HON. MR. McLBAN AT HAWERA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2072, 15 February 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

HON. MR. McLBAN AT HAWERA.

IMPORTANT MEETING WITH THE SETTLERS. BETURN OF THE NATIVES TO THAT DISTRICT. MOUNTAIN ROAD TO BE COMMENCED AT ONCE. The Hon. Mr. MoLean was at Hawera last week, and on the Gth he attended a meeting of settlers, which was held in the blockhouse. Mr. Campbell was in the chair. There were between twenty and thirty persona present, and the meeting was of a most satisfactory character. The Chairman having briefly stated the object of the meeting, Mr. McLean said : Mr. Campbell, in y oar capacity of ohairman of a public mooting held in last November, you have intimated the wish of the Hawera Bottlers to havo an interview with me, and I have in consequence, at some inconvenience, oome here in answer to their wishes. There are many matters which just now.roquire my immediate attention; but still I have thought it best to meet you and explain what has been done with reference to the return of the natives to tho reserves set apart for them. This is a matter of Buch importance that I wish to be perfectly frank and open with you, so as to havo no doubts or misunderstand! uga hereafter. The Government has arrived at the decision that it is now time that tho native owners of tho reserves in this district should occupy them, and they have como to this conclnsion from tho beliof that it will bo a source of security to tho settlors to havo thorn residing among them, instead of living in tho inland forests. It is quite truo that some timo ago a fooling of animosity engendered by tho war existed between tho two races in this district; bntl am glad to find that such sentiments are rapidly disappearing and that a better state of things is becoming quite visible. A great deal of stress has been laid upon Mr. Fox's promise that no Maori fire should again be lighted south of the Waingongoro, and I think some explanation is necessary on the subject. In the first place Mr. Fox gave this pledge at a time when danger was imminent, and when it seemed the best policy ; in the second place he never intended it to apply to a period of peace and tranqnility such as wo are now enjoying. I may tell you that other districts in this island, Buch as Poverty Bay, which have also saffered quite as heavily, if not; more so, at the hands of the Maoris have gladly welcomed them back when their attitude has been expressive of intended good behaviour, and that the two races are in those parts living side by side in perfect harmony. It mnst not be forgotten that tho natives have all along had a perfect legal right to the reserves made for them in this district ; these were given either as awards by the Compensation Courts or by notices in the Gazette under Acts of the General Assembly. I told you last year that the natives had a clear iitle over their reserves, bnt that tho Government would do its best to restrain them from returning to them fora time. This was all the Government could do — they could only persuade the natives ; they had no power in law to tell them they shonld □ot go back ; but what they could do, they did ; And they did prevent their return until now when it is deemed expedient to allow them to once more occupy their ancostral lands. The interests of the settlers are identical with those of the Government, and all we wish to see is a good nnderstanding arrived at between the races, and then peace and security will continue. The details of the arrangement made for the return of the natives, and the substance of the views entertained by the Government on the subject will be found published in the Wanganui papers to which, as time presses, I must refer you. I will now come to the resolutions agreed to at the November meeting. The first resolution is — " That unless the Government take immediate steps to settle the native difficulty in this district, very serious difficulties and dangers may arise." The Government has taken these steps, and it is with that aim in view that I have been for some time on the West Coast; The second, is to the effect that I Bhonld visit this district without delay. I have done so as soon as I could consistently with my obligations and duties in other parts of the country. The third, refers to the promise made by Mr. Fox. I have already explained that this promise was not intended to last for ever; that it was made when men's feelings were excited and angry, and that it does not apply to these more tranquil times. The fourth, proposes that the natives belonging to this district should be located on land selected by the Government. This is exactly what the Government is doing. These natives own lands awarded to them long ago, and it is on them that the Government purpose to locate them. The fifth, expresses a wish that the whole of the district from Wanganui to New Plymouth should be ' under one native officer. I find on consideration that one officer would nob be able to perform the duties attending the settlement of the natives ; but I have given orders to local officers on this Bubject, and I consider it better for the settlers and natives that they should be able to get their matters looked into at once, instead of having to write and wait for replies from a distance. Captain Wray, who is on the spot, will take charge of all matters connected with confiscated lands, and Captain Blake will lay off the boundaries of the reserves, and will be always at hand to assist in explaining and removing any difficnltieß which may arise. With regard to the sixth resolution, regarding tho individualising of the native titles, I can only say that this is a question of timo. When the natives cypress a wish to have their titles individaalised, the Government will bo prepared to do it for them. Your seventh resolution refers to a proposal that a guarantee shall be given for the settlers' property in case of a native outbreak. In concert with my colleagues I have given this question fall consideration, and the conclusion arrived at was that it was qrite impossible to make any promise of the kind. It would bo wrong to doludo yoa, and I wish to be frank and plain with you ; should such a promiso bo given to you here, it would be expected in other places ; but it is useless to give pledges which could not be redeemed : did the Government make such a promise, this would have to be ratified by the House of Representatives, and I know tho temper of the House too well to believe for a moment that it would agree to it. The eighth resolution, that the natives shonld not return till the Government had come to an understanding with the settlers needs no comment, as I have made the arrangements, and the natives are to return ; and I am pretty well certain that none of them have the least intention of giving any annoyance to settlers j no further allusion to this subjoct is necessary. These are the resolutions. I have already told you that the Government have made their arrangements entirely wiih a view to tho interests of the whole Colony ; and, with regard to thiß district, the Fox Government was never neglectfal of it. Every endeavour has been made to promote its progress, a capital road has been made through it, and altogether few parts of New Zealand have been so well treated. The present Government intend to follow up the same course, to keep a watchful eye upon it, and assist the progress of this rising settlement. It is intended also to throw open more land for occupation — the lands near Patoa, including Whenuakura, will shortly be put up to aootion, when it is trusted this will have the effect of introducing fresh settlers, who will add to the growth and prosperity of the district. Mr. Campbell Raid that to his knowledge some fences had been lately destroyed by natives. Ho wanted to know to whom settlers had to apply in Bach cases.

