The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4,1909. CODDLING THE MAORIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2571, 4 August 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4,1909. CODDLING THE MAORIS.

In his recent statement on the Native Land Question the Hon. Air Carroll forecasted legislation, providing that portions of loan moneys obtained under the Advances to Settlers Act should be earmarked for advances to Alaori settlers. Why “earmarked” f What is the particular reason why anj difference should be made between tin* Alaori and the Pakelia in such a matter? So far as we know there is nothing to prevent a Native participating in the operations of this useful State Department, provided his security is up to the requirements insisted upon, by the State.. If his security, is not up to that standard why should he receive consideration denied to the European settler? The amount which the Government can borrow from London for the purpose of advancing to settlers is limited and last year scores of logitimate_applications had to be refused because there were not sufficient funds available. As a result of this tho development of tho country was retarded and the same thing is likely to be accentuated in the future, so far as the Europeans are concerned, if portions of the loan moneys are “earmarked” for Alapri settlement. Of course, it does not matter, when a million pounds is spent in .this way, whether Alaoris or Pakehas utilise it so long as it is expended degitimatoly in the development of the country, but settlers of both races should stand on an absolutely equal footing in their endeavors to benefit by its operations. Wo should be loth to interfere with any proposals that are likely to bring the. present waste Native Lands into cultivation, but they must be founded on equity. For tho Alaoris to enjoy the unearned increment created by Europeans upon millions of acres of land which they refuse to dispose of and at the same time enjoy tho benefit of Government credit to enable them to develop tho remainder is surely a long way removed from equity. Governmental assistance of tins kind would merely have the effect of playing into tho hands of Air Ngata and those who are fighting by every means in their power against the settlement of the waste Native Lands. Necessitous Maoris might be induced to seok titles wherever a reasonable claim existed, but a Maori receiving a Government grant to assist him in working another allotment would more readily follow the advice of those whose recognised policy is to urge the Natives not to apply for titles on the principle that in this way the Native Lands .will never bo alienated from tlieir present owners. As a matter of fact, 1 there should not be any need for Alaoris to invoke the assistance of the Advances to Settlers’ Office. They own 7,000,000 acres comprising some of tho finest land in the Dominion, and if a reasonable portion were sold to Europeans there would bo aiuple return to provide for the efficient working of such portion as might be permanently reserved for the Alaoris. Naturally, the question of title comes in, but this, though necessarily complicated, is only the bug-bear it is because of tlie opposition of the Maori leaders to European settlement, arid the disinclination of the .Government to force tlie position to a practical issue- However, there is every reason to hopo that something of a definite nature will take place next session for it is simply intolerable that .thousands of settlers should he prevented from xitilising lands that aro being kept untitled and unused in order that a gigantic Alaori landlordism shall be built, up and perpetuated.

There was a clean sheet at the Police Court yesterday morning. The annual meeting of the parishioners of Waorenga-a-hika parochial district will take place this evening.

The ordinary meeting of the Court William Gladstone, A.0.F., is to take place this evening. The annual meeting of the church members of the Gisborne parish will be hold in Holy Trinity Schoolroom at 7.30 p.m.. to-day. The Gisborne Borough Council invites tenders, to close at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday next, August 11, for the formation of Bright Street,

The local labor market still remains in a state of quietude. There aro a good many tradesmen out of work, and numbers of men find their way daily to the Labor Bureau, in search of employment. Mr. W. A. Boucher, Government Pomologist, arrives from Auckland this afternoon', and will give a demonstration of fruit tree spraying at Mr. Francis’ orchard, Mangapapa, at 2.30 I).in. to-morrow. The following passengers arrived in Gisborne last evening by Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches: —Miss Deacon, Miss Wallis, Messrs Frazer, Nolls, and Wallis, from Tologa; Messrs Tanner and Wise, from Waipiro.

A telegram received in Gisborne states that Mr. F. Hall, who has been seriously ill in Wellington, is now a great deal better. It is probable that he will return homo on Saturday morning- '

There are unclaimed letters at tho Post Office for the following: From Canada—J. Allen and G. Fryer; from India—7liarold Bevan; from United Kingdom—Joseph Ilazlett and J. S. Jackson; from Cape of Good Hope—J. O’Connell; from Malay States—F. E. C. Smith.

The secretary of tho Harbor Board (Mr. J. W. Witty) has received official intimation of tho appointment of Messrs G. Matthewson, J. Clark, and C. J. Parker as Government nominees to tho Board. The last-named gentleman takes the scat rendered vacant by the death of Mr. Win. Sievwright. Tho date of the tree planting ceremony at the Kaiti School has not yet been definitely fixed, but will probably be on August 12th or 19th. The Mayor and Mr. F. Harris, who have made donations to the fund, are expected to bo present, as well as the local members of the Education Board. Mr. G. E. Darton has been invited to address the children.

