Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2165, 11 December 1875, Page 3

Correspondence.

REIHANA. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sic, —Some people appear to have a good deal to say about the reihana system of Native land purchase. I think it is advantageous both to the Government and to tho Natives. The Government cannot be expected to keep their agents supplied in cash to satisfy every little whim and crotchet a Native may take a notion to. A similar system is uniformly practised by the Canadian Government in paying the Natives for land. In no case ao they pay cash for lands. It is considered unwise and impolitic to entrust Natives with large amounts in cash, as it tends to demoralise and de: grade them. If they do get a windfall by the sale of some valuable bit of reserve, they soon contrive to get rid of it for some trumpery of no benefit to them, such as cast-iron knives, bad whisky (> gunpowder half sand, <fee. Now, if the reihana system was adopted as a rule, and one uniform price given for all land (not a fancy one, as many are dear at a gift), no private person allowed to traffic with the Natives for land, and payments to be made in stores and necessaries at stated intervals, by instalments, according to their requirements, we should be under no necessity to borrow half-millions to purchase Native lands. I suppose the Natives complain because the present Government won't give them the flour and sugar on such easy terms aa they formerly got it when Sir George Grey was " boss." They, the present Government., want something substantial in return. —I am, &c, Heney Chabnley.