Native Meeting at Te Ore Ore.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2066, 11 May 1887, Page 2

Native Meeting at Te Ore Ore.

TBEWAIIMPAPA LAKE QUESTION DISCUSSED.

On Friday motuiug a meeting of the Native Committee was held at Te Ore Ore, Fiiipi TV Musi. in the chaw. There was nearly a full attendonce of the members ol the corn* mittee end many others intnestsd iu (he leke question. Among the business transacted, it was proposed that the Irhes should be subdivided. This proposition was lost by 10 to 2 votes.

The next ptoposi ion brought forward wai to the effect that the lakes should be sold to the Government as soon as practicable,providing the Govetument would produce all papers and documents concerning the dealings in lends surrounding the Wai'capa lakes from the year 1853 to the present time. This resolution, which was the cause of a veiy animated debat \ was by Wi Hautaua and Mr C. J. Jury, and the latter thoroughly explained the whole, and strongly recommended the native people to look at 'he matter from e'l points of v.ew, and consider as to whe*her it woo'd be more to their interests to rotain j ossestion of the lakes, or whether it woo'd not be better for them to dispose of the s.tme for money, or good la ids elsewhere. He remarked that they woo'd st''l have the tight of Ashing iu 'he lakes reserved for them alter selling the " present interests to the Government, and would be also in n poai'iou to profit by the proceeds accruing from the sale of tho ; r pre-emptive rights. Some members of the committee asked Mr Jury it himself aud Wi Hantana were paid by the Government to iulluence them in the matter, and the enquirers were assured that they wore uot paid. Mr Jury observed that by his action in the matter some of them might think he was paid by the Government, hut as his interests were identical with their own, be might assure them that he was only voluntarily working fur the beuelit of everyone concerned. He only w.sbed to see full justice doue ou both sides, aud they might depend that he would watch all their interests quite as zealously as ii is owu personal oues.

Wi Uautuua used words to tlie same effect and at -ome considerable length. He also ifuestioued very umoli as to whether the present demand fur deeds respecting thu minis round >'.tj lubes might not have a tendency to lessee tl.e iaterests of the natives considerably, and cauiieued the natives to he very careful n.s to what demands in (he way of deeds they mune from tire Government, and not to helm) eliding. \\'i Mahapuku ah-u s r ike at great length, lie strongly condemn..! tiio action the • loverutueut had t:.:;.>u in attempting to ; idnnp the natives by obtaining signatures ia Mid, and also' re»eoo(W ia Mastertou. Mo

i ml if the tioviiome it wanted to purchase MO lakes why did jhev not eOUIo boldly fuutil and sai n,it a practical scheme. in inferring to the treaty of Waitangi he suu Ida! all light; v,e.e i auiaii.il’.y lev.Ved I If r.iiavi'S i.. le.-pi.: to r 1 . In .... creel., cod liuis. lie coo.-oh red Me aero Uvr- 'o.ni. depot. v>J should lealwatv strictly 1 -"ell. I.'.tn inis ..if. .. uuiidi 1 .bcl Vt u i* *.. i j j i .vet waver ;u ,oof as fro «v*u ** u '* kliv ‘ . .i.vis had m-t '<■ Government very tairly ly .v’owin • in. ;.r lo open the laker 10 Mouths on. of the Id, aud what more could liioy desire. i'Vr ;ui» they (the paid no oonsiderniiou, neither nau the r.alives up to the 1 p... ’it demanded any. U.hor natives speke in toe same direction for about ii.rpe noma, sod then the proportion as above l '..as put by the chanmah and to cirtlfd lost. Another mo;ion w tneli brought forwr:; bv the chairman to the effect that the lakes be leased to the, Government (or a term ol y a* i • Mr 0. J. Jury supported that proposition, more especially .is the lakes had not been at ail produciive to the Maoris of late years, j only ns regards the ee. tisuiug, md this was | iiiiriei; cm .hder great diiUeultie*. lie j do uel.i lacy now should bo doing something j better with the lakes. The lakes wee now ( »uljecl to b- "g i.’tsd ly tho Srijth Wain*.

tapa B'.v-t It card, which could levy rtf* n 'ci! ,1 ed f ror. And ihev might : pend ll ““ ■ -e- 1 ciij; -Ucy would be called up ’n j ■ ij- ,in«n >•:! s. lie asked tbeu thru t 'h, .at. ; v.ere demanded, (rcu what so’i c.. would ey 1 rooiim the money to inert tin se ■ emaiiiis'( her ,nd not Una "the*! lake propei v to Hocounl.

Pun. ne supp. red .Mr June ideas at emat eti^tu, and t reversed the history of toe lAcs .or a couddcruble period. He considered that by leasing, the Government would open the lakes, end then the na' tea would benefit mure by the aea flab comini >n than from the lake fish that they now sought to preserve.

His arguments carried great we'ght with tbe meeting . so s'so did Wi Hants us e to the same effect, but the observations of the previous speakers had already prejudiced the minds of the majority of those present and this proposition was also lost by seven to six votes.

Mr Jury srd be hoped to see the last rose, lotion rescinded w.tbm a very tew days.