MAORI LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13708, 26 March 1908, Page 6

MAORI LANDS.

CONFERENCE AT NGARUAWAHIA.

[from our own CORRESPONDENT.

Ngaruawahia, Wednesday. At the meeting of natives called by Mahula at Ngaruawahia, and at which His Excellency the Governor, the Prime Minister, and the Native Minister were present, Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.P., stated that it would be advisable to subdivide some of the lands of the Maoris, setting apart a portion, which would be Maori lane's under Maori customs, in accordance with the Treaty of Waitangi.

It has been stated that 5,000,000 acres were left in the hands of the Maoris, and it is considered right that some part of this should be made into farms for the use and occupation of the natives. Then part of the remainder should be utilised for leases to the public and the balance for purchase by the Government, the money from these sales and leases to be placed in the bank in the first instance, to be used for farming operations or for their own support. On March 19 the Government agreed to these propositions, which gave satisfaction to the Maoris.

The Native Minister has now gone to Whakatane on business respecting the. Maori people in the Urewera and Tuhoe districts, and Mr. Grace has returned to Kihikihi. Messrs. Henare Kaihau and Jas. Mackay are conducting the proceedings, and to-day they have commenced to fix up the land for permanent reserves, farms, leases, and sale to the Crown.