N. Z. NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XV, Issue 3762, 31 August 1882, Page 2

N. Z. NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT COMPANY.

Meeting of Citizens.

A MEETING of citizens was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, to hoar a statement from Mr W. L. Reea, in reference to the objects and prospects of the Nuw Zealand Native Land Settlement Company, whose base of operations is at present in tbc I'oveity iiny District. Amongst those prssent were : Dr, C«mp> bell, J. McCosh CUrk (Mayor), P. Comisky, (1. C. McMillan, Robert Walker, 11. Brett, W. Colnmaa, K. K. Tyler, 11. X. Kemp, F. Larkins, J. Howard, James I3ilworth, D. H. McKcHitie, J. M. Shera, Friar Clark, Cousius, P. R. Groom, a«d others.

The Mayoi was asked to preside. Mr Sees, having been introduced by the chairman, said ho bad to ask their attention to the proposals made by the compauy, and also to the advisibility of the Auckland people taking a part in the management,control,liabilities, and bcnelits which would ultimately accrue, not only to Europeans, but to Maoris, and to the company itself. The company, he said, originated in circumstances like these : Various public questions had surroundtd the tamsfer of Maori intereats ia their lands, so that it was difficult for them to dispose of them by sale, or for Europeans to acquire them oven by purchase He himself had been frequently asked by natives to take charge of ths-ir lands with a view to ultimately deal with them in such a way as to unable them to realise something near their value. A great number of trust deeds wore : assigned to him with this object, but those wcro held, not being deeds of sale, to be invalid within tho moaning of the Native Lands Act. It was then resolved to form a company which would be able to deal with such lands, not by way of trust, but by contract. This, company had for its objoct to take over native land from the native owntrn, who by themselves wore unable to deal fairly with their lands ; both the company and the Maoris boinz shareholders in tho proper settlement of such lands; that is to say, thero would bo a partnership in point of fact between the Europeaus, who would find capital, intellect, and buoiuess capacity, and the Maori*, who put in the land, which in the first place was useless until it cotildbemade available for settlement ami profitable occupation. Such was the basis ot the company. As the scheme was at 11 tat one of an experimental character, many things had to be done beforo it got into complete working order. But ttie theory «P°n which it proposed to work was thin: That tho natives should assign their lands to tho corporate body by name ; that a title should bo obtained from the Native Lauds Court and given to tho corporate body, the native title disappearing altogether; then that the company should cut up and utilise these land*, natives and Europeans together sharing in the profits that would be bo acquired. The safety of this process bad been acknowledged. Its benefit* to the natives might bo described as twofold—the natives had the rifjht on every bock of land to reserve certain portions for their own special occupation, which reserves were to be inalienable from tho Maori, and to b« used by his children ever after cither as cultivations, or sacred placos for burial. But ho would say at the same time that they wero not permitted to pick out tbebest parts of any block fortbeir own use. They wore only allowed to select a fair average lot for cultivation. Neither were they allowed to put so much land by as would render the ramainder of the block useless. Tlioy indeed had the right to say how much should be Bold ia foe simple, or leased, as a«rccd to by the diroctors. In Hum way the two races would occupy each to the other the position of shareholders, the profits bemj; divisible fairly between them. But thero was this to be considered. The Maori*, hutead of waiting for the dividend which would be pny»blo out of profit, had expressed a desire that each should receive two-thirds of the proceeds from his own portion of tbe block. The coit of survey, of lensing, Sec,, would be charges against tho land, also any neceosary advances to the natives would be chargeable against the land. It came then to thi«, that tho nativoi woro to bo paid tiro-thirds of the net proccods from their land*, whilo tho company took oue-third.

In mißWcr to the ctinirman, Mr Hoes said natives very readily agreed that the cost of public works, such as roads and bridges, which were reasonable and fair, should bu charged against the land, and in case* where such work was applicable only to ono block of laud, the natives expressed their willingness that the directors should assess a fair prop >rtiou to be paid by the various blocks in proportions to be docided after due consideration of all the circumstances which the directors might regard as affecting the land.

