168 Transactions. 



in going backwards and forwards and attending the meetings, 

 while the hope of a future deliverance left them no interest for 

 the practical work of the present. At the meetings multitudes 

 were crowded together, without proper accommodation and 

 with no attempt at sanitary arrangements. Fever took pos- 

 session of Parihaka, and resulted in wholesale sickness and 

 death, while the infection was carried home and spread through 

 the settlements ; and this, combined with the overstrain and 

 excitement, the irregular living, and unhealthy conditions, 

 caused a shrinkage in the population of Taranaki probably 

 unequalled at any other time or place. 



The Land Laws. 



By the misconstruing of a clause in the Treaty of Waitangi,* 

 the " right of pre-emption " has always been interpreted as the 

 " sole right of purchase." This has prevented the Maoris from 

 dealing with a private individual in the disposal of their lands, 

 and has forced them to sell to the Government if they wish 

 to sell at all. The result is that the Government can buy at 

 their own price and sell in the open market, making perhaps 

 500 or 600 per cent, on the transaction. In the hope of some 

 tardy justice, the owners have largely reserved their lands 

 from sale, although they would willingly part with the greater 

 portion if they could be sure of a fair price ; and, though titular 

 owners of vast estates, they are condemned to live in poverty 

 and perhaps destitution. 



Under the old regime the land was the property of the tribe 

 as a whole, and the cultivation at each kainga was done on a 

 co-operative system, under the direction of the local chiefs ; 

 but since the supreme compelling force has passed away, and 

 the interests and ambitions of the various members of the tribe 

 have become differentiated, it has become necessary to indi- 

 vidualise the ownership, so as to secure to each man the fruits 

 of his labour. In order to accomplish this, the Native Land 

 Court was established, and of late years Native Committees 

 elected by the tribal owners have been set up to allocate the 

 various claims, their decisions to be confirmed or otherwise by 

 a Judge of the Court on evidence taken amongst the claimants. 

 The system seems simple and fair enough until it comes to be 

 worked out, but then the trouble begins. The claims are made 

 on such various and conflicting grounds that it is often impossible 

 to come to a decision thai will be satisfactory to all parties; 

 while, from the fact that the .Maoris are so interrelated, a Clevel- 

 and unscrupulous man, with little or no real right, can often 



* Sec Appendix 



