MAORI LANDS QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 5

MAORI LANDS QUESTION.

i;>:' ** INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIVE MINISTER. PROBABLE PURCHASES IN AUCKLAND DISTRICT. ■'•The Hon. Jas Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, is at present on a visit to the Auckland district in connection with native land business. He lias already visited the Waikato, and is at present spending a day of two in town, his headquarters being a.t the Star Hotel. He was present nt the conference of railway leagues yesterday afternoon, anil next week lie will visit the Waikato, and other parts of the province. Mr. Carroll had a long consultation yesterday with Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.H.R., in regard to native land matters. On being interviewed by v. Herald representative yesterday in regard to Maori lands, Mr. Carroll slated that he was at . present collecting the. necessary preliminary information in regard to various' native lands m the province, with a view to the purchase of a number of areas by the Government. The information acquired relates to the titles of the areas, the character of the land, the valuations, the number nt owncis. and other details, including particulars as to where natives are residing, and whether the land is in use, and what portions are required for reserves and pa.pukaingas. Several blocks in the province, Mr. Carroll stated, are being selected for purchase for the purposes of settlement by natives and Europeans. All these matters will bp discussed at a big native gathering to be held in the Waikato next week. Questioned i:» to the location of the blocks likely to be purchased, Mr. Carioll said that he could only speak generally at present. He intimated, however, that a portion of the Te Akau Block would probably be purchased, and that a block near Opotiki, concerning which negotiations were in progress during his la.st visit to Auckland, was also being acquired. The Government, he said, had also started acquiring native lands in the Wanganui district for the purpose of closer settlement. " Do you anticipate having a large area of native lands opened: for settlement shortly, as the result of your present negotiations?" asked the reporter. "We live oil anticipation," laughingly replied ii. Minister. "Otherwise the world . would not go on, but it is better not to say too much, but-to let developments speak for themselves." " I suppose your Department means business now— will put it that way?" "Yes," said Mr. Carroll, "that is about the whole thing in a nutshell. Of course, I do not mean it to be inferred that we did not mean business before, but now there will be a special devotion to the native lands policy."