Correspondence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1400, 14 May 1861, Page 3

Correspondence.

Correspondence columns being: impartially open, we »re not to be identified any opinions ciprejsed therein.

To die Editor of the Southern Cross. Sir, — Various are the opinions on the state of the country, but we mostly agree that this is a critical year for New Zealand, and hope the discussion, for the country's weal, now hesitating in the balance, may turn on the right side and fix the destinies of England's southern self on no trembling basis. Our governor needs the wisdom of the seven just now, and as he has the power to make or ruin the country, so the blessings or the maladversions of the present and future generations will follow the memory of his administration. A new era must be dawning or a farce is being enacted :— to put things on a new footing, there is in the country both force and military genius, let us hope matters will be put on a solid basis before this force and its genius departs. A connoiseur of native tact well knows that there is no faith to be attached to friendly natives, who are employed to ascertain government manoeuvies that the rebels may checkmate them — policy inclines them to remain neutral, and the ties of blood prompt them to benefit their supposed common cause — as the Ancient Butons would rather have assisted Caractacus than a polite Roman. The courage of the Waikatos is perhaps on the wane, and the arrival of fresh troops, in causing them to despair of success iv a further conflict, may gain their consent to unpatateable terms, but only to long as there is force to command it. Disputes in New Zealand are ever likely to occur until Maori laud is indindiudked—a. great and difficult undertaking, but as excellent as arduous Individualizalion has been proposed at Taranaki— let us hope that this plan will meet with that indomitable perseverance it deserves, and establish this system throughout the country: thus every native could shew a deed for his own property, and the confusion now so dominant in Maori ownership, done away for ever. It present a native may tell you that he has cultivated a certain piece of land for seven or ten yeais, and it is his by right of occupation j another will tell you that the former Maori was the top only, and he claims all that is underneath by right of prepossession. Let us suppose the chief of every tribe, in conjunction with his neighbour chiefs, be persuaded to decide their respective boundaries— doubtful claims being settled by drawing lots ; and when the boundaries of every clan aie determined, let each chief assemble the people attached to him and decide, among themselves, each man's share ; the land to be surveyed and a crown grant given to every owner ; reserving to the Crown the right of making roads, and retaining from each block sufficient to pay for the survey. Thus the whole could be denominated by shires ; and as most Maories require only from ten to twenty acres for their own use, they would have some fifty, some hundreds and more for sale to the Pdkeha, at a figure that would tempt him to sell : in this manner a European population would spring up among them throughout the country. A native would have a chance of voting to Parliament his favorite chief or pakeha and the Maori interests be represented in Auckland, hand in hand with his friend the Eui*pean. By the new aspect of things, or by the facility of obtaining homesteads as reasonable in this country as elsewheie, people would be induced to immigrate by thousands, and what revenue government lost by sale of land would be gained by duty on commodities reg uired for an increasing population. If natives will not consent to some such regulations and adopt benefits by persuasion, it is a duty for the advancement of the country, that benefits should be administered, as a task is to spoiled children, by the rod. Yours, &c, Angucus. May 12th, 1861.