THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2599, 7 May 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1877.

The question of the disposal of Native lands without the intervention of the Government has been a fruitful source of complaint amongst individuals, and the cause of difficulties innumerable. In the provincial district of Hawke's Bay it has given rise to a strong party movement, which has already made itself felt as a power in the state, and at the same time has brought to light—to the keen scrutiny of the law courts the details of transactions which are not altogether creditable to some of the parties concerned. The abuses of direct purchases from the Natives have not, however, been confined to the district of Hawke's Bay. They have been perpetrated in almost every portion, of the North .Island, and been prolific of much discontent and grumbling* Without going into, the question fully, as to whether direct; purchase from the Natives of lands held under tribal rights should be permitted, we may say that we believe much injustice both to Europeans and Natives would have been prevented had the x Government. adhered •uniformly to the principle that no land should be alienated by the Natives, except to the Government, until a Crown Grant had been issued. The departure from this rule has created a ring of monopolists who have secured large tracts of land at a low price which the Government ought to have acquired for the settlement of a large industrial population, and at the same time become a legitimate source of revenue. The principle "of prohibiting direct purchase hasbeeii-pro-fessedly carried out, but if is notorious that the Government have not adhered to it. faithfully. Persons of means, and possessed.of political influence, have been permitted to purchase land by thousands of acres, while men of small capital have had insurmountable obstacles thrown in their way when endeavoring to complete their title to moderate homesteads. There is no denying this, for numerous instances are cropping up daily, and a great deal of odium has been heaped upon the Government for allowing this preference. It is therefore satisfactory to learn that a Native Lands Act has been drafted by the Hon. the Attorney General, assisted by the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, which will, it is hoped/place the question on a more satisfactory basis. When Crown Grants have been issued to Native land owners the Natives should be by .virtue,of their Crown Grants on an

equal footing wiih" Europeans—able to dispose of their land without any restrictions ; but, in order to prevent the monopoly in the purchase of land which has in the past done so much to retard the settlement of the couutry, no man, however or wealthy, should be allowed to 'traffic in lands which are not open■ to every one alike. That is, the Government should not allow facilities to the rich which are denied to the men of small means, and should resolutely set their faces against the numerous transactions which are now taking place of capitalists securing for themselves large blocks of land which have been at some time or other under offer to the Government, and on which, in some instances, advances have actually been made, it is unnecessary to enumerate instances. Everybody is aware of cases in which this abuse has been quietly winked at, and in this district some of the choicest portions have become the property of individuals, while a restrictive proclamation has been supposed to be in force. If the new Acb is framed to deal with this evil, it will no doubt have the support of the people at large ; if it does not, but increases the facilities for monopolists to enlarge their possessions, it should be condemned; and in order that the people of this and other districts similarly situated may have an opportunity of judging as to its tendency, the Bill ougbt to be printed and put into circulation some time before the session of Parliament commences. We have lately heard of large parch isrs in the Piako ; a correspondent hag broadly hinted that a portion of the Ohinemuri goldfields is to be alienated; while men with small means cannot buy an acre with any guarantee c:5 their title being validated. Whether this state of affairs is considered-by the Government to be lawful and right we do not know; but in order that the Parliament may know how matters stand, the people themselves—they who have felt the hardship of this partial administration should make themselves heard, and insist upon an equitable adjustment of the laws : which provide for the acquirement of land. The session is nigh at hand, and if any practical steps are to be taken to bring the matter before Parliament there is no time to be lost. There are in this district men who have suffered grievous wrongs from the operation of this species of Government favoritism. Some have been kept for years in a state verging upon despair at the delay in recognising the legitimacy of their purchases ;; others have found after paying the full value of land that they cannot get any title at all; some there be who have secared titles valid in every respect but Government recognition ; and they find themselves now at the mercy of the Government, because some powerful influence has ; been brought; to bear upon the latter to ignore their just claims. The cupidity of the Natives is excited by fresh, offers of money, and those who should be confirmed in their rights stand a chance of being ousted by powerful but unscrupulous agents of grasping capitalists, who want the land, not for settlement, but as a speculation. If a radical reform is not effected the splendid landed estate which the Government ought; to acquire for the North Island will very soon have passed into the hands of speculators, otherwise land sharks; . j