MAORI PETITION AGAINST THE NATIVE LANDS BILL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1697, 12 June 1884, Page 2

MAORI PETITION AGAINST THE NATIVE LANDS BILL.

In the course of the sitting of the Native Lands Court at Kihikihi on Wednesday last a petition to both Houses of Parliament was read aloud by Rawiti to the assemblod natives, and wan largely signed, the first signature having been that of Rewi (Manga). The petition, which is in the Maori tongue, sets forth that the petitioners have heard, "with great grief, that it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to give the control of the sale of native lands to the Government, to resume, in fact, the pre-emptive right to give to a {majority of owners, whose names may appear in a certificate, the power to sell, despite the opposition of the minority, and to give power to levy rates on these lands. It goes on to say that the petitioners hope the Government will hear their wail and save their people Irom death . Their representative had gone away with Tawhiao, and there was no one to represent them in his place. Copies of the Bill, they hoped, would be sent to the chiefs and people of all the tribes, to give them an opportunity of expressing their views before it become law. They were loyal, and they looked to the law to protect them. They feared if the Bill became law that the evil dealings of the Government in the purchase of native lands — and the Patetere, Moehau, Ohinemuri, and Te Aroha blocks, and more recently the Thermal Springs Act, were noticeable instances — would be repeated under the proposed measure. There were many such transactions, the petition goes on to say, which never saw the light. With reference to the provision that a minority of those in a certificate being compelled by the majority to soil, if the Parliament agreed to this a great injustice would be done to the real ownors of the land. It was well known that the usual custom adopted by tlie Land Coui't was to permit a large number of persons of unequal interests to be entered on one certificate ; a great many indeed are entered upon it through love. These people who have small interests are the most ready to sell, while those with large interests are they who wish to keep the land, and under the proposed Bill the real owners would be entirely at the mercy of the Government. We look, says the petition, on the provisions of the Bill by which lands are to bo rated as a means by which our speedy extermination is desired by the Europeans. What we ask is that the Parliament endeavour to introduce a Bill by which the titles to native land may bo more readily and easily ascertained than they are by the present machinery of the Court. The large expense entailed on us, and the delay arising through the proceedings of the Land Court, make us feel very dissatisfied with the results. We therefore ask that a Bill may be introduced to remedy these defects. When the land has been Crowngranted, and when reserves have been made by us ourselves, sufficient to maintain ourselves and our children, we consider that wo ought to have the disposal of our lands entirely left in our own hands. The present Governor has told us that the Maoris and Europeans arc one people. If that is so, we ask why should we bo treated to exceptional legislation ? Your petitioners, therefore, a&k that you will give to us before passing such a Bill full. time to discuss its several provisions, and your petitioners will ever pray. The N.Z Herald remarks — The above petition is being numerously signed, the natives expressing themselves very dissatisfied with Mr Bryco, that while he was negotiating for the survey of the King Country he never informed them that it was the intention of the Government to move the Parliament for the resumption of the pre-emptive right.

By consent of the Dutch Government an English force will be sent against l^ajah Tonom, of Sumatra, to rescue the caew of the wrecked British steamer Nisero.