THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, October 1, 1859.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 106, 1 October 1859, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, October 1, 1859.

An advertisement appeared in the "Herald" of Saturday last, in which the members for Waipukurau — Messrs. Tucker and Ormond — convened a meeting of the electors of that district for the purpose of considering the land question, so that they might be in possession of the opinions and wishes of their constituents in anticipation of the subject being brought before the Provincial Council at its next session.

We are glad to see a first step taken towards the consideration of this most important subject, and trust that the example thus set by the members for Waipukurau will be followed by our Napier representatives and by those of other districts.

The administration of the waste lands of the Province, is perhaps the most important subject with which the Council will have to deal. For years, the land will be the principal source from which our provincial revenue will be derived, and, upon the regulations now to be adopted, will, to a great extent, depend the future progress and prosperity of Hawke's Bay.

During last session the Council, (very wisely we think,) left this subject in abeyance — feeling indisposed at that early stage to move in a matter which requires mature consideration ; but at next meeting there will be no such reason for further postponement. We believe that the present regulations are satisfactory to no section of the community : the runholders are accused of monopolising the country, whilst, in fact, they hold their runs on the most unsatisfactory tenure, and are compelled for their own protection to secure all the choice portions of the land, and frequently suffer serious embarrassment from the absolute necessity of raising money for this purpose. Yet the sudden purchase of the whole or a considerable part of a run, and consequent ejection of the squatter, has become a frequent occurrence amongst us, and no licensed occupier can reckon with certainty on more than three months' possession, excepting in those very rough districts which are not worth the upset price of five or ten shillings per acre. On the other hand, if those regulations are unsatisfactory to the runholder, they are even more unsatisfactory to that large portion of the community who can get no runs. The very regulations which drive the squat,ter to "spot" his run, tend to throw difficulties in the way of the would-be freeholder, whether he be a capitalist, or merely ah aspirant for forty acres.

We fear that this evil has now gone too far to admit, of a radical remedy, yet by mutual concessions as regards the land now licensed, and by the adoption of a new system with the lands yet to be acquired from the natives, a partial remedy may be applied.

Nothing, we admit, can be more prejudicial to- the progress, not only of this province but' of the colony, than continual changes in the land regulations. The stranger who arrives in New Zealand will be sufficiently puzzled to find no less than seven different codes in this small colony, without each of the seven 1 being subject to constant alteration, at the ;i caprice of those who may be rulers for the day. But in the case of Hawke's Bay, such alteration is, we 1 fear, a . necessary evil.. The system of patchwork which" we have .derived from Wellington absolutely requires a thorough revision ; but we trust that such revision will be the-.resuk of the most careful deli-

beration, and founded on justice to all parties. One of the principal difficulties with which this question is beset, arises out of the system which was first adopted during Mr. Domett's commissionership, and which has been cominued until recently, — that of receiving applications for runs which are not yet acquired from the Maories. That this was illegal will not, we think, he now questioned — neither Mr. Domett, Mr, Fox, nor Mr. Tiffen having had authority to deal with native lands. The Provincial Council itself has no such power ; nor, indeed has the General Assembly. But other considerations beyond the mere law of the case are involved in the discussion of this matter, and the claims in equity on the part of applicants for runs whose deposits have been accepted by the authorities for the time being, will probably afford matter for long debate at the March meeting of the Council. The point is one, by the way, upon which the present government is not unlikely to stand or fall — the oft-expressed opinion of the Superintendent being, that the province is not bound to give such applicants the benefit of a very questionable claim, arising out of an illegal act of the officers of that government from which we have now been mercifully rescued. Since writing the above we have been informed that a circular has been issued by the General Government to the Superintendents of provinces, to the effect that any new regulations will have to be passed by the General Assembly. We are glad of this, as we believe it to be the only, plan which will give stability to the regulations in New Zealand ; and, without desiring to see absolute uniformity in the regulations of the several provinces — which could,not apply to the circumstances of all — we still believe it possible to lay down a code, the general principles ,of which may apply to the whole colony ; and then by means of supplementary clauses to meet the requirements of each province. We presume that the Provincial Council will still discuss the subject, in order that the General Assembly, when it meets, may be made aware of . the requirements of this province, previous to the enactment of any new regulations ; and for this reason it is still desirable that the public meetings we have alluded to should take place.