THE NATIVE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9026, 12 April 1888, Page 6

THE NATIVE MEETING.

MR. MITCHELSON AT OTOROHANGA. [OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] • Otorohanga, Tuesday. To-day Mr. Mitchelson, accompanied by Mr. Lewis, Under-Secretary, and his private secretary, Mr. Bates, together with Major Jackson, member for Waipa, and Mr. Hudson, arrived by midday train at Hamilton, and proceeded on by special to Otorohonga, which place they reached about three p.m. At four o'clock the natives assembled in the public hall or Court-house, and if the meeting was not so large as we have seen on previous occasions, it was a fairly representative meeting, as may be Been by the speeches. Such chiefs ana leading men as Rewi, Wahanui, Taonui, J. Ormsby, Wetere te Rerenga, Hopa, and others being present, and taking part in the proceedings. On the meeting being opened, • Wahanui came forward and said :— To-day has been fixed for us to meet you that we may hear what you have to say to us before all the people. We are glad to see you. I will speak that you may know my mind. When I have laid the grounds of my thoughts before you others will explain them in detail—(l) The land law of Mr. Ballance ; (2) the law as to rates ; (3) as to the purchase of land by the Crown ; (4) as to a telephone line being laid to this place; (5) that we may nominate a native stationmaster to the railway-station here; and, lastly, that you will allow us to correct the names of the railway-stations along the Mr. J. Ormsby welcomed the Native Minister to Otorohanga. When Native Ministers came before they came for different reasons, not on invitation but on business of their own. They came there to throw open the road to the European people. The natives did not take kindly to them. You see a railway and a court-house. Now there are matters to discuss which were not ripe then. Owing to your having succeeded in introducing these innovations amongst us we wish you to do what will protect us. The principal thing we wish is an alteration of the law. The laws made in the past were made as if the Maoris were children. It was perhaps because of the position of our land. In Mr. Ballance's time the Native Land Administration Act was passed by the wish of the natives at that time. The opinions of the people have altered. At that time the natives of this district did not wish for individuals Ration of title, but that the land should be vested in hapus and committees were appointed. It is now they desire that all tne land should be subdivided and individualised. Now the cry is that the old law was a bad one, and that a new law be made. If a new Act could be passed for this district alone, we would suggest certain provisions, but we wish a law passed that would bear lightly on all persons. We, within this boundary, consider Mr. Ballance's Act a good one. We have heard that the Government last session desired to pass a new Act. We want to know how that Act will affect us. I disapprove of the action of the Government, because they did not send round to let the natives know how that Act would affect them. The Act I would like is as follows: — Ist. That the Native Land Court Act be re-adjusted, so that natives may easily bring claims before Court, so "that each individual may get his own land. 2. That an Act be passed that no individual, either to Government or private person, sell till it was known what his interest was. When this is done, let every man do what he likes with his land; but now the Act is different for those not adjudicated upon and those that have passed the Court. 3. We are opposed to any lawyers appearing in the Native Lands Court. All the people in this district are very strong on this point. Immediately the land is adjudicated upon, the Government get liens over the land. Some blocks are still in a state of trouble from this cause. If one individual sold, it gave trouble to the 99 who had not sold. I think the whole cause of trouble arises from Europeans looking for means to buy the lands. The buyers of land are the people who make the laws, and they make them to suit themselves. Another matter is the extension of the telegraph wires to this place, and the appointment of a telephonist.

VVetkre, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. J. Edcards then spoke. Hopa te Ravgianini said: The Acts oade in the past are like fire in the scrub, turning people they touch. You will be ,ble to make a law to protect the native >eople, and we shall thank you, and future generations will approve it, and not be like ome of the other tribes who are landless. Manga (Rewi), Taonui, and others, ipoke. Mr. Mitchelsok said : Chiefs and people, —I am exceedingly pleased to meet you ;o-day I came here at the invitation of the :hiefs to hear from yourselves your various vante. From what has fallen from Mr. Drmsby, I feel certain the native legislation >f the next session will be satisfactory to ;he natives. It is quite true that the native Lands Administration Act has not given

