HAWERA.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4321, 6 November 1882, Page 2

HAWERA.

Saturday

The Mackay Reserves Commission, at their own request, met the natives at Hokorinia yesterday re leasing portions of the continuous reserve between Waingongoro Hiver and Okaiwe. Most natives interested were present; afew were absent, as the weather was favorable for fishing, and a scarcity of food compels natives to avail themselves of all means of obtaining food. The natives who met Mr Mackay expressed their willingness to lease through the Commissioner all portions of the reserve they did not require for cultivation or grazing of their own stock. One

or two old women raised the old cry about the Government having already robbed them of the bulk of their lands formerly, and that now the Commissioner was going to take from them the only laud they had Jeft on which to grow potatoes and feed their,pigs. The old ladies having had their say sat down contented, and at the close of the m..-eting cordially shook hands with the Commissioner. It is quite clear that the natives begin to see the folly- of allowing large areas of country they cannot cultivate remain in an unproductive state. They can form a pretty fair estimate of the probable income they are likely ,to derive from the waste lands, and are wisely nuking up their minds to

lease