The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 165, 21 May 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

Foil some time past an Anglo-Indian, who signs himself E. G. Thomas, of H. M. Indian Service, has taken a special interest in the Maori question, and we are rather uncertain whether to regard him as a philanthropist or as a Don Quixote. He claims that a system of land tenure, known in India as Ryotwarry, would, if introduced into New Zealand, terminate all difficulties with respect to Native Lands. llyotwarry is a permanent lease system, and though a permanent or pepetual lease will not satisfy the Colonial hunger for a freehold, it may be a means by which Maori lands, now wild and uncultivated, may be cleaved and cultivated, A perpetual rent would be a strong inducement for any native to give up land in his possession, as the annual amount he would receive for the indefinite term would necessarily be larger than that lie would get for short leases, The promoter of the scheme argues that—

If the Maori was assured of tlm regular payment of a rent for liis land for over, more land would be offered us than Englishmen could cultivate for ten years to come, and if the Englishman Avas assured of the unchanging permanence of his title and the charge on liis laud there would be 110 lack of tenants on a Crown estate, Hut the lovcivs of freehold object, and say they will accept, no other titto.

The Government object, and view with jealousy any plan which is not their own, and redounds to their political credit, The laud ring objects, for their profits arising from over-reaching first the Maori and then their own countrymen would cease. These last I must be content to accept as irreconcileablo foes; they wish to monopolise in the hands of a few rich men or rich companies the purchase mid sale of Maori land. I wish that such monopolies should be impossible, and that all profits should be clearly and frankly known, and carried to the benefit of, not a few hole and corner individuals, but of the whole of the two races. If these monopolists can throw dust in the eyes of the people and prevent their understanding the very simple plan I put forward, they will do so. Of the Government I only nsk an unprejudiced audience. If after a patient hearing they approve, the scheme becomes their own, anil theirs the credit for all future time, for I am a nobody and desire nothing. To the lovers of freehold and the public in general I reply by stating some of the advantages of Ryotwarry and meeting the diiliculties.

The advantages offered by Ryotwarry are, that it would open Maori lands to Europeans without the cost of 'purchase, and without delay, and that it would create virtually a large Crown land property, from wliioli the nation would eventually reap an annual income of half a million a year—thus relieving the public of taxation to this amount.

If the Maovies themselves are willing to adopt Eiotwany, it. would be very foolish of any Government t:> hinder then) from so doing. The only contingency to be guarded against is the fact that the Natives are steadily decreasing in numbers, and there should be some provision by which, when a tribe or family became extinct, its property under such a system should go to the State. It is right that a Maori and his descendants should have the benefits of any land lie may possess, but it would be unreasonable to go beyond this, and to attach permanently a Native title to large areas of lands which otherwise, in the natural course of events, would fall into the hands of Europeans. ltyotwarry, as practised in India, may not be exactly suited to the progress and wants of a Colony like New Zealand, but we think that it might be adopted to suit our wants, and made of value to both races in this Island, No doubt during the coming session of Parliament the subject will crop up, and the practicability of introducing it will at least be debated.

The second term of the Wellington College commences on Monday next. To-morrow is Ascension Day, There will lie services in St, Matthow's Church, at 9.30 ti.in. and ISO p.m, The phonograph has been exhibited in Wellington during the last few days with very mixed success, Mr H. H. Wolters has been appointed creditors' Trustee in the bankrupt estate of Jenson & Hadley. The residents in the neighborhood of Hodge's Bush Hotel have petitioned the Postmaster-General for a branch Postoffice.

We presume Saturday next will be observed by Storekeepers as a general holiday, and Friday night substituted for Saturday for marketing—but our storekeepers ought to let tho public know for certain what course they intend to pursue, Has Mr C. P. Skipper, Solicitor, of this town, ground of action against our contemporary the Evening Post, for printing his name on Monday last as C. P. S. Kopper'l The Tauherenikau School has been closed for the last six weeks, Teachers appear to be scarce just now, It is anticipated that one will be found for the school in July next.

It is reported that the settlers in the Whareama district are offering five shillings for every rabbit shot within certain boundaries. It would pay to grow rabbits when a bonus like this is offered per head.

