THE NEW NATIVE POLICY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1688, 26 November 1861, Page 5

THE NEW NATIVE POLICY.

By the Ahuriri Mail per Sta Serpent, there is no later Auckland intelligence, but the /ollowing more detailed information relative to the policy to be pufsued towards the Natives than has yet reached us, will be read with interest. We must, ♦however, bear in mind that this policy is nolt yet matured — that it is ojily a sketch of what it is probably desired to introduce. < Very much depends upon the result of the " face to face" negotiations which the Governor and his Ministers are' now pursuing. When they> return from the Bay of Islands and have visited Waikato and Poverty Bay they will be in a position to mature the policy, only the primary conception "of which is given below, from the Herald of the 9th inst., — a kind of policy which Mr. Fox indicated last session, when he said, " We desire not to put down this king movement, but to separate what is good in it from what is bad ; to guide it*; to develop it, to aid it, to avail ourselves of it as the fulcrum by which we may elevate the race to the higher levels of civilization, and create among them the machinery of local self government." "By recent arrivals we (Hawke's Bay Herald) have the following important information upon undoubted authority. " Sir George Grey believes he will be able to settle Native matters without resort to force, unless with the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis ; and intends to introduce extensive machiuery of government amongst the Natives. The v details will shortly, we believe, be published; meanwhile we are enabled to subjoin an outline. There will be established : — 1. — Districts (say 15or20) with Civil Commissioners at head. 2. — Sub-districts (Hundreds) with Resident Magistrates. * 3.— Village Runaugas (Native). 4. — District Runangas, composed of Assessors and chief men of Village Runangas, say 12 members each. To be paid at the. rate of £50 per annum each member. 5. — Assessors (paid). 6.— Police. Chief, £30 a year ; inferior, £10 and suit of clothes. 7. — Medical officers. - 8. --Schools, teachers, &c. 9. — The Runanga (central), to have the following functions : — I.— Judicial. 2.— Administrative. 3. — Taxation for local purposes. 4. — Land .titleSj and power bf lease and sale to actual occupants.---5. — Power to make bye-laws. » 10.— The Supreme Court Judges to hold sessions in Native Districts, so that great criminals may be tried there. , «' This syslem is estimated to cost £50,000 ger annum — a large sum. At present, however, ihe Colony is appropriating £26.000 for Native purposes, and .John Bull is paying £1,250,000 for ''military operations in New Zealand. The new system will cost just double the amount at present expended for Native purposes. There is no idea of removing auy of the troops at present, bdt as the militia force will not be called into requisition, a great saving in this direction "Will be effected to the Colony. " Sir George, soon after bis arrival, put the Native Land Purchase department and the Native Secretary absolutely under the orders of the Responsible Ministry. Ii is understood tbat ibe Native Secretary's department will be absorbed in the new machinery, which will be completely uuder tho Native Minister. " The Governor bas already had urgent i ivitations from the Lower Waikato', (where the flag hus never been hoisted) to commence operations there. Sir George was to go to the Bay of Islands on the 4th iust., where he would inaugurate his plans among the Ngapuhis. Immediately on his return, he proposed proceeding to Lower Waikato. It is understood that the Thames natives will fall. in with s His Excellency's plans, aud that the King party will soon be broken up. The Government is in hopes, before the end of the summer, to have the system in working order throughout the Islarui."