THE WHEREROA RESERVE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 44, 11 September 1880, Page 2

THE WHEREROA RESERVE.

Mr. M. Hunter, Chairman of the Hawera Road Board, waited upon -the Hon. Mr. Bryce on Thursday, and 'submitted the following memorandum to him : — " I have the honor to inform you that, at v a meeting ing of the Hawera Road Board, held last Saturday, I was directed to point out to you the great inconvenience lessees of parts of the Whereroa and Mokoia Native Reserves suffer from the want of roads through these reserves, and to ask you if, in the- event of the board, making roads for certain lessees' convenience, whether other lessees whom the roads do not benefit, but. through whose leases they pass, can claim compensation from the board for any damage or inconvenience they are put to. In the case brought before the board, Mr. Davidson, lessee of j)art of the Whereroa Reserve, -has fenced in his property, and objects Ho any road passing through it, stating that he will claim compensation for any land taken, and for fencing. The board would also be glad to know whether the natives can object to road making through' these reserves, although in the present -case they are very anxious that a road should be made." After reeding the memorandum, the Hon. Mr. Bryce said .lie had carefully looked over it, but the question was purely a matter of law, and a fee. Of 6s 8d should have accompanied the letter. However, not being a lawyer, he supposed he could not take the fee.

• Mr. Hunter-^YGU appear^ think that the block should' be dealt with in the same way as if it were occupied -b^ Europeans? „ . 4% r The Hon. Mr. Bryce^ — You are determined to get legal advice from me, but > not being a lawyer, I cannot give, it to 3»on. V ' ' i i. •»<.:. Mr.T3.wt6t xtrgt& that'tiaete was a -very large question involved, seeing the vast amount of native reserves that there' would be in the surrounding districts. The road boards could not possibly make roads through these reserves, 'and pay ' compensation to the owners. The Hon. ; Mr. Bryce' said ' the matter was one' that should be tested in a court of law ; therefore, he would rather not give any advice, as it might possibly mislead the board. 'However, to avoid anything like what might, appear to be discourtesy esther to the members of the board or to Mr. Hunter, he might state that the matter had been brought before the Government in a very pressing manner lately, and that was "the reason why he" was so careful' to avoid giving any opinion. He felt very strongly that legislation would have to be introduced to deal with the question, and if it had. not been for the' obstruction that had taken place during last session, it was quite possible that some legislation, dealing with the question would have been attempted. That would account for his unwillingness to express any opinion., A conversational discussion ensued, as to the signing' of the leases and the issue of -Grown, granta, ami it having been suggeßted that Mr. D. Buchanan, one of the lessees, was downstairs, the Hon. Mr. Bryce expressed a wish -to see! him. Mr. Buchanan stated that his lease, was. signed by the Trust Commissioner at New Plymouth; and was witnessed by Mr. SV*ay, R.M. .In the course of the conversation which ensued, Mr Buchanan pointed out that on the East Coast the Masterton Road Board took roads in several places through native reterved. The' Hon. Mr. Bryce replied that Mr. Buchanan was probably not aware that some of these very roads to which he had referred were recently fenced in and sown with wheat by the natives, and it was that' action 'that brought the matter so prominently before the Government* He would advise the parties to try and settle the'matter amicably amongst themselves, or else test the matter in a court of law.