Some little time back a story entitled Kitty Warren’s Cup Dress” was published in our Saturday’s supplement. It was contributed by Mr. Hector Simson, but the author’s name was not given, as it was understood that he desired the authorship to he unknown. Mr. Simson, however, has written protesting against tho omission of his name in' connection with the story, and we are glad of the opportunity to give credit where credit is due. A visit will shortly be paid to Gisboron by Mrs. Katherine Lent Stevenson, president of tho Massachusetts Union, who is making a world-wide tour, having visited Hawaii, Japan, China, and Australia, and who will give two lectures in His Majesty’s Theatre on subiects which will he advertised later, besides holding afternoon meetings which will be arranged for. Mrs. Stevenson speaks on every phase of tho Women’s Christian Temperance work, especially the educational.

While practising Association football in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium on Monday night, Mr. C. R, Webster, general secretary of the local branch of the Y.M.C.A., had tho misfortune to receive a severe blow in the groin. He was able to walk home, but on the pain increasing, was taken to the hospital, where last night it was reported that he was slightly better. Although Mr. Webster’s injuries are not of a serious nature, they will necessitate his being laid up for a few days. The trustees of the Methodist Church received the following tenders for the erection of the north transept of a new schoolroom: W. Webb and Son £228 10s, J. East £207, J. Mackrell £199, E. P. Williams and Co. £l9B, J. Foster and Co. £lB5, Evans, Neild and Co. £lB4, A. L. Mac Duff £lB4, Aitken and Wilson £176., Black Bros. £174 15s, W. A. Jennings and Co. £l7l. The tender of Messrs W. A. Jennings and Co. was accepted at a trustees’ meeting held last night. Several matters of importance will be dealt with in committee by the Borough Council at a special meeting to bo hold to-night. The alternative offers of Mr. F. W. Marchant to come to Gisborne and superintend the installation of a drainage scheme will he discussed, and then the Council will meet a deputation of medical men regarding the payment of their fees by the Charitable Aid Board, when called to attend indigent cases i At the conclusion of the discussion on these two subjects, the Works Committtcc will consider the advisableness of establishing a- “Lux” light in Victoria township by way of a test, in view -of the probable establishing of similar lights in the outlying parts of the borough not reached by gas mains.

The floating tests which are being made by the Ik)rough inspectors on the Taruheru river were continued yesterday under most favorable conditions. The tests are being made in order to ascertain the trend of the current, in view of the question of the possibility of future draining into the Taruheru. On tho first of the ebb tide the floats wore let go at Messrs Nelson Bros.’ freezing works about 6.30 a.m., and the junction of the two rivers was not reached until 10 ■a.m. Here the floats were caught in an eddy caused by the faster-flowing Waimata river, and after being hung up in tho debris for some considerable time, they finally found a resting place under the wharf near the Kaiti bridge. From the general direction of the current, it. is thought that a great deal of the dramage at present flowing into tho Taruheru river does not find its way into the sea, but is left on the mud flats.

In answer to an invitation, the teachers of the various Sunday Schools in Gisborne met at St. Andrew’s Cburch last night to bo present at the presentation to Mrs. James East, who has for 28 years been a Sunday School teacher, of the diploma of honor awarded by the London Sunday School Union to teachers who have given 25 years’ service in the Sunday School. The Rev. Wm. Grant presided, and after opening the meeting, called upon His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. D. Lysnar) to make the presentation. Mr. Lysnar spoke of the long and faithful service rendered by Mrs. East, who had the honor of being one of the mothers both of the Church and the Sunday School. Mr. J. Warren (superintendent of the Presbyterian-Sunday School), and Mr. T. E. Toneycliffe, of the Baptist Church, also spoke in terms of high appreciation of Mrs. East’s services. During tho evening several musical ■items 'were rendered, and after supper liad been partaken of the meeting concluded.

The cut in the groyne has been completed, but so far theJJKf h e £yj' to river has not been sufficiently enable any correct idea, as to the util of the work to bo obtained. The subject for debate at the weekly meeting of the Y.M.O.A ■ Debating Society last evening was should h g land abolish freetrade? Mr. C. • Bloore spoke in tho affirmative, 'and m C. Tattersfield in tho negative. a number of members spoke oil side, and on a vote being-taken • Bloore. by two votes, was declared tne winner of tho debate.

Mr. Hugh Wilson, organising manager for Mr. H. Hayward (well known as a partner in West’s Pictures an . tho Brescians), arrives by the Monowat this morning for the puriiosc of repor - ing on the advisability of installing a permanent electric plant at His Majesty’s Theatre to be used for biograpn picture entertainments. Mr. W. Miller states that should Mr. Wilson’s repor' be favorable, Mr. Hayward will immediately proceed to install a plant similar to those now being used at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, where they have proved a revelation to patrons of picture entertainments.