THE ACQUISITION OF NATIVE LANDS. To the Editor of the Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1296, 14 February 1860, Page 4

THE ACQUISITION OF NATI VE LAN DS. To th e Editor of the Southern Cross.

,' SiK,-rI see by_your paper 'that Mr. Heale, in Ml , address to the Eleotorsof the Suburbs, Btates.' that " There wu only one measure on which it was at all necessary ,to touch— the facilitating; the acquisitioh of landi from the Natives. On this subject he" felt that some Alteration was absolutely necessary. It was indispensable that some means should be provided to enable stockholders to acquire large blocks of land in the outlying districts " Thus far I fully agree with Mr. Heale, but I differ from him when he states — " but this question is surrounded with such difficulties, that he held, that it was one cm which anything like popular agitation would be most misplaced, and could only inorease the difficulties *nd delay the attainment ; moreover it might easily be carried too far, for certainly any system which should throw the bulk of the lands into the hands of those few, whS' could go amongst and deal with the Natives, and make them middle-men and factors for the new comers, would be far worse than the present." There are no difficulties in the way of opening the country, by allowing the Natives the Ml privileges of British subjects, but which can easily be overcome by those who are willing to do so, and I cannot see how agitation on the question is likely to increase those difficulties or delay the attainment. After the arrival of LorU Carnarvon's despatch it became, in my opinion, absolutely necessary to Agitate the question, for the purpose of supportfng Ministers in carrying out the system they had wisely commenced in the " Native Territorial Rights Bill," which was ft step in the right direction, although far from what is wanted : that Bill requires to 'be amended, so as to do away with the objection made to it by his Excellency the Governor. The Government could then, having no interest in "Native disputes, justly interfere, with a strong arm, and prevent them from murdering each other about laud.; those disputes being one of the difficulties that will always be felt in the acquisition of it by Europeans until some system is adopted of settling their titles peaceably, and registering their claims. The Government should be in a position to say to the Natives, we have no interest in your disputes about land, settle them amongst yourselves, and then do with it as you please, but we will not allow you to fight and kill each other, as you have heretofore done : you must agree to a peaceable settlement of all disputes that may arise, and any party using violence shall lose all claim to the land in dispute, and Government will "use all possible means to apprehend and bring to justice all persons who take the law into their own hands, and will at the same time assist and protect those who are willing to settle their disputes peaceably. The Natives, considering it a point of honour to fight to the last for land to which they consider they have a claim, will not williugly abandon that system, it therefore requires the interference of the Government to save the honor of both parties, and to prevent bloodshed. Let it be made known' to the Natives that, for the future, there will be but one law for both them and the Europeans ; that after dividing their land into individual claims, and registering the same, they may dispose of it as they please ; after which, if a determined stand be made by the Government against their taking the law into their own hands, I believe they would j quietly acquiesce and remain peaceable ; at oil events, it is the duty of the Government to try all possible means to prevent them from murdering each other with impunity, for they can have but little respect for a Government which allows them to do so. I certainly did not expect that Mr. Heale would object to any class of men, even middle men obtaining possession of the surplus lands in preference to their remaining ip the hands of the Natives. I gave him credit for better judgment ; the best answer I can give him on that question is to repeat what His Excellency the Governor said on the subject of capitalists buying up Urge blocks of land. His Excellency, in answer to Mr. Daldy, stated that in his opinion it would be the best thing that could happen for the Province, because the settlers would then have the money paid for it, circulated amongst them and the land made available, instead of ha%Tng neither the one nor the other. I fully agree with His Excellency, and firmly believe that this Province would have been far more prosperous if the whole of the land, except that required for the Natives own use, had been bought up even by speculators, when they the Natives were willing to sell. There would then have been no cry out about the want of pasture hind, at there is at present, land sharks, would not have adopted the dog in the manger system of the Natives, many of whom will now neither sell nor lease, and there is no means of making them, as i they are at present beyond the reach of law and likely to remain so, until the tribes are broken up by allowing individuals to deal with their own property as other British lubjectt do. On the contrary, land in the hands of Europeans can always be dealt with by the Government if necessary ; but which necessity in my opinion would never arise, their own interest would always induce them to make it available. Why is it that South Australia, which was settled about the same time as this country, so far out numbers it in population, and has become so prosperous ? Simply because the whole of the land has been available at a very low rate, land there being now let at about £20 a-year for twenty square miles. I know it will be said the countries are not alike ; that in this Province we have no natural grasses admitted, but that is the strongest reason why the land here should be made available to settlers by sale if possible at a, very low rate, to enable them to law down large tracts of grass for pasturage, few countries offering better inducement to do so ; in proof oE which one of the Tamaki settlers is at present pasturing between 4000 and 5000 sheep, besides cattle and horses on little more than two square miles of land ; the wool from the sheep paying yearly more than a £1 per- acre for the land occupied : certainly sufficient inducements for capitalists to come here and do likewise if the country was made available. As Mr. Heale is convinced " that it is absolutely necessary to render the country available," I am sure he will, notwithstanding there may be difficulties in in the way, exert himself the more with those who entertain the same opinions as himself to overcome those difficulties. I therefore congratulate the elector* of the Suburbs on having him for a representative, believing there are few men better able to fulfil the duties he has undertaken than himself. •• I am, sir, Your obedient servant, W. F." Pobtkk.

