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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

No. 41. — The Chief Commissioner to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary

No. 41.
The Chief Commissioner to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

On Present State, &c., of Native Reserves. Land Commissioner's Office, Auckland, 29th July, 1854.

Sir,—

I have the honour to report to you, for the information of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, that I have been requested by the Hon. J. E. FitzGerald to furnish a report on the present state of the Native reserves in New Zealand, the tenure under which they are held, and the best mode of administering them.

The Native reserves in New Zealand consist, in the settlements of Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago, of blocks of land excepted by the Natives, for their own use and subsistence, within the tracts of land they have ceded to the Crown for colonization, and in general there has been a distinct under-standing that they should not at any time be called upon to alienate any lands so reserved, it being considered essential for their own maintenance and welfare to retain them. Those lands are in general cultivated and occupied by the Natives, and in most instances the reserves are sufficiently extensive to provide for their present and future wants.

New Zealand Company's Reserves.

At Nelson, Wellington, and Taranaki the New Zealand Company set apart as a portion of their colonization scheme one-tenth of the lands purchased by that body, for the benefit of the Natives, and trustees have been appointed as guardians for the management of such of those reserves as were not in occupation by the Natives.

Nelson.

In the Town of Nelson there are fifty-three reserves of one acre each, and one hundred of fifty-acre sections in the suburban and rural districts. Of this extent, 37½ acres in the Town of Nelson are let to Europeans for terms varying from seven to ten and fourteen to twenty-one years. Of the rural and suburban land, 654 acres are let in the Town of Nelson. Three acres and a half are occupied by Natives, and in the Motueka and Moutere Districts 634 acres. Niue hundred and twenty-four acres are granted to the Bishop of New Zealand in trust for an industrial school, leaving unoccupied 2,787 acres of country and 12 acres of town land.

The annual rental from those reserves amounts at present to £274 3s., and the management of them devolves on the Hon. Major Richmond, the Crown Commissisoner of Nelson, who has kindly favoured me with the returns from which the information is taken, and of which I beg to enclose copies.

Future Management.

As regards the future management of those reserves, I believe that the most simple and practicable arrangement would be to place them under the control of a local board, to consist of his Honour the Superintendent, the Crown Commissioner, and the Resident Magistrate, and, as honorary members, such clergymen as are engaged in missionary duties connected with the Natives, together with one or two intelligent Native chiefs in the district, who would by this means, although possessing no executive authority in the matter, be nevertheless undergoing a training for managing their own affairs, while their knowledge of all the proceedings of the Board would divest the Natives generally of any suspicion that justice was not done to them in reference to the mode in which the proceeds of their property were appropriated.

The Board should have power to let and receive all rents for the reserves for terms varying from seven to fourteen and twenty-one years, on improving leases; and the proceeds should be applied for the social, industrial, religious, and educational advancement of the Natives. For instance, improvements in their dwellings are much required; for providing them with useful implements of agriculture, page 22such as ploughs, carts, &c., and occasionally perhaps draught-horses or oxen, to enable them to cultivate their land to greater advantage and bring their produce to market.

The Board should report its proceedings to His Excellency the Governor of the Colony at least twice in every year, with statements appended, exhibiting the amount of rents received and the manner in which the sum was expended for the benefit of the Natives. But I conceive that the Board should not have the power of finally alienating any of the reserves without the express sanction of His Excellency the Governor, as it is of importance, for the benefit of the Native race, that certain lands should be permanently retained for them, and it would be even advantageous if, after benevolent provision for carrying out the above objects were made, any surplus funds might be applied for purchasing portions of land for industrious and deserving Natives who would make good use of it.

With reference to religious and educational requirements, provision is already made by the late New Zealand Constitution Act, so that it is unnecessary that funds should be set apart for this purpose, at least until some advance has been made in promoting the secular condition of the Natives.

Taranaki.

At Taranaki the Native reserves on the Company's plan were done away with, as the Natives almost entirely disputed the sale of that district, and in each purchase made from them since Captain Pitzroy's arrangements in 1844 ample reserves have been excepted, by them for their own use, and those are generally occupied by them.

Wellington.

At Wellington there were originally 110 country sections of 100 acres each, and 110 town sections of one acre each. These reserves were in the first instance placed in trust by the Company, the Bishop of New Zealand and the Chief Justice having been at that time acting as trustees; but it was found advisable by Sir George Grey, from the insufficiency, of land in the occupation of the Natives, to cause some of those reserves to be placed at their disposal, by which means he was enabled to continue their loyalty and attachment, and to afford them sufficient inducement to remain at Wellington as permanent and generally industrious settlers and labourers, instead of moving in a body as they contemplated to Taranaki.

Hospital Reserves.

The Hospital at Wellington is erected on a Native reserve; and the building formerly Barrett's Hotel, but at present used as Government offices, stands with several other town allotments (granted as an endowment for the Hospital) on Native reserves.

Grammar School Reserves.

The Military Barracks at Thorndon Flat are built upon'Native reserves: these with some others in the town, have been granted in trust for a grammar school at Wellington.

Wi Toko's Reserve.

The reserve at Kumutoto was conveyed to Wi Tako, who receives all the rents and profits arising therefrom.

The information in reference to the Wellington reserves has been furnished to me by Mr. St. Hill, who was agent for the trustees o£ the reserves. A more accurate return may be obtained at Wellington in reference to the number of reserves appropriated, the number still unoccupied, the number let, and the amount of land annually received for them.

In the several purchases made of late years by the Government, the Natives have retained generally, where practicable, large reserves for themselves, within well-defined natural boundaries, such as rivers, &c., which has greatly contributed to a good understanding between themselves and the European settlers.

If further specific information is requisite in reference to the question of reserves, with a view to the introduction of an Act in the present Assembly relating to them, I would suggest that it might be more advisable to collect further data in order to the maturing with greater care some measure that might be passed during the next session of the Assembly.

I have, &c.,

Donald McLean,
Land Commissioner.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.