MR. J. B. WHYTE, M.H.R., ON THE NATIVE LAND SALES BILL.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1288, 30 September 1880, Page 2

MR. J. B. WHYTE, M.H.R., ON THE NATIVE LAND SALES BILL.

The following speech of the member for Waikato, on Mr. Reader Wood's motion to make tho Government's proposed Native; Land Sales Bill permissive, avil) I>o read with interest. The proposal of the Government, as our readers are doubtless aware, was to make it compulsory with natives if they wished to dispose of their lands, to do so only through the medium of tho Waste Lands Boards. Mr. Render Wood's motion, on the other hand, being to afford them every facility to deal with their land either through the Waste Lands Boards or in the open market. Mr. Reader Wood condemned the Government proposals throughout, and it Avill be seen that Mr. Whyto looked on the Government proposal as an honest, though perhaps not wholly satisfactory way of doing away with the evils attendant at present on the purchase of Native lands :—: — Mr,. YVhvte. — We have heard a good deal said about land-sharks. Well, >Sir, I am a land-shark ; but I do not knov, r whether that is a term of endearment or a term of reproach, because I have been called a land-shark both by my friends and my enemies. Of the latter lam glad to say I have very few, except at electiontime- ; but, if a land-shark moans a person who buys large blocks of land, cuts them up, makes roads through, and makes them fit for occupation for small settlers, and bells on a system of easy payment- 1 , thr>n lam a land-shark. I have said that my friends also called me a land-shark ; with them I suppose it must be a term of endearment. They appear to think that a man who does that is not an altogether useless member of society ; and, m fact, that he is as much needed as regards land as wholesale dealers are in other marketable commodities. However, whether it is a term of reproach or of endearment, I want to retire from Mie business, because I think the land is the biggest shark of all. Therefore I hope that any remarks which I may make will not be taken as coming from one who represents the landsharking interests. Although I agree to a great extent with the honorable member for Waitemata, I^cannot go with him in his wholesale condemnation of this Bill. I look upon it as an honest attempt on the part of the Government to deal with the difficulties connected with the purchase of Native land, which prevent many men of moderate means from purchasing at all. The effect his> also oeen to rob the Natives, inasmuch as any one Avho has any regard for his own pocket cannot gi\ c the full value on account of the risks, delays, uncertainties, and annoyances attendant upon the purchase of Natne lands, and therefore the Native does not get full value for what he has to-sell. I think the Bill will assist in obtaining tor the Natives Jtull value for their land, and also m giving I/on a ftrfv settlers an opportunity of buying. However, some Mich piovision as is contained in the motion ot the honorable member for Waitemata is necassary as an alternath r e measure, as without it the effect of the Bill must be, as it stands, to lock up the land, mid prevent settlement. The Natives, I think, would not, at all events for some year.s, avail themseh es to any extent of the Waste Lands Boards as a medium for the sale of their land. Therefore to this extent I am -with the honorable member for W.utemata that some Mich pro\ ibion as that which he advocates is necessary.

Tun newspaper prizes offered in Engliincl for competition are yetting very various in character. The Wcildy Dispatch recently offered its two guineas for tho most appropriate inscription for the proposed monument of the Prince Imperial in the Abbey; and this is the winner, motto and all- — " His honour rooted in di' honour stood." " This .Monument is Elected lo the Memoiv oi l'imce Kiii*vne Louis X.ipoleon Ison.ip.ute Against the e\pu ss desue oi 'Ihe Jintisli Nation. In deference to the -wish ot .1 sm ill f.« tion of S\nip.ithiseis> with the ci lines ot j.n Infamous hmnne, '1 he imbecile pi opoj,Mtoi oi those X ipi'K 'inn Ideas Which, rooted in .Seliishmss, h id tor then .inn l\r in in , And foi tin it \u .ipors J\ ijui \ .md liloodsln d OsteiibibK elected m honoui ot the deceased Pi nice, Ihis Monument icflet ts Dishonoui on .ill loiuemcd Dishonour on the n.imo it p> Glosses toi ommemoi Uc>, }>y lei.iiiini; the woist episode in ,m otheiwise J»l uneless .uul .inn.ilile t.iteei ; JJishcnoni on its Promoteis. Dishonoui on the X.ition which allowed it to be i .used ; And, ulx>\e .ill, Dishonotii on the 1 1 In ->tt ions Deal Whose piecuu ts it piot.mes " As the London correspondent of the Melbourne Akjus remarks, if thi*, is, not veiy pretty, it is on the whole pretty true. " I would box your ears,' 5 «,aid a young lady recently to her stupid and tnesomc admirer, "if ■" "If whit?" he anxiously asked- "If,'' bhe leplicd, "I could get a box large enough for the purpose." Ax Irish druggist, recollecting the Latin compliment to the product of the vineyard, •' In vino veritas.," has put up this iinei iption to the credit of his soda fountain, " In sodasanitas." Will or tiic tath Emukkss or Paw i. — The Vienna Abendpo^t gives some particulars concerning the testamentary dispositions of the late Empress of Russia. Tho executera are the (irand Duke Nicholas, Count Adleiber" 1 , Minister of the lmpcri.il household, and herM.ijeatVs private Secretiiry, M. de Maurit/,' The bo'iutiful villa at Livadia, in tho Crimea, has been bequeathed to the C'/arewitch, and the castle of Iliouka, near Moscow, to the Grand Duke, but on the condition that neither of them is to take possession until after the death of their father, the Emperor. The charming cottage of Alexandria, close to Feterhof, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, is left to the Czarewitch, who has occupied it for several years. Her Majesty's magnificent collection of diamonds is to be divided between the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna (Duchess of Edinburgh) the C/arevna, and the Grand Duchess Mario Paulovna, wife of theGrandDukeVladmir. A portion is to be reserved for the future wives of the three youngest .sons of the Empress. Among the diamonds is also reckoned the little crown which her Majesty wore only once m her life, on the day of her coronation. The diamonds which the Empress received as a portion of her wedding tros&eau are to be restored to the Court at Daunst.idt. The ai tides bequeathed by he) 1 Majesty are being arianged m some oi the new uhambeis of J the zeserved pottionof the inter Palace. ■ One Luge loom ib given up to precious vases ot Upib-la/uli, malachite, lasper, porcelain and marble, There aie al»o ! magnificent lamps, in bron/e and the ( piecious mo tills, and various articles ot i verfcu. .Several tables aye laden %\ it]) cis and ornaments, m diamonds and other , precious stones. There are quantities of rare velvets and embroidered stuffs, and most valuable laces, etc. Her grand- { children, the little (iraud Duchess Konia, i and the daughtcis of the Duchess of ' Edinburgh, are also to lcceho .some of the ', ihivmoiuls. I