THE HON. MR CARROLL'S TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10731, 20 February 1897, Page 6

THE HON. MR CARROLL'S TOUR.

The Hon. Mr Carroll, Colonial Secretary, arrived in town last night after hi> tour in the south. In the course of a conversation at the Grand Hotel, where he is laying, Mr Carroll stated thafc everywhere he went he h-d beeu accorded effusive receptions. In fact such was the cordiality everywhere extended him that his movements were not marked with thafc celerity that he anticipated they would have been, and consequently he was unable to pay a visit to Ofcago Central, as had been his intention. However, he was markedly impressed with what portions ot the country he did see and he has formed the opinion that the methods of farming and agriculture generally are greatly in advance of what "is to be seen in the North Island. The capacifcv of the south in the matter of gcain-raisiog was especially a matter for considerable surprise to the hon. visitor. In reply to a question, Mr Carroll said' thafc the specific object of his trip was to inquire into the South Island Native claims, and for th-t pu. F o.ie he proceeded to Colac Bay, Riverton, th« Bluff and surrounding district*. '-I was cordially received," he added, "all along, and I satisfied myself -a to the nature o F the grievi^ces and as to the steps which should be taken i>4espetb of them Of course the Natives have deep-rooted prejudices, which are alio war* iv consequence of tl>e duappointment they have been subjected to fo age. anc generations Promises have been made to ihem and never carried out, but, I tpld.them, whatever merit their claim possesseo, timo had b'ssipated their value. Those promises wer, ,ade over 4U years ago, and uew creations and conditions had arisen in the meantime, which made it a matter of impossibility for any Goverument to carry them out. However, we are attemoting to dc what we »to atone for the past, 'it is the intentio of the Government to utilise whatever spar .and there is in different parts ol the island suitable for Native purposes in the form of settlement in the interests of the Nativr The questiou of IW legislation was ... discussed during m< tour and other measures, principally the difficulties that, exist in the Natives getting to the mutton bird islands. It is a special industry i which affects chem. Ifc provides them with a means of living, and at the same time they lay in their stock or provisions for the year. The difficulty lies in the uncertainty of their gpfctiu" to the islands. They have to make arrange- > ments with owners of fi ß hin S smacks, cutters, ! and small vessels to carry them across Bad I weather oftentimes interferes with their departure. They are delayed a week or so, and unless they get there at a particular date their mutton bird catch for fche season is considerably reduced Then again they are open to fche exorbitant charges aDd blackmail on the part of the owners of fche craft, fn many cases the Maoris have to gi7e a considerable portion of their cargo of mutton birds to ansure their transhipment to these islands and their reshipment to the mainland. They wish tho Government to put on a steamer for the purpose, and they would be willing to refund whatever cost might be incurred directly out of the proceeds of the catch." Iv the course of further conversation the Hon. Mr Carroll stated that the question oE the Waiau reserve had also come under hi 3 notice. Mining was going on there afc the present time, but it would shortly be opened for the Natives to take up. " I might add," said Mr Carroll, " that everywhere I was received by my own race—the Maoris—with the utmost warmth, and I have had likewise the most cordial feeling extended towards me by the Europeans."