The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-22


,onciliate them, while the roads opened
up the country for future settlement.
RAPID PROGRESS OF THE MA
TIvES.
There has been one, and only one, real
difficulty in dealing with them. Inc
land question has always been a
source of trouble. 1t was the cause OF
much Of the bloodshed, and has been
the object of continuous negotiations
ever since, but successive governments
since 1870 have shown much patience
and consideration with Maori land
owners, and gradually prejudice has
given place to confidence, and the Ma
oris to their own benefit are now leas-
ing and selling their lands freely to
Europeans. The treaty Of Waitang
gave tos the Maoris, numbering at the
time 60, 900 or 10000, an absolute title
to sc, 000, 900 acres of valuable land, and
the validity of the treaty or the rights
of the Maoris to the land has never
been disputed.
When the treaty was signed the pri-
yate purchase of native lands was
stopped, the pre-emptive right Of pur-
chase from the Maoris passing to the
British Government, an officer Of the
crown being appointed to determine
the titles. This method obtained until
1862, when land courts, presided over
by able judges were set up to determine
! titles and private purchases were al
lowed UP to 1894. when the crown again
!, took the sole right of dealing with the
Maoris. The Maoris urged that they
should have a grander voice in the dis
posal of their lands. After many con-
situations with the tribes the present
Premier, the Right Hon. r. j. Seldom
has recently brought into operation
the most promising land legislation vel
/ provided for the Maoris. The Wnoie
| control of the lands is vested In
board partially elected by the Maor1s
themselves, provision being made FOL
the majority of the members being Ma.
loris. The board investigates titles ane
has power to sell or lease land either II
Iprivate individuals or to the crown, Du
prior to any sale the members OF tn'
board have to be satisfied that TN
lalienating Maori retains SUFFICIENT lane
flor his own support.
Since the treaty of Waitangi mucl
Hand has passed out of the hands OF tn
lMaoris. Since 1870 the Government ha
lspent sum equal to s10,O0O.0O0 In pur
chasing native lands in the north Is
Hand, and prior to that year the who'll
of the south island had been dispose
: of by the Maori owners. There are still
however, over 10, 000, 600 acres owned D
Maoris, of which they cultivate oni
about 10. 900 acres.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE Ma
!, ORIS.
The position of the MaoriS today is
many respects in striking contrast
that of a quarter of a century ago. Un
t fortunately their numbers are decreas
ing. There were at the last census UT
1 der 100000 The half-caste population
now over 5000, is steadily increasing
2 Ito a considerable extent the Maori
still live in communistic fashion. eac
Village cultivating sufficient food for Il
! Iown requirements, while in their dea
: Iings with Europeans they frequentl
: pool the proceeds for the benefit of tn
| community. There are, however, man
exceptions to this rule, and as railway
e are being pushed through their countr
: and the opportunities for earning an
0 spending money in European fashio
are increased, the little communitie
t are being gradually broken up.
e OF the marks of improvement show
!. by the Maoris there is none so distinc
S ly prominent as the anxiety they di
a play for the education of their childre
$ and their instruction in the Englis
{ Language There are 4, 410 Maori child
e rem now attending school, many
t them are receiving higher educatio
s and a few have been graduated at tt
university. There are several Mao
lawyers in the colony, and the roll
: the Supreme Court contains the nan
d of at least one Maori barrister. Whe
! well trained the Maoris make excellel
s mechanics and they have always show
t. a wonderful capacity for making road
d leven without engineering assistance.
5, IMAoRIs IN GOVERNMENT OF
6 FICES.
n In the last thirty years the MAJOR
% have returned four members to Il
G. New Zealand House of Representative
and they have at present two membe
" of the race sitting in the Legislatl
l. council The present Minister of N
). Tive Affairs, the Hon. James Carroll,
p a half-caste, sitting for Europe
IF constituency He Is persistent adv
re cate of the cause of the Maoris. +
ID 1.-The election of the four Maori membe
ID of the House of Representatives
.ir Maoris over q years of age have a vo
he At the last election there were TWEEN
I'd candidates for the four seats, and OF
k total population of 39,s54 dncludi
sh lchildren), 1888 voted. The local &c
n, eminent of Maori villages has until
Iy Gently been left In the control OF
Iy chiefs, but an act passed during
.ir last session Of Parliament has crea'
ed Maori councils with sort OF mix
he authority comprising the functions
MT policeman. magistrate and local boz
to of health