To the Editor of the Southern Cross. SlR,— The remarks in the "Cross," of 17th January, call forth the following comments from me. It was I who passed forty-eight hours at the North head of the Waikato, in May 1855 ; being detained by violent weather, the absence of a canoe sufficiently Urge to •tand the storm, and of a native to act as ferryman. The fact i« that all the natives were at that time up the river with their canoes, at some homiti or other, and during the lulls of the ftorm it happened that there was no native at the Pa on the South head. After two days delay, during which I subsisted on a raw fish, which I had picked up, and a 2lb loaf of bread, — having no shelter and being exposed to the drifting sands,— the notable Tamihana made his appearance in a dangerous-looking " kopapa," and lay-to within hearing until I had agreed to give him twelve •hillings. Though a decided imposition, I was constrained to submit, being then faint, and ignorant of any other way by which to reach this place, for I had then been only six or seven months in the country. In going up to Auckland hist December, I met Tamihana on the coast, fishing with a party, about five miles south, of the heads. He said he would come with me on learning that I was going to Waiuku, which I thought was very natural of him in order (as I thought) to get the fee; as I had not then heard of the subsidy. He, however, sent two natives with me, who were very anxious to take me up the Awaroa to Waiuku. As I was in no hurry, I remained at the European's house at Maraetai, where I learned (for the first time) that Tamihana was in receipt of a subsidy from Government (of £50 he says), and that he was bound therefore to cross all passengers Native and European) free, but was under no restriction what to charge for cattle and hones— which were two shillings a piece. I was informed .that he generally made a demand upon passengers, and often (perhaps generally) successfully. Another irregularity is, that he will not pay other natives for free passages which they' give, but keeps al^the subsidy, to himself, I remember seeing,: < 'in the Superintendent'* Estimates, about fifteen months ago, the turn of £25 for Waikato Ferry. If such « sum is given by^ the Province, through its public servants, it will of course be for Europeans ; and if a liko-sum is given by the Native department, it will be to put Native* on a lilys footing of exemption. The.uubsidy is good in principle, *nd amply sufficient to maintain two natives, and a good canoe, who ought to be constantly resident on^thespot, and be required to maintain a flagstaffand ■cconinaniments, on, the north lead, as well as a pile of firewood for night (wrvice., Tables of ferry rates should {^iftS^Mlty *e don.ors.of theiubtdidyj and painted bo^a»j«hpuld ,be maintained at. each «nd of the ferry. Cl S i ™ n ?> rie ? i» £ very little, additional' trouble, and 1 W W if"?*. "*»&» e** 1 * b«nd«, >*a thty are led, and •W£rfflfter,the canoe., Sheep iwJuire' to" be tied and BOjkJedj,3d.ahead.forithem. r , Cattle require a good ma i n;r.natiYe», and*everaMeopapa«, but.tMe difficulty is a &g*BSK W#? *»«**» of the herd j say 6s. for • fcf&S^d u j &%mf nww than V»P to 20 ; aboye that number frd. a head., ■ . .: ,

