OUR PRESENT TROUBLES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 934, 27 October 1879, Page 2

OUR PRESENT TROUBLES.

[To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — I was rather afraid the public meeting, Held the' other night, would' take the course it did, as a great mistake, was made m wording . it. I have no doubt everyone whoßigned the paper disapproves of the repudiation policy, and wished to benefit the districFby discussing the advisability of the Government putting our titles beyond repudiation, and the proper owners to have a Crown Grant. I cannot see the benefit of our papers fighting against each other, m the way they are doing, aa it is beyond their power to come to the point we wish ; and as the parties they advocate are so opposed to each other, that it is impossible to settle disputes, so far as land is concerned, amicably, it is. therefore useless to advocate each other's cause. It also damages our interests outside and annoys thoße m the district, 'besides an unsettled feeling m the minds of those who have had quiet posession for years, and considerably checking their improvements, as the land may not be free from dispute by natives. . . I would suggest as a people we should protect .the present occupiers of land from natives taking possession until they proved their claims, and for this reason : if natives take possession of land, and their claim is not proved, it is rather difficult to get compensation for losses sustained. I would not wish to deprive natives of their rights to the land, but let it be by the decision of a judge. lam quite m favor of justice to native or European, but we must have an immediate and final settlement. The greater portion of occupiers of land m Head's estate are purchasers or have a purchasing clause, and these have spent a great deal of money on improvements with a view of it becoming freehold, and would spend more if not m fear of bein» troubled with native disturbances. We placed confidence m the late Capt. Bead to perfect our titles, and being resident m the district for years had confidence m him, for if we had not, it is possible it would not have been < ccupied bj auoh a large number of dwellings as it now does. . i It is evident we shall not receive any support from outside' so long as our titles are m the state they are now, as we have no seourity to offer. We shall have to linger on for some time -before we get over the depression we have to contend with. We are a very young community yet and we must have other support or else we shall not contend with the difficulties of which we have nad more than our share. Just look back a few months when we, were th 3 most thriving distriot m the North Island. Every point of the compass one could see new buildings growing up to shelter our,new arrivals ; Joui if we do.not.ha.ye some support from, outside, I am afraid half the community will have to find other field to exercise their abilities. I do not say it is caused by Mr Bees and party ; but I do think it intimidates men with capital from coming m pur midst ; no* will they until our papers can report more encouraging information than lately. Some twelve or fourteen years ago there were not more than ten buildings m Gisborne. At that time the beautiful country one sees on his way to Orinond, not known at that time, was an open common. In many parts it was covered with dense scrub, and it was diffioult"tO"se«- r inaHy* yards around and there was not a fence m the district. The land was rented for two and sixpence per acre m one or two instances ; but the beautiful and picturesque paddocks are not to be surpassed m the colony. At that time that portion of land between Gisborne and Makaraka could have been bought for, say twenty pounds, as it was unproductive, being similar to the other portions uncultivated. Near Mr. Bead's house one could have bought any portion of the Matawhero property at less than one pound per acre. We owe pur thanks to the late Captain Bead for advancing our district some ten years by assisting those that could not get assistance from others outside the Bay, as they had no security to offer ; and increasing the value of land to such a price to be worth fighting for. I cannot think Messrs. Bees and Co.. are such good feeling people towards the Natives as to devote so ,much time and trouble without getting a very small benefit for themselves. Those persons that voted m favor of Mr. Bees and party did not think what a state the district was m. We must have money to carry on ; but we have no security to offer. . After all Messrs. Bees and Co. cannot give us what we want, nor can he give Natives titles ; but he can keep the residents m one continual unsettled state. We must seek higher powers than Mr. Bees to put us on a proper footing, and the proper discussion of the meeting the other night should have been with that view; — I am, &c, A. Weston: