THE STATE FARM. THE MAORIS BEHAVE WISELY.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1894, Page 2

THE STATE FARM. THE MAORIS BEHAVE WISELY.

It is gratifying to fiud that the Mooi-ia conoerned in the dispute regarding the title to the land set apart by the Government for the purposes of a State Farm near Levin, have decided to refrain from further obstruction. Tho police despatched from Wellington ou Satus day morning reached Levin about 11 o'clock. Three constables were left at the railway station, and tho remainder of the men, under Inspector i'endor and Sergeant Shirley, proceeded by coach to the land, whioh is situated about three miles from Levin. Mr. James Mackay of the Labour Department, was found on the ground superintending the clearing of scrub, and theie was not a sign of the natives who had been so troublesome on Thursday. Mr. Mackay, it appears, returned from Palmerston by the early train on Saturday, and in accordance with a promise whioh ho had mode to the Maoris ho sent word to them that he was about to resume work. A reply was sent to him that they were busy shearing, but would be ou tho ground later in the day. About 2 o'clock some 30 Maoris, including a number of women, came up to where tho Europeans were working, and a long korero ensued Inspector Pender told the natives through the iuterpreter (Mr. T. Poutawera) that if they had any grievance they must seek redrcaa through the Courts, and that no interference with the men brought up by Mr. Mackay would be allowed. The natives replied through their head man that the land sold by Warena Hunia waa as much their % roperty as his, and that if the Government retained it they would be left without meanß of support. Mr. Mackay pointed out that noither ho nor Inspector Pender was present to discuss grievauces, and he suggested that the best course for the Maoris to pursue was to go to Wellington aud intorvio w Ministers The Maoris were anxious that work should he suspended until the Government had been interviewed, but Mr. Mackay pointed out that he had no power to cease operations, and eventually thoy decided that four of their number should come to Wellington and see Ministers Mr Mackay aud most of tho constables returned to Wellington on Saturday night, but Inspector Pender and Constables Murphy and Johnston remained behind. 'Ihe work of clearing the site is to be pushed on now that tho weather is fine. A number of men are to be sent up to-morrow. Inspector Pender returned this morning, and reports that everything was quiet whon he left. A deputation of Maoris, accomrmniod by Mr M'Donald, a settler in the Horowhenua district, also reached Wellington to-day, and will wait upon Ministers wi'h reference to their grievance. Constables Murphy and Johnston are still at Levin, and will remain there for a day or two longer. Our Lovin correspondent writes of the interview between the natives and the Inspector -. — Sevoral of the natives spofco as to their grievances, amongst the most prominent being a very old man, Raniero Te Whata, Hori Te Pa, Hema Heuere, Wi Nare, Hanita Henare, and Waota Muruahi. They all spoke very bitterly about the purchase of the land, saying they hod never been consulted or received any oi the money. The man who was said to have sold it only held it for the tribe in trust. They also said that petitions had been repeatedly presented to Parliament, but the natives had never had any notification of what the Government intended to do, or what provision was going to be made for them. This was all the land they had, and now that it was taken from them they were landless, and were forced into the swamps. Mr. Mackay explained that he and Inspector Pender were not there to discuss the land question with them, but to do their duty, and it would be better for thorn to go to work in a legal way.