WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 20 December 1913, Page 4

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES.

MEETING OF NATIVES AT TAIPOROHENUI.

A paragraph has already been printed concerning the large gathering of Maoris at Taiporohenui on Thursday when the Hon. Dr. Pomare gave an ad--dress on the land question with special reference to the West Coast Reserves, but the occasion was worthy of a fuller report, which we now give. The natives, had been anxiously looking forward to the meeting and took a very keen interest m the address. There were overtour hundred present representing every hapu within the Taranaki borders and reminding older natives of the great, meetings held in the time of Te Whitr and JFohu. • , '

In introducing the Minister, Powhareumu said that it must be understood by all m the gathering that anyone, who branched off from the Iwi (native* race) and seeking benefit for himself alone, would itot be given any land, nor would his descendants, wneii thetime ariives forgetting the land back. He askedl for the speller a favorable, and friendly heaoriiig. Di. Pornare, to explain the present position, briefly traced the course of affairs since the time of the Maori wars, the confiscation of the land and the apl ponitment of the Public Trustee to hold the lands in trust for the natives. Sine©that was done, there had been various amendments enacted. As a result somew£f+ & S are at Present held under leases to Europeans under the Act of tl fh c"™™w&ble leases. In reference to the 1881 Act, he said that the 18,000 acres, being the area held under that Act, were to he returned to the Maori. At the expiration of the 21 years' leases, the lands are to be re-valued and theleases extended for a furtherten years! at an increased rental. At %he end of the ten years the land will be available for the Maoris. The balance of rent over that now being received will be reserved by the Public Trustee to settle compensation payable at the expiry of the lea.se* There is, the speaker said: an area of about 50,000 acres coml prising lands under occupation licensesand other land irnleased by the Trustee, which W ,H be freehold shortly. If theMaoris are resolute and united, holdingR1 f r I"? 1 * a stro"g effor* «i'l hemade to deal with all Maori land under the West Coast Leases. Dr. Pomare* concluded by making an earnest appeal to them to pull together and hold a strong mind on the subject of theirJand. His speech appeared to be satisfactory, because, although he invited' questions, none were asked. Several speakers made eulogistic references to the Minister and his work m Parliament. , At the close of the meeting a followeror Dr. Pomare proposed that before retiring to their homes, the natives present should signify in writing whetherthey woli}< i prefer^ have their-1 ands still administered by the Public Trusfe °^ hether J they wished the f reenold. This wa« done, and a large number signed; in fact, as alreadf stated, the irieeimg; unanimously endorsed thenew legislatjon and passed a vote of confidence m the present Government. The Maoris afterwards hosnitablv entertained all the visitors and friends