The Land Claims.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 27, 21 October 1843, Page 3

The Land Claims.

( To the Editor of the Southern Cross.) Sir, — In my last letter I made some observations on the Government Regulations with regard to the "Land Claims Bill," and I now wish to continue the subject, as I am persuaded it is one of vital importance not only to the community at large, but to the best interests and prosperity of the colony. The late infamous notice in the Government Gazette of 27th ultimo and 4th instant, which attempts in defiance of Lord Stanley's instructions to force the Land Claimants into the Shortlaud and Swainson districts of "Tamaki," "Papakura," "Wairoa," "Pakuranga," "Maraetai" and "Manurewa," is, I suppose, done in revenge for the contempt with which the legislation of those gentlemen has been treated by Lord Stanley. — I before showed the way in which the speech of Mr, Swainson has recoiled on his own head, for the " odium" and '• unpopularity" are assuredly his, but that speech was modesty itself compared with that of Mr. Shortland on the same occasion, who during the discussion which ,took place in attempting to pass their " Concentration Force Bill" politely said—- " The Bill passed by the Governor and " Legislative Council of New South Wales, "during the period when New Zealand "was a mere Dependency of that Colony, "was prepared with all the talent that so " eminently distinguishes Sir G- Gipps. — " His Excellency however, from being so "far removed from those who were best " able to advise on the question, could not " have had an intimate knowledge of the "various and conflicting interests to be " provided for, which indeed could only be " acquired by residing among its colonists." Ergo —as Sir George Gipps could not legislate for New Zealand, Mr. Willoughby Shortland could — really Lord Stanley must be blind to the wisdom of our Legislators, and severe indeed is the loss to the colony that there are no more Shortlands or any probability of there being any to Legislate for it. In the Supplement to the Government Gazette of 6th September is published a revised list of Claimants' names with the quantity of acres now awarded to them, and on analizing that list I find out of 271 claims there decided on, that 179 of them are from that ill-used class of men, the "early settlers, " who -Lord Stanley says are " most deserving of consideration ;" and what are the claims o{ these early settlers ? who have been stigmatized, libelled and abused by the Local Government as " runaway sailors," " convicts, ' ' and ' 'men of the lowest grade, ' ' — why , out of the enormous possessions they were said to claim— those " principalities" which were to raise them "to the rank and dignity of an illiterate, narrow-minded, purse-proud, heartless colonial aristocracy," what have they dwindled into ? why the official ..organ itself proclaims that 271 claims ask for 156,923 acres, an average of only 575 acres each ! ! and they have awarded them 71,400 acres, being an average of 254 acres each, taking of course the Lion's share to themselves of 85,523 acres!!!— On further analizing the Revised Claims, they will appear as follows—

From which it appears that by the Bill under which the Claims are now to be settled, the small claimants to the number of 46 are gainers of 16,073 acres, while the total gain to the settlers generally is only 4,702 acres ; under this Bill therefore, or rather under this revised award, should the small claimants take their land, although I would not advise them to take it, in either of the Siiortl^nd or Swainson districts, until they hear the instructions that Captain Fitzroy will bring out with him, which vail more than probably upset all the eccentric schemes of those gentlemen, — but not for one moment would I advise any one whose claims are more than 2560 acres to accept of that quantity in full for all his claims ; — out of the revised published list there are only Eight Claimants who at all aim at "principalities," out of these five are Missionary and three are Lay Gentlemen, the whole of whom should attentively read the present "Land Claims Ordinance," and they will there be convinced of what I asserted in my last, that the Bill does not confine them to 2560 acres — as the Legitimates have always the Law in their mouths, let them here make the most of it, and give us the Bill — the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill — the Bill with the voluntary concentration system may satisfy many of the claimants, but to attempt to defraud them in the one, or to force them into the other, will not be put up with by any one ;— freeborn Britons may be led, but will never be forced by any set of men or measures. The Local Government, after having been now near four years in the country, during which time it has been like the destroying angel, blighting and withering the hopes and prospects of the "early settlers," and totally destroying by its baneful and poisonous influence those who came after them, have sufficiently shewn their incapacity for either legislating, or cai*rying out the instructions of their superiors ; by the 24th clause of the Royal Instructions they are told, "that no " ordinance be made to take effect until our "pleasure thereupon be first made known " and signified to you, and by you to the " inhabitants of the said colony;" and yet they have had the temerity not only to make their bungling laws take effect — aye— -and take retrospective effect — but have decided on several, and awarded certain quantities of land to various claimants, without fore- ! seeing or imagining for one moment that their awards might bo overturned by the disallowance of their Bill, and this again has led to interminable trouble and losses, through Claimants imagining that what appeared in the Government Gazette could not be wrong, and have therefore in many instances mortgaged the quantity of land which was first awarded them in payment of their just debts, — how are these unfortunates now to act? They cannot be prosecuted for fraud in mortgaging property now again taken from them — they^ can only join with their creditors in execrating and shewing up to posterity the names of those who have ruined them, and in the concluding words of Mr. Attorney General's speech say, — " I enter- " tain a confident expectation, however, that " no long time will elapse before the more "right minded of its opponents will rejoice; " having in the warmth of their feelings in- " dulged suspicions and imputed motives, de- " rogatory to the character of the official " members of the Council, and will be the ' ' first to admit that the measure was proposed " for their own ruin, and that in scornfully " rejecting that measure, they will discover, " when not too late, they have taken a step " never to be regretted, and always to be " repaired." The obstinacy, ignorance and imbecility of our sapient councillors will however soon have an end — our shores will ere long be brightened by the presence of a New Governor, who it is to be hoped will soon " 'bout ship," and trace the errors that have been committed to their source, and put the unfortunate " Land Claimants" in possession of confirmed titles, who will then be able to pursue their former occupations with redoubled energy. I am, &c. M . Auckland, Oct. 16, 1843.

Claims. Acres Claimed. First Award. Second Award. Gain to Claimants. Loss to Claimants. Actual gain to Claimants Positivegain toGovernrn. 46 225 271 53,618 103,305 19,821 46,877 35,894 35,506 16,073 11,371 4,702 17,724 67.799 | 156,923 66,698 1 71,400 16,073 11,371 4,702 I 85,523