150 



HOW TO LEGISLATE 



[PART i. 



custom, such property, when abandoned by indivi- 

 duals, belongs to the tribe. It is, however, obvious 

 that the commissioner of the native reserves must 

 act in most cases according to circumstances. 



Taking the population of both islands at 114,890 

 souls, the quantity of land which would have to be 

 secured to them, allowing, as proposed, ten acres for 

 each, would amount to 1,148,900 acres; and its 

 distribution, according to the numbers in each tribe, 

 would be as follows : 



With regard to the reservation of town allot- 

 ments, I am of opinion that it would be much better 

 if, instead of doing so, a certain sum from the pro- 

 ceeds of sales of town and country land were appro- 

 priated to the native population. It will make the 

 duties of the commissioner too complicated if the 

 allotments themselves are reserved, and will lead to 

 controversies between him and the municipality, 