It m not onfyfh* amount of payment that in, ifbighj frit to be vmpH*tont,but tho uncertainty, and necewity! of itoildng *Wgain, uwellti the' pain of 'being imposed upori. Forfeits ought to be;imposed on ferry--men by tb.e nubiidizew for infringement of regulations, «vnd the "nearest magistrate (Raglan ov Waiuku) should ba empowered to take the affidavits of any partiea fleeced, and be required to report the some, in order that (say) double the amount may be deducted from the next, payment of subsidy. Any, if a ferry at Waikato i* su °* 1^ ze^» why not carry out the system, and make free Series also at Whaingaroa, Aotea, Kawhia, and Mokau, as well as on other lines of road ? People here. and in similar situations, .have a right to demand these accommodations of the Government, until such time as inland routes are provided and bridged. The easiest mode of visiting Kaglan district is by the following route, from Auckland, viz. :— 1. ToDrury, by. Van, 24 miles. 2. " Maungatawhiri, by Great South Road (say) 12 3. " Karakariki Mill, by canoe (?) 40 4. Waitetuna River, by path (say) 8 5. Raglan township (say) 12 Total (about ninety-six) ... 96 miles. This, however, ii not the cheapest route, unless a largo party travelled together, to divide tho canoe charges. Thero are, however, before getting td the nearest Government land, only 20 miles (No. 2 and 4 above) of road on which a public conveyance does not daily run ; whereas by the coast line there are about fifty (50) miles — counting from Waiuku — on which parties would have to find their own means of locomotion. The route by the rivers and Karakariki is tho newly adopted mail route, and the mail canoes ate supposed to take one, or perhaps more passenger*, on payment of 10s. a head. This route will also show travellers the magnificent valley of the Waikato. It is probable that several thousand acres will soon be gazetted by the Provincial Government as for sale in this district, as the surveyors are now at work on the land. Dining this summer, several of the settlers of Whaingaroa have introduced flocks of sheep; and to the oldest settlers (inhabitants of five years' standing) the district begins to assume a somewhat prosperous and promising appearance. Live fences are superseding posts and rails, in many instances, and one or two settlers have already orchard* considerably productive. One may also observe, on the Government townihip, a brick house in course of building : and throughout the district generally many weatherboarded houses may be seen, some of which are put up in a more substantial manner than is usual in the suburbs of the metropolis. Many settlers throughout New Zealand have found, to their cost, that when once they put up a raupo or slab and thatch house, they are induced by circumstances to remain longer in it than they at first intended. Betides the certain discomfort and waste of goods kept in inch houses, the risk from fire is very great, and will not be taken by insurance companies. Many hundred pounds have been lost in Whaingaroa district by unbridled fire ; it is therefore well to advise new immigrants to make their houses wholly of timber, and if not finished at first, let them be erected capable of improvement and extension. Your obedient servant, R. 0. Stewart. Raglan, Ist February, 1860.

To the Editor of the Southern Cro%t. Sih, — I observe that a great portion of the report of the Provincial Council proceedings in this day's " New Zealander" is disgracefully untrue. The few remarks which fell from me on the motions of Messrs. O'Neill, May, Mid Cooper, we garbled or suppressed, those on the amendment which Mr. Carleton intended to propose to his Honor's address are omitted altogether, because they happen to be too strong for the digestion of tho^e tasteful Epicures who patronize the Shorlland■treet Restaurant. In substance they were as follow : — If, (as the supporters of the Government assert) the passing of the answer to the address is only a formal proceeding, 1 am surprized to see the vehemence with which they decry the amendment suggested by the Honourable member for the City, Mr. Carleton. That amendment simply enunciates 6ne of the wisest provisions of the Conttitution Act, "that the Superintendent Min.ll not divert the revenue to juiy other uses, than those to which it was assigned by the votes of thiß Council." I also said that the address barren and un•uggestive as it is, is more open to animadversion for the absence of what it ought to contain than for any 1 thing it did contain. That it was a notorious fact that the estimated revenue of the present year, was insufficient to pay the debts of the past, that the provincial Treasurer is beginning to feign deafness in order to escape the combinations of duns that waylay him at every corner, that the salaries of most of the officers of the Provincial Government are three months in arrear of payment, that it is scarcely a week since an officer employed in the stockade, was arrested for, a debt of £6, and walked off to gaol, while the Government were unable to replevy him, by paying him even a portion of the money, they owed him sufficient to prevent his capture, or effect his release. Here I was interrupted by the Law Officer with shouts of name, name, and did name, and quoted in proof of my assertion, a statement in the " Examiner" which he could not contradict. I denounced the address, as an artful appeal, calculated to mislead the Council, and induce them to pass the Estimates for the current year, before they had satisfied themselves that the appropriations of the past year had been carried out according to law. And I also expressed my determination to vote no Estimates, to place no money at the disposal of the present Provincial Government until I am convinced by examination, and evidence, that all the provincial cash that passed through their fingers, since their accession to power, has been spent, not only in accordance with the votes of Council, but in conformity to thoie maxims of justice and economy, that ought to regulate the conduct of the Superintendent, in his administrative capacity. I reminded the Law Adviser that as a member of the Financial Committee it would be my duty to inquire, into the delinquencies of his Government, to find out how much they owe, and also to ascertain the means •f meeting those liabilities as soon as the Council becomes satisfied that the claims of the provincial creditors are just. I also asserted, and I now repeat it, that neither the General Government, nor the people of this province have any confidence in the Provincial Government; the Geneial Government are sensible of their dishonesty and imbecility ; they will suffer them to raise no more money on the credit of the province, the only practicable means of extricating them "from their present difficulties, and the public are in a state of anxious expectation, waiting for the disclosures that must result from the inquiries about to be instituted by this Council. Having obtained a fair share of notoriety in print, since my arrival in Auckland, I am not ambitious of becoming celebrated through the columns of the "New Zealander," and would feel obliged to the managers of that Journal, to omit my discourses in Council altogether, or to publish them entire. My orations will never be long, as I am not gifted with that enviable talent possessed by a leading member for the Northern Division, who can expatiate for an hour upon a matter that might be propounded, and enforced, with the loss of one twentieth part of, the wind, that he allows to escape in defence of his theories. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, Bernard Retnolds. Auckland, Feb. 4th, 1860.

