THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 9, 12 May 1880, Page 3

THE WAIMATE PLAINS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sir, — There is no question of such vital importance to the colony as the early settlement of unoccupied lands. The object to be gained by the present proceedings on the Woimate is undoubtedly the permanent occupation of the land. To overawe Te Whiti and prevent him taking liberties with surveyors and settlers can only be considered a means towards permanent occupation by settlers. The question arises — Are the proceedings now taken by the Government the most likely to result in the speedy occupation of the Waimate ? It will be admitted that the Wnimate will be occupied at some future time, even if Government took none of the proceedings that are now in operation on the Plains. The principal object of these proceedings, surely, is to cause settlement at an earlier date than would occur in the ordinary course. That the Government are proceeding in a way that will result in occupation by settlers at the earliest possible time is open, to doubt. It is almost apparent that they have lost sight of the principal object, in their very laudable endeavors to prove Te Whiti to be a false prophet, by using, their whole force to contradict the prophet's hallucination regarding the roads never meeting ; thus putting a subordinate in the place of the principal object; ' There are, no doubt, many waj's of attaining the desired end. One not unfeasible way would be to employ part of the forces in forming the inland road from Waingongoro to Manaia. This would place the land to seaward of the Maori villages under direct protection. The land to seaward of the inland road — the surveyed land — would, in that case, be in so secure a position that the Government would be fully justified in selling it. It is to be hoped that the policy of the present Government will not deteriorate down to the feeble and capricious way of dealing with native matters that had characterised previous Governments, to whom time was no object. Time is undoubtedly the most important element in the subject;. The object in view must be the immediate occupation of the land by settlers — not occupation at some future time, but immediate occupation ; otherwise the great expenditure can in no way be justifiable. Nothing can be more fallacious than to withhold land from productive occupation, with the view of obtaining a higher price for it, such as might be caused by roadmaking, or a change in the money market. No possible land revenue derivable from the sale of the Wamate could compensate the colony for the loss of one season of productive occupation. The settlement of disputes between Government and natives, and the occupation of the defence forces in making roads, are no doubt in themselves praiseworthy, but they can only be considered a means to an end. Such end can only be the negative one of not losing time in bringing the Plains under productive occupation. If the Government proceedings do not go hand in hand with occupation by settlers, the money of the colony is being frittered away in the pursuit of an " ignis fatuus." I am, &c, Nym.