The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1235, 29 May 1880, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1880. ♦ The Native Lands Court, "which is now sitting at Cambridge, is, perhaps, one of the most important which has ever been held in the Waikato district. Whether we look at the extent of the country to be opened up, the magnitude of the interests involved (both European and Maori), or the effects that maybe presumed to follow the alienation of such a large area of land, we are compelled to admit that no Court has ever been held which has been watched with greater interest, or whose action is fraught with more momentous issue. In passing, we may observe that it is with great gratification we have observed the orderly conduct of the natives. This has been exhibited not only in Court itself, but also in the general behaviour outside ; we doubt much whether amongst a gathering of Europeans having the same supply of ready money, and with as little to occupy the attention of a number amongst them, the same good order and respect for law would be so conspicuiously manifested. The natives are exceedingly well dressed, the European style of clothing being universally adopted. Cases of drunkenness have also been exceedingly rare. The Court itself possesses more than a local interest, as the far famed Patetere lands which the Government have for years been endeavoring to acquire, and for which private people have also been in negotiation, are now being adjudicated upon. In the meantime, we do not propose to touch upon this respective claim, but will content ourselves with pointing out some of the numerous advantages that will accrue to the district and colony from the settlement of these lands. Foremost amongst those advantages comes the impetus which will be given to settlement on account of such an immense area being thrown open to European occupation. We are in a position to state that whatever may be the result of the negotiations which are taking place the public interests will be conserved, and the land, some of which is very suitable for subdivision into farms of medium size, will be dealt with in such a way j as to lead to its early and permanent settlement. The next advantage that we would point out is the salutary effect that the settlement of the country between Cambridge and Taupo would exert upon the native mind. The fact that a large portion of the country between Cambridge and Taupo is owned and occupied by European settlers will be received with general satisfaction, as when that takes place the only break in ' the line of settlement between Qa,m~

bridge and. Napier will bo filled up, And it wjillthen be possible to travel by coach from Auckland to Wellington. As soon as the native title is extinguished there will be no difficulty in carrying roads through all parts of the district, and then instead of a delay of years in endeavoring to open such a very d- 1 -arable road as that from Cambridge to Rotorua, such would be done at once, and would be constructed at the cost df the intervening settlers, instead of out of th 6 already overburdened finances of the Colony. It is needless for us to point out the value of this road from a strategist's point of view, as such must be sufficiently obvious to anyone having the most superficial knowledge of the country. We understand that the native owners are exceedingly anxious that the lands should be passed through the Court and the ownership definitely settled. The country has been so long under negotiation that between proclamations on the part of the Government on the one hand, refusals to allow surveys,, to proceed on the part of the natives on the other hand, and their consequent inability to deal with their Jancls, has rendered them heartily sick of the whole concern and anxious to obtain an early settlement of the question. We hope that the present satisfactory progress which is being made "will continue, so that in whatever way the question of European ownership may be ultimately decided, the native title may be extinguished, and the country, instead of lying waste, barren,, and consequently useless* may be brought into such a condition as to be productive of numerous benefits to the Waikato district, and thereby to the Colony as a whole.

Our Auckland morning contemporary, which for months did its utmost, by means of sensational telegrams from "our special, " to give rise to uneasiness in the public mjnd- regarding the attitude of native matters on the West Coast, balked in this direction, has seemingly turned to the Waikato district in search of food to satisfy its morbid craving for sensationalism. In last Friday's issue, under the pretentious cross-head, " Speech by Rewi," appeared the following paragraph :—: —

Koptja, Thursday. I had a long interview with Rewi last night, and obtained from himself what he said in. his last speech at the meeting at Hikiv angi at which the King was present. Rewi said:—" During the reign of the last Government I gave you mana over my lands and people, thus showing that I recognised you as my head. After this I mixed among Europeans, and did my best to bring about a good understanding between Europeans and Maoris. You could not see the force of the good I was trying to do, and became jealous of me, and tried to dispose of lands on which I had a certain claim, and in many other ways treated me wrongfully. Now I will withdraw the power I put into your hands, and again hold the sole mana over my own lands." Who the " I " is, is not stated ; the communication may be from " our own," or " our special." Heaven, and perhaps one of the thirteen of our contemporary's Editors, only knows. However, we are authorised to give the statement the most unqualified contradiction. Natives present at the meeting referred to deny that Rewi ever made such a speech, and there is no particle of foundation whatsoever for the statement. We now come to canard No. 2. In yesterday's issue of the same journal appears a telegram from Alexandra, stating that 'Rewi " will not take possession of the " house built for him by Govern- " ment at Kihikihi, unless a Crown " Grant is first placed in his hands." We are authorised to give also this statement an unqualified denial.