THE LAND GRAB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 25 (Supplement)

THE LAND GRAB.

For when Governor Hobson insisted on particulars of the land claims made by Europeans, he found that they amounted to more than half the area of the islands. Many of the socalled claims were preposterous, many of the so-called sellers had not the shadow of a claim to the land they sold. Successful in his prompt despatch of the British warship Britomart to forestall the proposed French acquisition of territory at Akaroa, Hobson s greatest f rouble now lay with the New Zealand Land Company. Without going into details one can hardly realise the difficulties which beset, the unfortunate Governor. Wakefield continued to dump down his pvirchasers of unknown lands. Everywhere, these misguided men camp into contact with Maori owners who denied having parted with their land, yet behaved in most instances with dignity and patience under provocation, scarcely endurable to the land-loving Maori. Huts built on disputed ground were certainly destroyed, but the property they contained was carefully preserved, and returned to the owners. Coal mined on disputed land was night after night returned to the coalpits by deft and silent workers, but the miners were left unharmed. But the situation was too strained to last, a crisis was at hand, and it was fortunate for the colony that 1841 paw the arrival of three men who were to exercise on its future history a splendid and lasting influence.

George Augustus Selwyn, curate at Windsor, was chosen as the first Bishop of New Zealand. Young, earnest in mind, and vigorous in physique, singularly handsome, of unflinching courage, and indomitable will ; to the spirit of the Church militant he yet added an ineffable sympathy and tenderness. His close study of the language with a young Maori or. the

voyage out enabled him to preach to his people in theii own language on the Sunday after arrival. At Hobson's request he loundod a school on the plan of King's College, London The missionaries far exceeded his expectations, and of the Maoris he wrote, "I love them from my heart, and my desire to serve them grows day by day." By October he had made eight voyages. From Wellington to Taranaki he travelled by land, accompanied by the Maoris, who were proud of his trust, and admired his physical strength and perfection, were in awe of his justice and high bearing as a great priest. For months he moved among them as an initiation to his work, traversing over a thousand miles by land and water.

The names of Sir William Martin and of Mr William Swainson, as strong factors for good in the history of the colony from the time of their arrival, in 1841, complete the trio of splendid personalities, and recall their constant friendly co-operation with Bishop Selwyn. Meantime the long line of signatures, to the Treaty of Waitangi increased as LieuLenant Shortland carried on the work of interviewing a,nd conferring with the chiefs. Weakened by illness, and overwhelmed with a pathetic sense of failure, yet constant in duty to the very last, Governor Hobson died in September, 1842. A great Maori Chief, writing to the Queen, paid this tribute to his memory : 'Mother Victoria, concerning a Governor for the Maori and the Pakeha in this land, let him be a good man, a man of judgment. Let him be a good man, like the Governor who has died."

Under Hobson's governorship 11,000 new settlers had been established in New Zealand. But how ? Under misrepresentation and mismanagement, which held small promise of future prosperity, and at this time, 1842, the only peaceful and nourishing nook was the little French settlement at Akaroa, where the immigrants were already surrounding themselves with vineyards and gardens.

Lieutenant Shortland became Acting-Governor pending the arrival of Hobson's successor, and it was during this interim that the long threatened crisis arrived in