In answer tr» n question fioni Dr. Campbull concerting schools, Mr Heca raid the Maoris thonnolves wcra very anxioas to have schools, and would gladly pny for them. They considered ichools at very important for their several districts, and bad Rhnurn a readiness to treat schools very liberally. lheee would alt,o bo regarded as fair charge-? a^aiimt the land, for they would he a decided improvement to the district, Tf tho lands were sold for cash,these things would have to bo wiped off, and after such allowance the procoeds %ould be divided. But if interest only wore paid, then these things would of coarso become a standing charge agaiDst the Land. Surveys, schools, public works, advances raado to natives, and the 10 per cent, duty paid to the Government—everything of that sort was fissoucd upon the land. The company had expended £23,000; thore was an overdraft ef about £10,000 at the bank. From time to tinio lands had been acquired and parsed through the Native Lands Court, with tha subdivisions necessary. They had found it neceaaary to make there subdivisions, so aa to put in one block all iof ante, people whose successors could not be appointed, and others. These subdivisions, be might also state, had boon carried through tuccessfully, They subdivided in this way, 13 blocks into 40 or 50 subdivision*, and tbe company had received Odors for frothold tonuic in 11 or 12 blocks. These lands comprised from 125.000 to 130,000 acres,*na much of it is of very considerable value round about GUborne, They wore now passiog seme 100,000 acres through, extending from within a stooo's-throw of Gicborne to 50 mill's away. Through the last Court they passed 120,000 acres. There was a legal question raised, but Judge Fentou decided ihat there was no reason why the land should not be passed through. He thought it would be proved that a good deal of tho land wa* not worthless than from £2tt £2 10s a*n acre, Tho title being complete, the land was easily transferred under the Landi Transfer Aot. Thoy had already an advertisement in tbe newspapers for the sale of 30 000 acres on theS'hof Octobor, This was land from within five to twelve miles of the township of Gisborne. Tho natives had been hitherto throughout the East Coast favourably inclined to this mode of dealing with their lands. Tha company wa» making applications from day to day to take over largs tracts, and no difficulty whatever was found in tbe way. From various parts of tho East Coast they were constantly receiving communications from the principal chiefs, and also from variens places in tho North Island, making enquiries as to the operations of tho company, with a view, no doubt, to have their lands tnkon up in tho same way. Explanatory letters had been sont to Te Weiore and other chiefs interested in Mokau lands. The speaker referred to the desirability pf extending operations into the Waikato. He said the native mind in these districts seemed at prevent to be in a state of disquietude. They sco that they could hold out inkoepiDgthsirland.and they did not like the proposals of Government. They have but little faith in tho Government, or perhaps ho should say in Government Department?. From many hints in letters he had received, he believed that if a strong and united effort was made at the present time to spread the influence of this semi-national and commercial movement, it would meet with entire acceptance on tho part of the natives He bc'ievod the natives would be perfectly willing that the necessary money expended upon bridges, roads, and schools should be charged agaiast the land. The company was pretty certain to ext-nd itself. They bad besides 12,400 shares, an agreement for the purchase of 15,000. Several Melbourne colonists had expressed a desire to go into this enterprise! and a gentleman was going over to submit the whole matter to them. The Hon. Mr Campbell was coming out here to act for the body of the English shareholders. Therefore they should see the necessity that Auckland, in a company of this kind, should havo spme part in thp control and management. One idea was to enable Auckland, if she plca»es, to take the initiativo, or at any rate'a leading part, in settling forever tlie great difficulty from which she has so long suffered. The time was now ripe as it has never been before A vast area of" the native land of this island was untouched.

In answer to questions, Mr Reea said that of tbe 130,000 acres about 2,500 had boen reserved. The 15,000 shares sold in England were to be fully paid up, and that would leave 2,600 available The natives preferred to have two]thirds] as fixed pro-

portion, and would surrender their shares | when they received that amount, Replying to Mr Shera, Mr Uees said some of the land might be worth two shillings an acre, other portions seven, when taken over from the Maori owner. But Mr Mathew.', in his report to the Bank of New Zealand, stated that there had been a clear profit to the company of 175 per cent. They had one block which, alone was valued at £70,000. He believed the profits had exceeded 200 or 250.per cent. Dr. Campbell asked if auy opposition from the Government was expected. Mr Reei. said the Government was favouiable to the enterprise. Mr Bryce had said he would hate a Judge to reside at Gi«borne tor twelve mouths, in order that the proposals might havo a fair trial. He might also state that tho Maoris ceuld not sell their shares; they must remain to the children and representatives of each individual. The proceediugs concluded with a vote.of thanks to Mr Kees for his address.