THE MAORI CONFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 181, 12 August 1909, Page 2

THE MAORI CONFERENCE.

The sitting? of the Native Conference werp resume" after midday on Monday, when, the - .:sr. the cay's work did not conclude till reamy 9 p.m., very little progress " T -a = "".ace, despite the efforts of IMMard and Ballantyne, of the Native arc Survey Departments re=pu:vs'y. who are very anxious tc c- r.v the wr.-:. Mr Kaihau's absence. a-td chat cf Mr Heri Tonke, chairman of v: remittee, was much felt, and. wMlt the arrival of the former today great prrcress was anticipated, bur arrare-tly vainly, as today's record was again a peer one. and resulted in the partition of oniy one block of any size --Ma: cf M'aitakaruru. Several small areas were apportioned under varices heads—sale, lease, reserve arc rr.ara hut rot nearly as much a; might have been done. The smallness of areas, and a disposition of part of the Committee to discuss in camera derails, interfere with progress, so much sr. that the work is inclined to drag or tr he prolonged to such an extent that it hecomes wearisome, and deMsates so disappointed that they lc=e Interest. This evening Mr He Hand stated that the sitting? of the Ctrfererce would end on "Wednesday afternoon, according to instruction; received from headquarters. It arrears impossible to deal here with all Native lands, so that it may re necessary to institute similar conferences in different districts, to deal with, local Mocks, instead cf Native lard ir general. Mr Kaihau thinks th.at arrester progress will be made tomorrow, the Committee having come to a derision concerning two Isrsre blocks. which canbe dealt with at 'Mecn.eslay morning's sitting, and that the afternoon will he fully occupied. He rhinos it Is a great pity that the Conference should not complete the wrrl: corrected with local blocks at least, and is of opinion that by the er.d of the week a greater portion will he completed. To leave the work partly drne. re says, will create a bad -impression or the Native mind, and will create a precedent that must have a had effect if similar conferences are hel.Mr ether "realities, for the Native-?, with this rre in their mind, will thirl: them, rrt worth attending, as f.rality cs.rr.ct he contemplated. Mr Kaihau states that he and the Natives cenerr.lly are anxious to know what the A rtlr r-Fremier intends when, the reports of the Conferences are formulated, arc is strongly of opinion that he -hvul 1 v>ir Huntly soon, and fcresr.au:v.- his Nar.ve policy for the immediate future. Though disarrcirtr 1 at the per record of the rast few days. Mr Kaihau is sure that the wrrk which will be done tomorrow will prrve r.is statements to be correct.