THE NATIVE MINISTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 594, 14 April 1891, Page 3

THE NATIVE MINISTER.

A. FLYING VISIT TO GISBORNE. CONFERENCE WITH THE MAYOR AND MR WARREN. INTERVIEWED BY A STANDARD REPRESENTATIVE. Thk rising East Coast district ol which Gisborne is the town is not often favored with the pergonal notice of a Minister of the Crown. The visits of those gentlemen are, as is said of the visits of messengers from another world, “few and far between.” When one does by accident or otherwise happen to honor us with his presence for a short period, it is regarded as something quite above the common place, but there have been bo many cruel disappointments through the diplomatic garnishing of some Mims'ers of the past, that the hopeful spirit has become depressed and there is a disposition to be difltrustful of anything shadowed forth for the future. The Hon. Mr Cadman (Native Minister), however, has already created such a good impression by the sensibleness, frankness and firmness of his utterances that those who have been keeping themselves well posted up in the politics of the day feel that as an individual and as a Minister much reliance can be placed upon him. He has been very much pressed with work since he accepted his present portfolio, and consequently has been unable to arrange for a special visit to the East Coast, which, more than any other district perhaps, is concerned with the problem presented in the way of native land legislation. However, though the passengers could only land from the Waihora after 5 p.m , and had to be ready to return at 7, he yet made it his business, accompanied by Mr Lewis, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, to come ashpre as he was on bis way back to Wellington. As the notice was so abort, and there was so much uncertainty about the matter, no Conference with the Minister for Native Affairs could well be arranged, but the occasion was duly taken advantage of. Mr J. Warren, County Clerk and Acting Town Clerk, had a long conversation with the bon. gentleman, who sought information on all matters of local and public interest as to the details of which he had not already been in

formed. Later on His Worship the Mayor (Mr Townley) had a conversation wjtb the Minister, and it is almost needless to add that in the abort time at his disposal the Mayor gave Mr Cadman a good idea of the claims the district had upon the colony, having to bear such a large share Of the burden of taxation created by the public works undertaken in other districts, Mr Cadman said the district appeared to have farecLsomething like that which he' represented, but at present, the loan moneys having all gone, he feared there was no Otbrr prospect than enduring that which could not be cured. In regard to the Harbor the Mayor asked whether it would be possible, if the Board so elected, for the Government to advance a sum of money on the plant so that Mr O’Connor’s scheme for utilising the present work could be carried out. Mr Cadman said that with the present tone of the House in regard to harbor works, after the experience they had h id, the Board would pave a very remote chance indeed of getting any assistance from Parliament in carrying out further works. The M*yor emphasised the point that the machinery would be good security for the money, being the best of its kind in the colony. Mr Cadman said that no doubt was correct, but there was no place where use Could be fnpnd for it in the colony. Still, Ep added in reply to farther remarks, it might be possible to dispose of it in one of the other Colonie-, and the Government might be better able to do that than the Board, but he could hold out no hope of direct assistance in regard to the harbor, because if one claim were yielded to every other place with an Unfinished harbor would be clamoring for similar assistance, and perhaps each would be equally entitled to it, The QXJXSTIOS OF NATIVE LAND AFFAIRS

was the one on which the Standard representative made i' his special business to ascertain from Mr Cadman if any new light could at the present stage be thrown upon the subject. The Mayor had previously tou hed upon th* l subject, but only with the object of still further impressing upon the representative of the Crown the urgent necessity of something being done to relieve the people of this • bane of the North.’ My o« jeqt was to learn if any idea could bp obtained in regard to the form that would be taken by future legislation. Mr Cadman said that at the present stage he could not give me any definite information. He quite recognised, he said, what a deep interest was taken in the question by the resi dents of a district bo much affected as the East Coast. A few minutes’ conversation soon assured one tbit the bon. gentleman himself took a vivid practical view of the various phase's of the question—more than can be said of some beads of Departments. “ I have no wonder at all,” said Mr Cadman, “that the people of this district, and for that matter of the colony, shou'd be unaulmous in the desire for some change. The law is now such that no man can understand it, experienced and disinterested men widely differ in the way certain clauses ape to he construed, and there is a g neral muddle all through. I entertain strong view, upon the .object, but it is too loon yet to Indicate what will be the pature of the legislation introduced. What I hope to see don. is to have a couple of measure, passed, framed in as simp'e language aa possible, and repealing all of the conflicting laws of the past. The one measure would be in regard to future dee Ings and ths other would be to make provision for clearing up transactions already entered into. There is

po question that a radical change fa necessary, and if I am supported in the matter I ' think good will be accomplished.” Indeed. ' what Mr Cadman eaid he would like to see was the lawa made alike for natives and Europeans, each netting the benefit of roads, bridges, and other works, and each sharing tonally in regard to taxation. In regard to the Commission presided over by Judge Edwards. Mr Cadman said he thought it might have done some good work but that the hands of the Commissioner had been tied. As it was some thought that the interpretation of the clause in regard to the Commissioner's powers was a strained one. Mr Cadman is a very pleasant man to chat wi'b, wi>h no seif, taser ion, but with a quiet, thoughtful way that at once impresses the stranger. He certainly does not look like a man who would take a band in driving the country to the •• bow-wows,” as the political opponents of the present Government were so unwearied in predicting. Thai euckoo cry would fall very fist when piped in the ear of such an one as the new Native Minister, We bad a long conversation on the genera’ question of native land legislation gnd th’ settlement of the country, but there yea* lit’e new tbat could be said on the weilWcrn robj'Oh Htill the Native Minister gave one eesurauce that w*H be hailed with satis faction In the district. He said that he would glaive to have the native land proposals brought on gt an early period of the session, sa that there would be no undue haste in the confiders'ion of the measure. He would giro, be raid, try and get copies of any Bill on the subject circulated in ample time to glioi? i* 1° h e freely criticised. His desire waa tbat the Bill should have the fullest oriticigm, and that any weak points should . be exposed. This would be a check upon anything hasty being done, only to be repented of afterwards. Such an assurance I felt would be considered a very acceptable one, and as the launch was now whistling os a warning for landsmep to return, I was satisfied that the one item pf information was in itself worth the trip out to the big steamer, jn regard to the Land Company's property Mr Cadman said as yet no arrangement oould be arrived at by wnich the land eould be utilised for settlement pv.rpcken, '

A. claim for l|d wag heard in the City County Court. A man took a return ticketon th*? District Bail way, for which ha bad paid 93. . Traffic w suspended for a time at night owing to a woman having thrown herself out of the train. The ticketholder, therefore, returned from the city to Hammer smith by another route at a cost of 6d. The company paid 4|d into court, the pike of half of his return ticket, After hearing the case the company were ordered to pay the other l|i and costs, A burglar entered an Episcopal church in Finchley.road. After carefully collecting the communion plate, valued at £2O, he discovered ? bottle of aacramental wins, HaUng 1 imbib’ed rather freely he was led to don the clergyman’s surplice. The burglarious wine--1 bibar was so pleased with the effect that he burst into laughter. A passing policeman, • hearing these unusual Bounds from witbin, ■ lay in wait, and had little difficulty in capI luring the churoh Sreaker as he was coolly • leaving with his boot*