the satisfaction expected at first; an seeing the numbers of petitions present© against it, the Government had determine' to obtain its repeal, and one of the first act of next session will be to replace it witl another Act, which will give the natives the control of their own lands. It is considered that the time has now arrived when the natives are quite able to take care of theii own lauds. One provision will be thai no sale of land can be effects until three months after the land haj been passed through the Native Lane Court. Every one may sell, and the only restraint will be to see that ever} native has retained sufficient for his owr maintenance. It will give those who d< not wish to sell the right- to keep theii land. The Government find there is agreai deal of difficulty around the Land Court and wish for the advice of the natives to frame a satisfactory Act, and wil be pleased to receive suggestions fron natives. He had had some correspond ence with Mr. Ormsby on the subject, auc would endeavour to give effect to some o: his suggestions. The Government have considered the question of lawyers appear ing in Land. Courts, and will frame the new Act to prevent this. In the new Act the Government will retain the right to pur chase lands before Europeans during tht first three months after the land has passed through the Court. They will also endea' vour to repeal the Crown and Native Landt Bating Act. He would bring the question of telegraph extension before the Post-master-General. He believed in retaining the native names for all railway stations, ana j that £he natives be consulted in the matter. Still, as the 'guards of trains would be Europeans it would be desirable that they should be as easily pronounced af possible. He did not see that a station: master could be appointed here by the natives unless they would undertake th« drilling and instruction of the person, as it was a very responsible position. If thej wished for a native stationmaster he would have to be sent to the railway authorities tc be trained. With respect to roads anc bridges the Government would construct roads and bridges as the population in creased. The state of the Kawhia Road had been brought under his notice bj Major Jackson, and he had intended U. consult Mr. Hursthouse on the matter. He would consult with Mr. McKerrOw with i view of having Mr. Smith sent to Otoro hanga to receive the survey money, but af there was a dispute as to the boundary he thought the principal parties interested should meet Mr. Smith here and discus? the matter. He would be happy during his stay to talk matters over with any natives desirous of seeing him, as the Government were desirous to make their native measures such as would meet the wishes of the natives, and all such measures would bd sent amongst the Maori people printed in their own language. ' As regards there hearing asked for, Mr. Mitchelson explained that the refusal or otherwise by the Chief Judge could not be interfered with by the Government during the recess of Parliament. The fact that the matter was before the Supreme Court was another reason the Government should not interfere. ' Mr. Okmsby said ib would not be enough that the land could not be sold until after three months. What should be done was that the Court should not finish its work till after the land had been individualised, and that the Government preemptive right should be altogether done away with. During the course of the evening several Maoris and Europeans saw the Native Minister at Black's Temperance Hotel

(where the Ministerial party was entertained), on semi-private and personal matters. Early to-morrow morning the party leave Otorohanga by the special train for Te Awamutu, and proceed by coach to WhatihoehGe to meet Tawhiao and other natives. *** f ; ' ' " Wednesday. Two deputations waited on the Native Minister at eight p.m. last night. Mr. Ellis brought forward the want of a road to Kuiti, the Maoris having fenced in the space between the railway line and the river Waipa. Mr. Mitchelson said the Government did not care to make roads over which they

had no control. - . Mr. Hill said the natives required the road as much as the Europeans did. Mr. Mitchelson scarcely thought the Government would be justified in incurring farther expenditure. It was not likely any further section of the line would be let. If, however, the road could be made for £50, it should be done.

Mr. J. D. Hill asked for a culvert on the road between Otorohanga and Alexandra and Kopua, the work would not cost more than £50. The want of a culvert

rendered the road impassable in winter. Mr. Mitchelson said if the road had been properly laid out, there would have been less difficulty in the matter. If the road were surveyed it might be different. As an answer to both deputations, the Native Minister suggested that both applications should bo made to him in writing. Mr. Ellis said £350 had been voted for the road between Waotu and Kawa. _ The road would be useless without a bridge, but if the money was spent in putting a bridge over the Waikato, the settlers might make the road do. Major Jackson strongly advocated that this should be done. Mr. Mitchelson promised to see Mr. Hursthouse, and get him to go on with the work at once, provided the money was sufficient. Alexandra, Wednesday. MR. mitchelson at WHAYIWHATIHOK. The Native Minister and party arrived here about noon to-day, but no meeting with Tawhiao and the natives at Whatiwhatihoe lias taken place, the natives sending no invitation to Mr. Mitchelson to visit them to-day, but intimating that the meeting could come off to-morrow, by which time they would have had more opportunity of talking matters over among themselves. Mr. Mitchelson's business arrangements would not allow him to remain here to-mor-row, and he sent an invitation to Tawhiao to come over to Finch's Hotel to dine with him and have a talk afterwards over matters. Tawhiao was unable to come, but Tuhi and Te Wheoro came into Alexandra, and arranged for a meeting at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning, so as not to interfere with the Minister's arrangement®.