2. General condition of Natives.

The Natives of the Middle Island have not made such an advance, either socially or morally, as might have been expected from the close contact into which they have been brought with Europeans. This may be traced to a variety of causes:—

1st.	The discovery of goldfields at Nelson and Otago, has tended to unsettle the Natives. Many of them having completely abandoned the cultivation of the land, and taken to gold-mining pursuits. The Native miners have, as a body, been remarkably successful, and have discovered many new gold-mining localities. Their earnings are frequently squandered in purchasing intoxicating liquors, or useless finery. Numbers of Natives have become deeply indebted to storekeepers, and others. The general result may be said to be an increase of lazy and vagabond habits. There are certainly a few exceptions to this rule, but unfortunately too few.
2nd.	Since the greater portion of the Native lands in the Middle Island have been purchased by the Crown, the Natives have been confined to their reserves. One of the consequences of this, and of being hemmed in by settlers, is that they are now unable to breed or run the pigs which, at one time, formed a large item of their income, and a staple article of their food. The same reason will also prevent them from ever possessing any very large quantity of horned cattle, or sheep.
3rd.	Their cultivations, especially those of old people, who are unable to erect substantial fences, are frequently trespassed on by the cattle of their European neighbours. This helps to retard the progress of cultivation.
4th.	But a very small proportion of the Native women rear children, and the idea has become deeply rooted into their minds, that the race is doomed to extinction. Reports have also, from time to time, been industriously circulated, that the Europeans intend to massacre them. The origin of many of these rumors may be traced to the North Island. The natural result is the creation of a desponding feeling.
5th.	Sufficient facility does not appear to be afforded to Natives, who are desirious of investing money in the purchase of Crown lands. The regulation made by Sir George Grey, "that any Native residing in a district in which he had been one of the sellers of land to the Government, should be entitled to purchase land therein at ten shillings per acre," has been repealed, or rendered void by subsequent Provincial enactments. For example in the Province of Marlborough, a clause has been inserted in the Land regulations, "that Natives shall be permitted to purchase Crown lands not being town or suburban lands at the assessed price without the same being put up to auction." This can easily be rendered useless for the benefit of the Natives as the following instance will show.

In 1860, I was very desirous that the Ngatirarua and Rangitane of Wairau, should purchase some timbered land situated at Tua Marina, to enable them to procure fencing for their cultivations and open land on the bank of the River Wairau.

I found that two of these men had scrips for £50 each, which they had received from Mr. McLean, in part payment for their claims to land; and others had money at their disposal. I therefore proceeded to the Crown Lands Office at Blenheim, and informed the Commissioner that the Natives wished to purchase a certain block of land at Tua Marina, and which I marked in pencil on the map of that district. It was arranged by the Commissioner that the price would most probably be ten shillings, and certainly not more that £1 per acre. The next question was about surveying the land.

It was determined that the Government should send a Surveyor, and the Native should assist in cutting the lines. A memorandum was drawn out by me, showing the order in which the Natives were to select their blocks, when the Surveyor accompanied them to the spot. I left for Nelson, imagining the business was all arranged. On returning to Wairau, some months after, I found that some of the land applied for had been taken as a reserve for a proposed tramway, or railway between Picton and Blenheim, and that the remainder had, without survey, been assessed at £4 per acre. On expostulating with the Commissioner his answer was—"they did not want the Natives to form a settlement there." I have since on several occasions made applications on behalf of Natives wishing to acquire land by purchase from the Crown; and generally have had considerable difficulty in arranging matters to my satisfaction. This is not pleasant for the Officer on whom devolves the duty of protecting Native interests. Nor is such a course calculated to increase confidence in our Government. Many Natives consider it a breach of faith on the part of the Government in permitting the regulation, allowing them to purchase land at ten shillings per acre, to be repealed. Their argument being, that they would not have sold their lands so cheaply, but for the Government fixing the price at which they could repurchase from the Crown.

The above are some of the reasons which have prevented the Natives from progressing as much as was anticipated by some of their best friends. Much may also be traced as the natural consequence of a barbarous people being suddenly intermingled with a highly civilized race. It is not easy to page 139amalgamate a community, where the component elements of it dif so widely in character. It is far easier to prognosticate the ultimate degradation and extinction of the Maori, than to prescribe the proper course to be pursued to avert those evils.