The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1866.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1709, 8 June 1866, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1866.

These can be no question but certain great and lasting benefits must result to the Northern Island of New Zealand from the late war. These will be shared both by the natives and the colonists. The former have discovered tbat the colonists are their masters in the game of war, and that nothing is to be gained by creating disturbance or rebellion. The friendly natives have felt confirmed in their attachment to the white people, and enjoy all the prestige of victors among' their own tribes, and of trustworthy and effective allies among the colonists. The vast tracts of Maoridom are opened up to the cojonists, who may purchase where they please, and on their own terms, either from those who have felt the force of their armß, or from those whose companionship in war has made their neighbourhood peculiarly safe and desirable. According to present arrangements, the chief, in fact, the ohly advantage to the Middle Island is that its population can now sit down and calculate how much they have got to pay without the dread of additional expenses. This they share in common with their brethren of the North. Now, while we, by no means wish to seem ungrateful for such an advantage, it must still be allowed us to ask, why the benefits and the charges should not go together ? Why the fields which yield the profitable returns should not pay the expenses of the tillage ? In plain words, we wish again to ask the question why the lands of the North, which are set free by the late war, should not meet the expenses of that war ? It was in disputes about these lands that it originated; and its end has been to free both the buyers aud the sellers of them from trammels with

whichthey were previously encumbered. Why Bhould it not be fairly examined into whether they may iiot, with perfect justice, aud without injury done to any one, defray the expenses incurred in the process by winch these good results have been secured. The principle has already been re-,, cognised in the legislation of the" General Assembly. Provision has been made under the Native Lands Act of 18G5 that a certain proportion of the purchase-money of any laud passing from the hands of natives to colonists shall go to the General Government. That proportion is ten per cent. Now it would be easy to show that many evils result from this arrangement, Por one thing it is aii uncertain one. It would be impossible for auy Government to estimate even proximately the revenue from so uncertain and changeable a source. It holds out, too, what no government measure ought to do, an opportunity for equivocation and double dealing on the part of those who were transacting the business. Nothing might possibly be more congenial to buyer and to seller than to represent the price paid as much less than it actually was, inasmuch as this would leave so much money in the pockets of both. What we have already suggested and would again venture to urge is that instead of this ever varying quantity, a fixed rate should be decided on, and 1 that such a rate as would give fair prospect of the whole expenses being defrayed from this their most natural and legitimate source. The charge of half a crown an acre upon all lauds sold by the natives to European settlers would'be neither a heavy burdeu on the purchaser nor injurious to the interests of the present Maori possessors. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine any one objecting, as purchaser, to this small charge upon the acreage of his pro-' perty secured in fee-simple, when it is kept in mind that the necessary result of rejecting this arrangement is practically to throw upon the lauds of the Middle Island a charge of not less than ten shillings an acre. No present holder of land in the Northern Island can object to this impost; for it rather tends to increase the value of the territory he possesses. The ardent purchasers of the Manawatu block cannot complain of it; they can only rejoice in having effected their purchase so soon before this shall have come into force. If anything can be supposed inev3tal|}y to secure the definite settlement of that long pending transaction, itt must be the knowledge that \ little more delay would bring it uider tire probable operation of a measure imposing this tax.

But as to the Maoris, it maybe asked, whether this impost jsvould not act unfavourably upon their interests, and lessen the value of the lands they are willing to bring into the market. A very little reflection, however, will show that the effect must be exactly the reverse. Take the example of the famous Manawatu block, It consists of about 250,000 acres, purchased at £25,000, or two shillings per acre, This is probably the largest price ever received by the natives for any of their lands. Now it is perfectly well understood that the land is purchased, not to be held by the Superintendent of Wellington as a provincial estate, but to be sold out again, in retail, at a very much advanced figure. The effect of the impost of two and sixpence per acre by the General Government would be to secure the advanced price for the Maoris themselves. They would sell their lands thereafter at a very different rate. In no case probably would they receive, for any land at all worth having, less than two and sixpence per acre. That is to say no land worth having would, for the future, be sold in the North Island for less than five shillings an acre; for less, that is, than the lowest price overpaid for,land in the Middle Island. But of this price, while the Maoris would have the greatest cause to rejoice, in it as something beyond what their previous experience had ever led them to dream of securing, one-half would go to the General Government, towards the removing of the burden which threatens to depress the fortunes of the whole colouy, and to promote either continued quarrelliDgs or final separation between the two islands.