THE AWAHURI NATIVE RESERVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5006, 1 February 1878, Page 3

THE AWAHURI NATIVE RESERVES.

f The notice in our special reporter's " Trip to the West Coast" of the Awahuri native reserve, now leased, with the right of purchase, by the natives, at Mr Macdonaß's instigation and through his agency, in blocks suitable for farming purposes ; as also of the reserve adjoining, which it is proposed shortly similarly to lease, having attracted much attention, and haying beeri the subject of numerous enquiries in this district, our reporter (Mr Carlile) took the liberty of writing to Mr Macdonald, asking him if he would be kind enough to furnish him with particulars, more especially with regard to the land which would shortly be brought into the market, for the purpose of satisfying these enquiries. Mr Macdonald has very kindly replied at considerable length, furnishing very full particulars indeed. We may further state that as soon as the title to the Aorangi and Taonui blocks is so far settled as to enable the surveys to be completed, the fact will be duly notified in our columns, so that any Hawke's Bay people who may be on the look-out for sections there need not be afraid that they will be disposed of without due notice being given to them. The following is the substance of Mr Macdonald's communication : — 1. The Awahuri reserves consist of about 6000 acres. 2. There are six families of natives at Awahuri, besides visitors and hangers-on of various kinds. 3. The heads of these families are the grantees of the reserves. 4. The name of the hapu is Ngatikauwhata. They originally came from Waikato, with Te Rauparaha. 5. Up to 1874 these reserves existed on the plan of the district only as yellow blotches, the Government persistently refasing or neglecting to name or otherwise indicate the particular owners. 6. Consequently no use whatever could be made of the land, and there was much quarrelling among various Maori claimants. 8. T|ie district had been excluded, at the_ in^rcance of Dr Featherston, from the ordinary operation of the Native Lands Aot, 80 that there was no way in which a title could be got except by direct application to the Native Department, 9. The Native Department most wickedly and cruelly, as I think, neglected to issue the grants, or officially nominate the intended grantees. 10. Ngatikauwhata were becoming desperate, and mischief was certainly impending, when, as the mildest possible form of rebellion, I determined to 'stop the main road through the principal reserve, which I did by shooting the leading horse in the mail cbach. 11. I thought it better to do it personally than allow the Maoris to do it, because they would have resisted the arrest of one of themselves, and worse would likely follow. 12. I was afterwards professionally advised that if I had stopped the road ■with a fence or a ditch I would have been within the right of Ngatikauwhata, but I did not know, and so I did the other thing. 13. When I was sentenced to three years' penal servitude, the Government precipitately issued the grants for which we had been vainly praying for ten years. 14. When I went to prison I had not a scrap of writing to show that the Maoris owed me anything, or had ever promised me anything. 15. But within three months after they got the title, Ngatikauwhata caused a deed to be prepared conveying to my wife 850 acres in fee simple. 16. Beyond that they refused to do anything whatever with the reserves until I should return. 17. The utmost efforts were made to induce them to lease or sell ; but they obstinately refused. "We have done -**■' without the land," they said, "for ten years ; we can do without it for three more. It would not be right for us to enjoy the proceeds of the land while our friend lies in prison." 18. Fifteen months afterwards, they with' the assistance of two European friends borrowed £1000, and presented the sum to my wife to enable her to buy some stock for the land they had given her. 19. Before, however, she had begun to invest the money I was released, and the land was soon afterwards re-conveyed to me by her trustees, and now constitutes the farm for which I was the other day offered £10,000. 20. I have written the above paragraphs for two reasons — First, because you seem to take an interest in these matters ; and second and chiefly, to account to you for j my owning so much as 850 acres out of i 6000. The gift was absolutely and entirely voluntary— a gift made while I ! was in prison, completely cut off from them, and absolutely without any hold whatever upon them except that of true and generous affection. \ 21. Ngatikauwhata are themselves occupying about 2000 acres in different sections with their stock and cultivations, and the remainder (3150 acreß) is leased or sold on the tennis you state to 30 small farmers, 1 storekeeper, 1 hotelkeeper, 1 blacksmith, 1 carpenter, and 1 schoolmaster. 22. With regard to the other block (Aorangi No. 1), which remains to be cut up, I regret to say that it is not so large j as you have been informed. It is only 10,000 acres, and Consists of two blocks of 70JMtnd 3000 acres respectively— or to be correct, it is 7256 and 3000 acres. 23. The 7256 acres are held under an interlocutory order of the Native Lands Court, dated March, 1873. But in 1874 Parliament passed an Amending Act, giving to the Governor retrospective power to order a re-hearing of claims in certain /cases (clause 8, Native Lands Act, 1874) • d , m September, 1877, just as I had the block nearly ready for the market, his Excellency suddenly ordered a re-hearing of the claims to the land. 24. I siippose the Government had some reason for what they did ; but it seems a curious thing that they should have delayed so long, and allowed people to go to the expense of surveys, and then hang the whole thing up in this way. 25. Immediately upon the appearance of the order for a re-hearing, I wrote on behalf of Ngatikauwhata, asking that the desired re-hearing should take place as soon as possible, and pointing out the injury which was being done, first, by the undue delay in issuing the order, and second, by practically locking up the land indefinitely. 25. The Government replied that the re-hearing must take place before the 23rd of next March, according to the terms of the order. 26. I hope it may be so ; but in the meantime such curious proceedings, and continual amen dings and alterations of the Native Lands Acts, unsettle men's minds and make the native lands of much less value than they otherwise would be. 27. I am given to understand that if, as seems likely, the Native Lands Court refuses to re-hear the case, on the ground that it has already been fully investigated, and that there exists no ground whatever, other than a caprice of the late Government, for a re-hearing, then, thai the existing interlocutory order will be confirmed, and a proper certificate of title will be issued to Ngatikauwhata. 28. I am in good hopes that either by a re-hearing, or by the lapse of the order for a re-hearing, Ngatikauwhata will have a good title soon after next March. 29. The land will then be cut into 100 acre sections, and alternate sections leased with purchasing clause for 21 years. ". 30. The block is all level bush land of the very finest quality. The price will be £3 per acre, bearing 5 per cent, interest by way of rent, or £2 cash. 31. The other block, of 3000 acres, is called Taonui, and is precisely similar quality to Aorangi No. 1, '

32. It is Crown land, but was formally returned to the Maories by the late Sir Donald M'Lean, in 1870, as having been included by mistake in the Ahuaturanga block, purchased by Dr. Featherston from the Rangitane tribe. 33. But, although the land was returned to the Maoris in 1870, the Government obstinately refuse or neglect to name any particular Maori or Maoris who shall have the legal right to deal with it ; consequently it is lying there idle, which is a pity. 34. I am in hopes, however, that this block also will be settled before or during next March. It will be disposed of in the same way as stated above. In fact, it is all the same land, except that the title to one part must come through the Native Lands Court, and to the other part from the Crown direct. In conclusion, I hope you will at least admire the splendid fidelity of the Ngatikauwhata, and recognise the obligation upon me to do the very best I can for them. Now, in our view, the interests of the Maori and of settlement are identical ; therefore, our wish is to. fill the land with men that will cultivate it.— l am, &c, A. M'Donalp.