Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1877.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3931, 13 June 1877, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1877.

The recent A'isit of Messrs Locke and Sheehan to Takapau Avas made, Aye understand, with, the vieAv of negotiating Avith the natiA'e grantees in the Seventy-mile Bush blocks, aa'lio have not as yet parted AA'ith their interests, in order to obtain some settlement of the matter ; and a settlement, Aye are happy to learn, is iioav in a fair Avay of being arrived at. The negotiations for the purchase of the Seventy-mile Bush Avere commenced by Mr Locke seAen years ago, in 1870. In that year he succeeded in inducing the native OAvners of tlie Tamaki block, at the Napier end of the Bush, about 290,000 acres in extent, to pass it through the Court Avith the object of selling it to the Government. In passing through the Court a large tract of country of the kind, it Avas necessary to divide it into several blocks. The Tamaki Avas accordingly divided into nine sub-blocks, Avith ten grantees in each. The ManaAvatu- Wairarapa block, at the Masterton end of the Bush, A\ r as likewise divided into seA'eral sub-blocks, and passed through the Court. It Avas then purchased by Mr Locke for the Government, every signature having been obtained. ISTo question in regard to title has ever been raised in reference to it,J

Things did not go quite so smoothly, however, -with the Tamaki block. For some considerable period about a dozen natives, most of whom — though not all — recognised Henare Matna's leadership, refused to sign the deeds of sale to the Government. These have been dropping in one by ono from tinie to time, till the number was reduced to seven, and at this number it has remained for about twelve months past. The nine sub-blocks varied in extent from about 2000 to about 20,000 acres. To five of them the titles obtained were absolutely complete. As regarded the remaining four, there are three in which the signature of one grantee is still wanting, and one in which the signatures of four were wanting. The latter is a block about SOOO acres in extent. One of tlie three alluded to is a little over 2000 acres; the others are large blocks of about 20,000 acres each. One of them is the Maharahara block, well known as the site of the Heretaunga and the proposed Bush Mills settlements. This being the position of matters, we understand that Mr Locke requested Mr Shcclian to co-operate with him in bringing about a settlement, Mr Sheehan's position as legal adviser of the natives concerned enabling him to do so effectually. Mr Sheehan consented, and is performing his share of the bargain with zeal and ability, as also with every prospect of satisfactory results. At the close of last week he and Mr Locke, as above remarked, visited Takapau, and held a long interview with the natives on tlie subject of settlement. The latter appeared willing to come to an arrangement, and, in the end, it was determined to hold another meeting in a few weeks' time, with the a -iew of bringing the matter to a definite conclusion. We trust that tlie negotiations will end satisfactorily, and that they may inaugurate a neworder of things in which tlie two parties, if there are still to be two parties in Hawke's Bay, will vie with eacli other in promoting the common good.