WAITARA LAND CLAIMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19444, 2 November 1925, Page 14

WAITARA LAND CLAIMS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I wish to refer to an explanation given by Mr J. K. Revell, which appeared in your issue of tho 27th inst., concerning tho manner in which the Waitara trouble arose. I am not so much concerned about Mr Revell’s version of how the misunderstanding occurred, as I am with his suggestion that it is not necessary for the Government to pay tho Natives compensation. I have taken la great interest in the setting up of tho Native Claims Commission, and strongly admire the ao tion of the Prime Minister in taking up the matter—not because I feel there is anything for mo to gain, but

it is partly because I believe that the setting up of such a commision will clear up, and wipe awtiy for ever, the feeling that has been stored up in the bosoms of a large section of the Native people, that they have in the past been unduly and unjustly treated. The tribes concerned say it was the pakchas that brought the war upon them. They further state, that they were squatting quietly upon tho land they always claimed to be theirs, and rejecting by peaceful means tho advances of the (Icvcrnmcnt to survey the land in dispute until such time as a proper tribunal could bo sot up to inquire into tho validity of Te Teira’s sale, when suddenly, on March .17, 1860, the troops marched upon the kind in question and destroyed Kingi’s pah and killed a large number of his tribe. hhe fact, that Te Rangitake and his people did have a grievance is, I think, borne out amply and supported by 'lie following document:—• Proclamation, by His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., etc.: “Whereas an engagement for the purchase of a certain tract of land at the Waitara commonly known as To Teira’s block was entered into by the Government of New Zealand in the year 1859, hut the stiid purchase has never been completed, and whereas circumstances connected with tho said purchase, unknown to the Government at the time of the sale of the said land, have lately transpired, which make it advisable that the said purchase has never bee n completprocceded with, now, therefore, with ihe advice and consent of the Executive Council, doth hereby declare that the purchase of the said block of land i f - abandoned, and all claim to the same on the part of Ihe Government is henceforth renounced. Given under my hand at Now Plymouth, and issued under the seal of the Colony of Now Zealand this I.lth d'ay of May, 1863.—G. Grey.” Under the circumstances I am of the opinion the natives concerned are entitled to some consideration, if not for their claims to land, well, for the unnecessary shedding of human blood. Mr Editor, I regret very much to have to differ from Mr Revell’s suggestion for while I respect his years and I recognise tho part ho played in the development of his co nPry, still ’he efforts which are being put forward by Mr Coates to give justice to the Maoris are of great importance to me and my people, and I want to see it carried through. Tn conclusion, allow me to say, Mr Editor, irrespective of misfits that have existed in tho past, we, the Maori people, under tho furls of tho Red, White and Blue, have realised what it meant by the words, British justice, British fair-play, and British Christian principles.—l am, etc., R. MARUMARU, 59 Alma Road, Gonvillc.