievances. The present Government was called “ the Government of the working classes,” that meant “ the poor classes,” and they meant to include poor natives in that class and treat them like Europeans. One speaker referred to the weeping willow, and said a good many hr.i come but did nothing for the Maoris. He had now something definite to offer them, and it would depend on themselves whether they would accept it or not. It was no use going into the past; they must look to the future. The Europeans were anxious to settle on the land, and they were taking it up rapidly, so soon there would be no Crown land left. Very little land was left in Canterbury and there was an agitation on foot to buy up large restates so that the poor could settle on them. Nothing had been done in this yet, and now the question was whore could land be got from, and got at once, before the Europeans had taken it all up? He had 50,000 acres in three blocks to offer the South Island natives, and if they accepted this more would be got for them, but if they did not it was no use aoing on. The native commissioner, Judge Mackay said, some had no land at all, others had not sufficient, and he proposed to deal with both parties. The land he offered was some good, some fair, and some indifferent, but those who got the bad land would get more of it and it would be so arranged that all would have enough. There would be so much fora man, so much for a woman, and so much for children. If the natives refused this he had another offer to make. The young men and women could go up to the North Island, where they had any amount of land, and form settlements of their own. He was in a position to give them excellent terms if they would do this. They ought to consider that it was no use for them to remain where they were. They might remember they were no better off now than they were ten years ago, and would be no better off if they remained where they were, but if they went to the North Island they could get plenty of good land on which to settle. He made these promises, but if they did not accept at once some other minister might come in who would not give them the chance. With respect to old people, it was no use asking them to go on the land except those who had children. The old people who had no children would get some small allowance. He, however, would qualify this promise. He was willing to do this, but if his colleagues objected he could not do it. And now he would suggest to them to call a meeting, and send some one to look at the land; anyone they would choose in conjunction with the Waitaki people would get free passes on the railways as far as railways would go, but they must bear all other expenses themselves. That was all he had to say to them and he hoped they would consider it, and that this would be the beginning of the end of the question. (Applause). An excellent dinner was then served up and partaken of, and the Honorable Mr Cadman left the pah amidst great cheering.