THE WEST COAST SETTLEMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 38, 21 August 1880, Page 2

THE WEST COAST SETTLEMENT

We are enabled to supply the following summary of the above Bill from the columns of our able contemporary, the Wellington Evening Post. For some reason or other, the Government Printer does not furnish copies of Parliamentary Bills to some of the up-country papers, although we see the receipt of them frequently acknowledged in the columns of iournals of far less importance than our own. We should have thought that, in the interests of the public, all journals in na&ve dlsbiicts would fee furnished" "with copies of Bills dealing with native matters, at all events: — "The object of the West Coast Settlement Bill, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Bryce, is vey clearly set forth in the title and preamble. The Bill is described as 'An Act to empower the Governor to settle outstanding questions on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand ;' and the preamble runs as follows: — 'Whereas by the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners' Trials Act, 1879, it was provided that the Governor in Council might appoint commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into all promises and engagements that had been made, or were alleged to have been made by, or on behalf of, the Government of the colony in respect of the matters in the said Act mentioned: And whereas commissioners were duly appointed for the purpose aforesaid, and the said commissioners have made certain reports to the Governor in the matters aforesaid, and it is expedient that the Governor should be empowered to take such steps as may be necessary for the final settlement of the difficulties that exist on the West Coast of the North Island. 1 It therefore empowers the Governor, hi such manner as he may think fit, 'to make a final settlement of every claixn or grievance of any nature arising out of any award, promiae, or engagement, howsoever xnaAe, \ by or on behalf of the Government of the

colony, in respect of land situate within the confiscated territory, and, so far as it may be expedient, to do so in accordance with the said reports, and to issue Crown grants in fulfilment of- such awards, promises, and engagements.' The Governor in Council is also authorised to make alienable and inalienable reserves for the benefit of natives ; the former, however, to be subject to legislative action by Parliament. By the sth section the Taranaki and Wellington Land Districts are altered and a new land district is constituted, called the 'West Coast Land District.' There is to be no Land Board for the new district, but only a Commissioner of Crown Lands, who is to exercise full powers under the Minister for Lands. Lands not set apart as reserves are to be treated as Crown lands. The following ar.j to be offences under the Act, rendering offenders liable to two years' imprisonment with hard labor, and to find sureties for good behavior : — Obstructing any person authorised to do anything under the Act ; removing or destroying any building, bridge, fence, survey peg, survey station, or other erection, thus endangering the public peace ; digging, ploughing, disturbing fencing, or building on any land so as to impede its lawful occupation; damaging or obstructing any road gazetted as a highway ; assembling armed or unarmed for any of the above purposes, or aiding, abetting, or countenancing such acts. Offenders may be arrested without warrant, and natives now in custody, or subsequently arrested under this Act, are to be detained under the Maori Prisoners Act. The schedules define the boundaries of the district, which may be generally described as extending from Stoney river to the Waingongoro and Waitotara rivers and the sea."