The Outsit Eastbiut.— On Monday, ts sUted elsewhere, the big ship was visited by H. R. H. Prince Albert ; and on T ue»day, Prince Napoleon, who had armed at Holyhead in the imperial »t earner Dauphin, alse went on board. Hi* highness remained on board from eight to half pait eleven a.m., and when he left shook hands with Mr. Camp, bell and Capt Harrison, at the same time expressing to them the pleasure he h»d received, and offering his best wishes (or the success of the undertaking. On Tuesday there came on board the largestnumber of visitor* since the arrival of the Great Eastern at Holyhead. The total number 6f tickets issued was 3,854, a result of their arrangements which must be highly satisfactory to the London and North Wei* tern Railway Company. The greatest number of visitors, since the lanch, was at Wey mouth, where 7,800 or 7,900 were admitted ; but these numbers are as nothing- when compared with those of the visitors expected on the other side of the Atlantic by sanguine directors. The surveyors, Messrs Patterson and Gibson, and the umpire. Mr. Hawksbaw, are on board, and engaged in their duties. Several engineers have gone on shore witho.ut leave, and will consequently be 'dismissed, much to the gratification of those who have experienced their stubbornness and, power, of grumbling. These are the last of those men, sent on board by- Mr. Russell, bo that now" the Entire ship and engines are in the 'hands of those appointed and recommended by tha lafe, Mr.' Brunei and, the company. The antioipations that the long* delay necessary to really fit this ship' for sea would prevent her departure for America either during this month or the, next have thus far been realised. A% a board meeting, , held at the ship,' at Holyhead, on Wednesday af^eyioon, th« date of departure for America was j?pssponed tint #«,' and orders Wero giyen that «U money paid for,

passage* tp.theStatffl ihoulcl be returned. , Atpre,sent no time qan be fixe^for the Transatlantic, voyagt until good progress hav been made ,to\Vnrd« fitting; out the ship in, thorough, iea-goirig fcompletenessT-aj Work *:hiah,;we need jctrcelyjmy,' will m»olve considurnbio time, j Though tome disappointment nifty possibly be felt in England, tnd a good de»l.more in America, nt this indefinite postpoueir^ent, yetpn tht Whol* thedirectoit have taken • n .prudent .course, both tot the passengers and shareholders, in ihxii, ns far as is in their power, placing tho,fir«t real voyogo beyond the chance ot mishap or short coming Of any kind. It is now almost certain that the vessel will not start for the States this year. — London Daily Telegraph,

A Curate's Adventurbi in Search of a Voice. — To rend in a church is no easy matter. You are required to use your voice in a^nunner wholly new. You haye to pitch your voice in a certain key, to dwell upon your rowels, and to read much louder than you ever read before. If really natural, you seem artificial, and you must become in a_degreo ar. tificial to seem natural. Like an actor, you mutt, till habit forms n second nature, appear to yourself to exaggerate, that you may not «ound flat and feeble to your audience. The adventures ot any poor curate in quest of a proper tone of voice would often be amuiing Indeed. At one time I was told that I was too low ; next Sunday this made me thin and wiry. Then I rend in a monotone ; to avoid which I became uneven, as if trying eveiy note of the gamut by turns. When at last I was sletting down with some regular habit, our doctor, who had been leading some paper on elocution, asked me if I happened to have a pretty good stomach ; for he could tell me that I tasked that department no^only with my Sundny dinners, but also with my Sunday duty ; for, in short, I read from my stomach ! Here was another alteration. Then, in altering this, I was alarmed at being told that I read irom my throat ; and what with bending my chin, and with a •tiff cro vat, the clerical sore throat must come in no time. Add to this, I was informed anatomically that the roof of the mouth was nature's Bounding board, and that the nostrils were intended to act like the holes of a flute ; and that was called "reading through the nose" was a misnomer,- for I really' ought to read through my nose, and that I had only to hold my nose while I sead and I should produce the true comenticlo tone at once.— l'wenUj Years in the Church.