Settlement of the Lands.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 66, 12 November 1887, Page 3

Settlement of the Lands.

1 tnuc meeting via held in the Borough Council Chamber* on Thursday, in connection with native land matters, and to give final suggestions lor the deputation. The Mayor took the chair, and explained the object ot the meeting, also reading Mr Graham’s letter that if a deputation were going to Wellington they should proceed withpuVdelay. The Chairman said that though he was willing to go, aa requested, he did not wish to do *0 it there were any objection to Mr Bees told the meeting what he had been doing in reference to this matter when he was in Wellington, The Government had desired all the information possible on the Subject, and had made very favorable replies. Be was sure an opportunity must come now juch as the district had never had before of pushing its claims on the House. In the present state of affairs they would dt> anything likely to increase the population. Unless something were done this district would be kept back and the whole colony suffer. Mr Chambers thought the time had gone by when deputations could do any good. A working committee might be formed to collect all data from time to time, which could be forwarded to Wellington—he thought more business could be done this way than by sending a deputation. Mr A. McDonald was. very sorry to hear Mr Chambers speak in that way—the hours at which the House met kept Mr Graham constantly at hi* duties, whilst, on the other hand, the deputation would be free to attend to the special business they went down for. Th* deputation would strengthen the hands pi the member for the district and assist him in his work. Mt Gannon presumed that it was not intended th* meeting should review what took place at th* previous public meeting, the present meeting was only responsible for what it took upon itself to no. Since then the Governmsnt had been memorialised by the various local bodies, and so far they were pretty well apprised of what were the wants of the district. He believed there was no difference of opinion a* to Crown and native lands. He appreciated the generous efforts of ths Mayor on behalf of the district, but he hoped this would be an opportune moment to mention that it bad been eaid that Major Porter had held the office of Commissioner under the Administration Act. 'Major Porter: It is true.] Then be would point out what a delicate position the Chairman would be in, going to Wellington to advocate the repeal of an Act under which be was to receive an appointment. He thought it would only be hampering the Government to send a deputation at the present time, and it would be premature to pass any resolutions with regard to native lands after the reference made to the question in the Financial Statement. They should furnish every possible data to the member for the district, and

when the Government brought down their native land measure, it a deputation were thought necessary it could then be sent down. He also thought they should know the views of the members of the deputation. The Chairman said that if they were chosen to fulfil certain wishes -of the people, he would consider it their duty to represent that interest. Aa to his holding an appointment under the previous Act, that did not mean he was responsible for it, and if he were selected M a fit person to administer the Aet, it did not necessarily prejudice his private opinions. Mr Bees said a public meeting had been called and certain resolutions passed, and both Mr Graham and the Government had been informed that a deputation was going down to Wellington. If Mr Chambers or anyone else disagreed with this course they should have said so at the meeting. It would be turning publie meetings into a farce were they to traverse what had been done—they bad no authority to do so. It was the same curse under which the district had always suffered—they were always pulling two ways. If the people would not make up their minds to act in one way, then they would have to bear the consequence. Mr Whinray said all they had got to do was to carry out the wishes of thb large public meeting. The discussion was away from the point altogether—they had no right of veto. Mr Blair was afraid they were going the way they had always gone—one working against the other. It was to be regretted they could not work together. Mr Whinray said that now they had seen that Ministers were favorable, they seemed to be shrinking. The matter ought co be followed up with all the fervency and seal they could throw into it. Mr Bees could say that the Ministry expected a deputation, and as be had been appointed to go, he intended to carry out the duty, Mr Ward understood the present meeting bad been called to make suggestions and give information to the deputation. He agreed that a committee of those conversant with the native land laws should be appointed to discuss the matter and make suggestions to the deputation. Mr Bievwright considered the present meetly a superfluity—they eould not interfere * with what bad been done by the previous meeting. The Chairman said the public meeting had Ohly dealt with one class of resolutions—they might consider and condense the resolutions of the local bodies. Mr Shelton questioned the advisability of h deputation— since the previous meeting they ba d time to think over, the matter, and ha considered it was not necessary. Mr Stubbs thought a committee should be appointed. Mr Smith would like to know whether the members of the deputation would be in accord in carrying out the wishes of the previous meeting. Mr Bees and Major Porter felt bound to Carry out their instructions. Mr Maude was quite certain that Mr Bees would express the feeling of the previous meeting. They wan'd the land opened up. Mr Gannon said the previous meeting only decided in favor of a deputation—it did not say when it was to go. He moved that the sending of the deputation be postponed. The Chairman said as there appeared to be objec'ion, he wen d not go to Wellington, Mr Townley seconded, and pointed out that Mr Graham did not say a deputation was necessary. The position had entirely changed since the Statement had been made, and he thought a committee would be suffi. cunt. Then, as Mr Bees' name had been mentioned, it was well known he had been for yean endeavoring to lock up native lands, and if anybody were entitled to the credit of the present position Mr Bees was—he had yean ago sent a Bill down to the House with tbs view of getting the lands as they were now. If they wanted to send a man down to Wellington they should not ask one who would have to undo what he had been strivtog to do for seven yean. Mr McDonald understood Mr Bees had been unanimously appointed by a large public meeting, and they had nothing to do with his going. Mr Bees had done more tor the district than all the rest. put together. Who was most instrumental in opening up North Gisborne and the Haiti 1 The sooner the deputation went down the better. This was not an ordinary session; the Bill would be rushed through, and, even if it were not, the Government would not care to alter the wording of tbs Bill once they had brought it forward. Further, there was nothing to show that the East Coast had been referred to in the Statement. Mr Bees did not want to blow his own trumpet, but could claim that more lands (excepting Government purchases) had passed through his hands than all others put together. He had never proposed to have the lands locked up—Mr Townley ought to know better. He had always been in favor of the lands being fairly settled. He should not have accepted the position in which he was placed by the previous meeting unless he intended to carry out their views. Mr Bievwright was astonished to hear the

Mayor refusing to do what he had undertaken at the previous meeting. Major Porter justified hie statement that he would not go to Wellington. Whenever a person offered to sacrifice time and money in the interests of the district there were some people ready to impute bad motives. Mr Matthewson hoped he would reconsider his decision. After further discussion an amendment that the deputation should at once proceed to Wellington was carried by sixteeu to ten, and the following Committee appointed to confer with them Captain Ferris, Messrs McDonald, E F. Barris, Matthews, and Ward,