NATIVE RESERVE, GREYMOUTH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1726, 14 February 1874, Page 2

NATIVE RESERVE, GREYMOUTH.

At the meeting of leaseholders on Thursday evening, Mr Harrison, M.H.R., stated that he was sure that no application to the Government, which involved injustice to the Natives, would have any chance of success. The policy of the Government was one of conciliation, and although the Natives of the Middle Island had not been, at war with the Government, there was a community of sentiment between them and their countrymen in the North Island upon the subject of land, and no Government could now attempt any injustice. If, however, it could be shown — and he thought it could be shown — that as a matter of public policy it was desirable to extinguish the Native title over the Greymouth reserve, and that a price could be obtained which, when invested, would yield a sum equal to ths rental now being received, then there might be no difficulty in obtaining their ends. : MrGiRDWOOD asked if the movement was to be confined to the benefit of the lessees in chief only, and that the sublessees were to derive no advantage should, any be obtained ? He thought tb«jfe* the sub-lessees were just as much entiJgd to consideration as the tenants-in-chief, and he for one should have nothing to do with the matter unless the interests of tha sub-lessees were to be protected and looked after. Mr Perkins explained that although the application to the Government would only relate to the original leases, yet it was understood that the sub-lessees should participate in any concessions that might be obtained." Mr M. Kennedy could not see how a deputation could deal with such an intricate question as that of the sub-leases. For his part he was more, a sub-tenant than a first lessee, but he did not fear that the original lessees would not extend their leases should they get an extension from the Goverument. Mr GiRDWOOD again protested against anything being done which did not include the sub-leases, and after some remarks from other persons in the room, the report was adopted, and the meeting proceeded to decide the questions of the number and names of the deputation. A desultory discussion took place, one gentleman after another declining to go to Wellington, until at last it was understood that Messrs Perkins i and M. Kennedy would probably accept the duties of the deputation. Mr Kennedy, however, stated that he should object; to go at all unless the position of the deputation was clearly defined. Mr Newton thought that a scheme could be devised to accommodate the interests of the various classes of tenants, but he might also say that he quite differed from Mr Perkins's opinion regarding the new Native Reserves Act, and agreed with the Government in considering the objections to it as frivolous. To his mind it was clear that the Native Board's powers only related to primary dealings with the Reserve, and that in all other matters the 24th Section gave full power to the Governor.

After a good deal of informal debate, the meeting adjourned until Monday evening.