THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2616, 28 May 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1877.

We learn from the New Zealand Gazette that a Native Lands Court is to be opened at the Thames on the 30th of this month; from another source we gather that Mr James Mackay is engaged negotiating the purchase of land on the western side of Lake Taupo for southern capitalists; but nowhere can we learn that any attempt is being made to complete the purchase of land in this district on which large sums of public money have been advanced. It can scarcely be asked why we have mentioned Mr Mackay's name and referred to his movements. That gentleman has been the principal—if not the vsole agent between the Government and the Hauraki Natives in land transactions, and we should like to be informed whether it is the fault of Mr Mackay or the Government, or the Natives, that these transactions have not been completed. The people of this district have been crying out for the opening of the land for years,' but the cry has not been heard, or has been little heeded.. The Ohinemuri goldfield, which it was hoped would be opened as Crown land, is still in the hands of<the. Natives; and although thousands'of pounds have been "advanced," it does not appear that the purchase of a single block has been effected. Yet we hear of private individuals buying blocks here and there, and meeting with no obstacle. One gentleman, it has been stated, has received the countenance of the Auckland Waste Lands Board to open negotiations for acquiring some seven thousand acres of the country proclaimed as a goldfield, on which to form a special settlement for the introduction of immigrants, and the statement has not been contradicted. Owing, perhaps, to the improved, prospects of mining—possibly in despair of achieving any success—the landagitation commerced here some time ago has been allowed to drop. The people are still hungering -for the land, but the Government heed not that there is no land available. Under the Municipal Corporations Act of 1876 the Borough is empowered to.apply for an endowment of 2000 acres ; but the land is not available foil 1 selection. Manyvolunteers are now in possession of their scrip, but they have no. land to choose from, and must perforce go out of the district to select or sacrifice their scrip for a nominal «urn to some one who can use it to advantage in acquiring land in some district other than this. Between the indifference of the Government and the intrigues of those possessing influence- with the Government, there is a probability of the best land in this district passing into private hands without giving those who would be bona fide settlers a chance of buying a homestead ; and even that portion of the Ohinemuri goldfield suitable for agricultural leases is in danger of being alienated. That t this will be the

case seems pretty certain unless the inhabitants take steps to prevent it. The session of Parliament is approaching, and if we mistake not during the session the administration of the Government will be subjected to a searching criticism ; and we know of no more glaring instance of neglect of the public interests than the course pursued by the Government in regard to the lands in the ffauraki district. When the Lands Court was opened on the 27th of March last two sections of the Hauralci Natives were at loggerheads over a matter of Maori etiquette, and the consideration of a large number of claims, involving large interests, was postponed. The intertribal difficulty has been arranged, but has anything been done by the Government or their agents to forward the settlement of the Government claims on the land ? We fear not. Another sitting of the Lands ■Court is to be opened on, Wednesdayi and we shall see what progress has been made in putting matters in train for a final settlement. By the former delay the public interests were jeopardised and individuals were seriously embarrassed; ancj. the consummation so long hoped for—the acquisition of land for settlement—indefi- j nitely postponed. The persons interested —they who have been anxiously waiting for the land—should closely watch for the next turn of events, and if no satisfactory solution of the problem is arrived at, then measures should be taken to lay before Parliament at its next sitting a full statement of the condition'of affairs. Let the names of the blocks, their acreage and locality,on which advances have.been made be prepared; the sums paid thereon, and the time over which negotiations for their purchase have extended, be ascertained. In addition, every item of information that can be obtained regarding the host of jobs—the private dealings of pakehas during the progress of Government purchases —should be laid before Parliament; and if no redress can then be obtained, we may conclude that the system that at present obtains is not only permitted but encouraged by the.Government. The survey of a line of railway from the Thames to Waikato has, it is said, been authorised; and we believe it is a fact that a gentleman, has already begun the work from the Waikato side. The lands between Waikato and Piako have long been ac. quired by capitalists in immense blocks, and it is shrewdly suspected that if the railway be made it will be through the districts in which these capitalists hold the land. Moreover, it is frequently stated that the Government will not make any efforts to complete their purchases of land in the Thames district until their friends have secured the pick of the country, and the construction of a railway will then go to enhance the value of their estates instead of opening up a large extent of good land for the occupancy of small settlers. This is a subject on which the future of this district depends, more than on the big pump; and yet the latter, with a temporary —we hope it may be permanent—revival in mining seems to have diverted the public mind from the most important question as regards the future—the acquirement of land for the settlement of the people, and the. encouragement of an industry not even second to mining. . . .