The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1925. THE NGAITAHU CLAIMS.

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1925. THE NGAITAHU CLAIMS.

Whilst the Maoris in Southland are, no doubt, fully alive to the importance of what have become known as “The Ngaitahu Claims,” it is probable that most European folk have only a hazy idea of what the term means and implies. It really opens up one of the most interesting phases of Maori history so far as the South Island is concerned. On the occasion of the great Native meeting at Tuahiwi this week, the Christchurch Sun had the official records examined, and as a result was enabled to give an insight into what is a highly complicated land transaction. It appears that in June, 1848, John Tikao and others, chiefs of the Ngaitahu, signed, at Akaroa, a deed whereby “all the lands and territorial possessions lying along the shores of these seas, commencing at Kaiapoi and on till they come out at the other sea at Wakatipu Wai tai (Milford Haven)” were made over to the New Zealand Land Company in consideration of payments of £5OO down, to be followed by three subsequent payments of £5OO. Thus was the South Island—or the best part of it—sold for £2000! Lieutenant-Governor Eyre, at the time, instructed Mr Kemp, the company’s intermediary, that ample lands were to be set aside for the future needs of the natives, but, although the Maoris complained that insufficient land had been apportioned them, nothing was done, and nothing definite has yet been done. A Royal Commission, four years ago, recommended that the descendants of the Ngaitahu tribe should receive the value of the land included in the Kemp purchase. After much deliberation, an assessment was made, on the 1848 values, at an average price of IJd an acre, and this sum amounted to £79,000-odd. Deducting the £2OOO paid by the New Zealand Land Company, the Commission computed that the remainder, at 5 per cent, interest, would have amounted, in 72 years, to £350,000. To meet expenses incurred by the natives, in huis and petitions, the amount due was finally set down at £354,000. The chief difficulty

facing the Native Land Court, which ie now considering the matter, is that the Ngaitahu have spread from Te Waipounamu to the North Island and even to Stewart Island. The descendants of the signatories have married into other tribes, and, in many cases, have married whites, and the Court will be called upon to sift claims in amazingly-diversified variety. All these claims must be proved by the tracing of ancestry. Now the old-time Maori, who could reel off his genealogy, almost back to Maui, by means of an excellent memory and a notched stick, has almost disappeared. Further, many of the descendants of the Ngaitahu, in the course of time and through mixed marriages, have become almost white. Some of these quadroons and octaroons cannot even speak Maori. On the other hand, a few of the older Maoris can speak no English, or, at least, have a very imperfect knowledge of the tongue. The Royal Commission recommended that, in awarding compensation, due regard should be paid to the future, as well as to the present welfare of the Maoris, and it does not follow that personal payments, from the capital moneys at all events, will be made. It is more likely that a general scheme for the welfare of the South Island natives will be evolved, and the probability of this eventuating will add interest to the sittings of the Court in Invercargill.