Some of our- settlers, writes a correspondent in the Lower Valley, are now getting up their late potatoes. They are a poor average crop—although in some instances eight and nine tons to the acre have been dug—but they are of splendid quality. Mr H. Dudding has settled at Tauherenikau on a property recently purchased from Mr D, Knight. Ho has already commenced improving the estate, and though settlers in that neighborhood are sorry to lose Mr D. Knight, they are glad to have in his place a gentleman intimately connected with some of the leading pastoral farmers of the old country. Some of the young Maoris at Te Ore Ore arc anxious to organise a Brass Band in their camp, and with a view to enable the necessary instruments to be purchased and a suitable instructor engaged, they propose giving performances at Wellington and Masterton in' the Haka and War Dance line. This is a sort of programme that is calculated to fetch tho public, and to provide the means necessary for developing the latent musical talent in the Te Ore Ore natives.

The Auckland Electoral 1101 l Revision Committee has lodged 1,270 objections.

The Canterbury Times states positively that Governor Kobinson is not going to race any horses in Now Zealand. The cost of laying a submarine cable to Cape Colony is estimated in one of the proposals now before the Treasury at one and a-half million sterling, and the whole of this sum is guaranteed by the promoters The estimated yearly .deficit in the working of a line that cannot be commercially remunerative for some years is to be covered by a yearly subsidy from Government, whichever of the competing schemes be adopted.

A recent number of Truth contains the following The Bishop of Melanesia, Dr Selwyn, lias been giving missionary addresses at Oxford and Cambridge, and has more than once hinted to the undergraduates that they will be none the less fit for future work because they are fovemost on the river. Dr Selwyn is, I believe, the youngest of the bishops. He rowed stroke ill the Cambridge boat in 18G(i, and his father, the late Bishop of Lichfield, was in the crew in 182?. We might look in vain for another example of a father and son both in their University boat, and both bishops,

Under the heading of" Death of ail Old Nelson Settler," the Nelson Mail says" A telegram from Blenheim informs lis of the death of Mrs Redivood, at the ripe ivge of 84 years. It must be some 38 years since Mr and Mrs Redwood with their family arrived in Nelson, and until the last four or live years Mrs Redwood resided in Waiinea West, where she and her husband were well known as genial, hospitable old settlers of the right stamp. Shortly after old Mr Redwood's death, Mrs Redwood removed to the Wairau, where several of her sons and daughters had settled, and amongst thorn, and a large circle of grandchildren and great grandchildren, the old lady has spent tlio last years of lier life, respected and honored by all who knew her."

We learn from the Standard that a meeting of the Directors of the Wairarapa Sale Yards was held at Featherston on Friday last, Present—Mr C. Pharazyn (in the cliair), and Messrs Tully, Wardcll, Buchanan, Bectliain, Wood, and Phillips, The Treasurer submitted balance-sheet, which was found to be satisfactory, and also a statement of shareholders in arrears. It was resolved that immediate notice be given that payment must be made before the end of the month, otherwise the accounts will be placed in the hands of the solicitor. It was resolved, that as an inducement to stock owners to enter stock for sale, it be suggested to the auctioneers that the commission on sales up to £3OO should not exceed 2-i per cent, and above that sum a reduction as per arrangement, The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the Featherston Highway Board with a view of having a site pointed out, suitable for slaughter yards, and also to make arrangements for paddocking stock brought to the yards the day before sales.

" in the Australasian, says " I once before alluded to a member of our Parliament (I don't say which branch of the Legislature lie adorns) who is scarcely second to the late Robert Heller us a conjurer. Travelling in India, lie was one evening, after dinner, smoking with some acquaintances on the verandah of the Byculla Club, at . Somo native jugglers went through a clever performance, and then the chief man presented a littlo vase-shaped basket for coppers. An anna or two was the usual contribution, but the Australian took from his pocket a rupee, which lie apparently dropped into the receptacle, The juggler's eyes glistened, and the donor's neighbor remonstrated with him for spoiling the market by over-generosity. In a few minutes the juggler returned, speaking somewhat excitedly in Hindustani. The Australian visitor inquired what the man said. 1 Oh,' said Colonel ,' 'he says there was no rupee in the basket; but these fellows are all liars—don't heed him.' Once more the Australian (apparently) dropped a rupee into the basket, and once more that bewildered native returned, with staring eyes and an alarmed expression, "'What does he say nowV inquired Mr —, ' Say!' said his neighbor ; 'he says you know more than he does!' Now, this is the stamp of man to put in the Treasury, and leave to deal with hungry deputations,"

The Masterton Band Committee met last evening, and received a list of sixteen niunes of those willing to join the new band. Tho comraitteo approves of those on tho list, and will recommend at the general meeting to be held on Friday next, that they form the band.