THE WAIKATO COMMITTEE.

F—No. 3

Now these prime requisites of civilization cannot be of difficult attainment amongst a people, •who have already spontaneously taken the first steps in the upward progress. The Maori, possessed of tastes eminently agricultural, and prevented, by the entire absence of animals of the chase from ' a tendency to predatory or roving habits, pi esents few or no points of resemblance to the rude hunter of the North American plains. The strong impulses of nature, which have utterly defeated all attempis at civilization amongst the one people, point out, by their original bias, the plan to be pursued, and afford the surest guarantee of success, amongst the other. Though at present the Maori cultivator is possessed of three or four small patches of land, generally removed at considerable distances from each other, amongst which his time is divided, yet the obstacle presented by this custom will not be difficult of removal. Having an object before him, with the means of attaining it, he will readily concentrate his exertions on the one spot from which the prospect of speedy and ample recompense appears most certain. Thus will be achieved & fixity of residence. And the success of the small body of new farmers will quickly raise up imitators, many of whom will settle in the immediate vicinity of the exemplar farm, and thus will gradually be secured the thickening of the population. Admitting, then, that the physical conditions above described are those which the energies of the governing body should be devoted to arranging, the next enquiry will be, How can the establishments and the resources of the Government of this Colony suffice to introduce, ami consistently carry out a scheme, which, persevered in over such an extensive field, would require a large staff for its management, and an enormous expenditure for its maintenance? Fortunately, it is not only unnecessary, but would be positively unwise, to attempt the introduction of any ameliorating process of this description, on any large scale. The endeavours made on this behalf should be devoted to one tribe at most, and wculcl be more under the guiding hand of Government, and more likely to have complete success, if the initiation were attempted with only the subdivision of a tribe (hapu). The effoits should be concentrated, and when marked success has attended the experiment in one instance, the adjoining tribes will quickly see the advantage of the new system, and will spontaneously hasten to adopt it. The present discursive system of benefaction, c g., a horse to one tribe, a plough and harness to another, and sum of money to a third, is ill calculated to enable any one of them to overcome the first difficulties attendant upon a civilized system of agriculture. The plan hitherto pursued, of giving instructions and exhortations, with partial and slight assistance to all the tribes, but without practical aid and teaching sufficient for the initiatory establishment of any one, has produced results which are scarcely perceptible on the vast surface over which they are spread. Mr. Morgan, when anxious to induce the Maories to build mills, shewed great discretion in devoting his attention entirely to one tribe. Deserting the accustomed system of explaining to all the tribes with which he held communications, the advantages to be derived from the erection of a flour mill, he confined his efforts to one, knowing that if he succeeded in one instance, the neighbouring tribes would hasten ta follow the example, when they saw the benefits resulting. He succeeded, and mills sprung up in all directions. I propose, then, that a subdivision of a tribe should be carefully selected, combining as many external conditions necessary to success, as can be found united, and that the Government should furnish them with an agricultural instructor, and with sufficient funds, to enable them to establish a farm on the European system. And, I suggest, for the commencement of this practical attempt at civilization, Ngatikaiolaota, a subdivision of the tribe Ngatitipa. lam unacquainted with any tribe whose conditions offer so fair a guarantee of success. Their domains are situated at the lower part of the Waikato river, conveniently placed for the means of transit for produce to Auckland, are possessed of a*i excellent flour mill, and are adjacent to the residence of Mr. Maunsell, the laborious and successful master of the industrial establishment at Kohanga. Moreover, these Natives bear, and always have borne, a high character as honest industrious and reflecting men, and are themselves most anxious to receive such assistance and instruction as may enable them to overcome the first difficulties attendant upon the European system of agriculture. I may appeal, for evidence of the industrious character of this tribe, to the Europeans who have lately been connected with them in the erection of their mill. They will enclose in a permanent fence one hundred acres or more of the best land,and, working under the instructions of the resident agriculturalist, they will divide it into the portions requisite for production of the proper proportions of glass, wheat, potatoes, &c, and as the breadth of the grass land gradually increases, they will enclose fresh land for the growth of the cereals and other crops intended for sale. C ollected ai one extremity of the farm, they will place their houses, built as at present with raupo in the Miori fashion, few, until their wealth is increased, and their social habits improved, they will have uo desire to inhabit wooden houses. The inclination for better habitations and greater comforts will spontaneously arise as they gradually feel themselves more at ease, as to the first necessities of subsistence. Though eminently a people of agricultural tastes, the Maories, in their own system of cultivation, are careless and improvident to a degree that is astonishing to any person who is acquainted with their covetous disposition. The moment a succession of crops has lessened the productive powers of land, it is abandoned, and immediately becomes covered with a prolific crop of docks and other noxious weeds, which spread their seeds into the adjoining plantaiions. By proper instruction in the utility of grass, this great evil will be stopped, and the country will be gradually covered with an enduring sward. The amount of produce raised by each individual will probably be increased twenty-fold by the adoption of the proposed system, and with their economical habits of living, the profits derived from

Appendix B. Mr. Fenton's First Minute on Native Affairs. 13 October, 185 C.

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