Native Matters and Other Things Concerning Repudiation Tactics.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 665, 1 April 1879, Page 2

Native Matters and Other Things Concerning Repudiation Tactics.

The following is from an esteemed correspondent, and will be perused with much interest by our readers : — Every thing to outward appearance is very quiet at present in Gisborne and Poverty Bay. The tightness of the money market, and low price of wool, stops improvement going on ; but to those who look below the surface, it is plainly seen that we are drifting into the same unsettled condition in regard to Native matters, that the West Coast at Waimate is in. The Maories, it is said, by direction of their advisers, are quietly taking possession of all the lands in the district, erecting tents and houses. In one case they have occupied the wool shed that belonged to the late Mr. S. Parsons, and are commencing to cultivate the surrounding land, which has been in quiet possession of the European for a lengthened period, and the title has been also under the Lands Transfer Act for some year3. Mr. Rees, who, in his various harangues has, promised to settle everything, up to the present time has settlhd nothing, not even the much-talked of Whataupoko Block. It is said he is - getting trust deeds signed by the natives here, and up the coast, handing over all their right, title, and interests to him and a half-caste named Wi Pere. The natives are under the impression that there is a committee, as they call it, of natives to assist in any arrangements that may be made ; but as no such committee, I am informed, is named in the deed of trust, the natives will wake up rather disappointed some day. At Tologa Bay I hear Mr. Rees promised the Maories to manage their land so as to bring in £4,000 a year — at the same time the land is under leases to Europeans, with some ten or twelve years to run, and is also under the 17th clause "Native Land Act, 1869." He also promised to have a harbour constructed at once at Cook's Cove, and a railway to connect that harbour with the future township, about three miles distant ; this railway to run at the foot of precipitous cliffs composed of soft pnpa rock over three hundred feet high. The natives, I believe, were asked by one party they were describing all these matters to, whether Mr. Rees did not promise also to build an enclosure outside the harbour to keep a few tame whales in, which they could ride to Gisborne, and thus avoid the present rather tiresome journey overland. Poverty Bay lias also been promised a breakwater, which ought to have been completed ere this ; also a railway to Opotiki. It is reported that schemes for the sale, &c, of large blocks of land on the coast are talked about, but as Hie lessees are not willing to give up their present leases, it is of little consequence. The Lands Court is sitting at Tologa Bay, where it is expected a large quantity of land under negotiation for sale to Government is passing through ; but as all the blocks have first to be investigated by a committee under Wi Peri, and as this committee is paid and fed by both the Government and the native applicants, it cannot be expected to progress at a very rapid rate.