Mr. McLean said that he had boforo remarkod that in any cases of importanco tho Resident Magistrate of tho elistriot was to be rosorted to. In any local disputes, Captain Blako was instructed to bo at hand and act for both Europeans and nativos, and explain and remove difficulties. Mr. Middi.emas asked how about tho road at tho back of Mount Egmont ? Mr. McLean said ho quite agrooel that tho work was desirable. Tho Government would bo prepared to incur an expenditure of £1,500 to £2,000 npon this. He thought tho object would bo attained by at first making a road to drivo stock through, cutting down tho smaller timber, &o. Mr. Davidson said that with regard to tho third resolution, tho settlers had had no satisfaction. They had no guarantee, no safety, no compensation. Ho fouud that all other parts of the country had received compensation, whereas they had nono. Mr. McLean said that next year Mr. Davidson i would be glad to see tho natives had returned. It was far better to havo them near tho sottlers than living far baok in tho inland forests. As for compensation, districts on tho East Coast, such as Poverty Bay, had boon dovastatod, but no compensation had boon given. Mr. Davidson urged that the Houso had endorsed Mr. Fox's statement, no added that cattle frequently strayed beyond tho Waingongoro, and wcro nevor sent baok. — [This statement was contradicted by sovoral gentlemen prosent.] Mr. McLean said that Mr. Fox's promiso was never intended to hold good after tho establishment of peace ; whilo thoro was danger, it stood, but now that thoro was every chance of a general settlement, it was virtually at au cud. Tho day was past when bygouo times should bo roMred to. Tho wholo district was in a fair voyi of progress, and it was the iufcention of tho Government to further aid it by placing in tho market tho lands about Whenuakura, latoly withdrawn from sale. Mr. Davidson asked about tho proposcel amnesty. Xtx t Mr. McLean said that tho feeling of the Houso of Representatives was in favour of it- 'He himself had proposed it in the tf.ou.so. But ho wished first to " tako ovory nvocaution against future violations of thoWlaw. When guarantees and assurances to that effect woro obtained, tho Government would issuo an amnesty. A number of principal tribes had already agreed to its terms, and tho Ngapuhi had set the example by consenting to forogo their ancient custom of rosort to arms when any heinous offence had been committed, and to hand, over offenders to justice. Tho Govornment did not wish to give a mere amnesty without some guarantee for the future. Mr. Davidson then moved a voto' of thanks to Mr. McLean, whioh was carried nnanimously. — Taranaki Herald, February 12.