CHAPTER XXV: CONFISCATION OF LANDS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.
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CHAPTER XXV.
CONFISCATION OF LANDS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITARY SETTLEMENTS.
OWING to the extreme reluctance with which military aid was granted by the Imperial Government to New Zealand during the Native Rebellion, the demand made for payment for the troops, the inactivity of General Cameron and his extraordinary attempts to interfere politically with the Colonial Government, it became necessary for the latter to adopt measures for the pacification of the country. In this emergency, Mr. Domett suggested the establishment of a series of outposts around the unsettled districts, garrisoned by military settlers, who were to combine within themselves the profession of arms and agriculture, and were to receive lands as a recompence for their military service, and pay and rations until they had subdued the enemy around them and firmly established themselves. In order to carry out this project, an Act intituled "An Act to enable the Governor to establish Settlements for Colonisation in the Northern Island of New Zealand," was passed on the 3rd of December 1863, which provided that, "Whenever the Governor in Council shall be satisfied that any Native tribe or section of a tribe, or any considerable number thereof, has since the first day of January, 1863, been engaged in rebellion against Her Majesty's authority, it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to declare that the district within which any land being the property or in the possession of such tribe or section or considerable number thereof shall be situate, shall be a district within the provisions of this Act, and the boundaries of such district in like manner to define and vary as he shall think fit. That it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time to set apart within any such district eligible sites for settlements for colonisation, and the boundaries of such settlements to define and vary. That for the purposes of such settlements, the Governor in Council may from time to time reserve or take any land within such district, and such land shall be deemed to be Crown land, freed and discharged from all title, interest, or claim of any person whomsoever, as soon as the Governor in Council shall have declared that such land is required for the purposes of this Act and is subject to the provisions thereof."
Shortly after the passing of this Act, agents were employed to enlist men for military service in, the Province from among the gold miners of Otago and Melbourne.
On the 30th of December, 1863, the Choice arrived at New Plymouth from Melbourne via Lyttelton, with 40 volunteers for this service.
On the 16th of January, 1864, the s.s. Phoebe brought Captain
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Edward Carthew and 29 volunteers from Otago.
On February the 13th, the ship Gresham brought from Melbourne Lieutenants Pennefather and Sisson, Ensign Roddy, and 420 volunteers.
On the 17th of February, the barque Brilliant brought from Melbourne Lieutenants Kirkby, Clark, Gascoigne and Jackson, Mrs. Kirkby, and two children. These were followed by others at various times.
"PROCLAMATION.
"PROCLAIMING CERTAIN LANDS UNDER THE NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1863.
"By His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B., &c.
"Whereas by the New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863, it was enacted among other things that whenever the Governor in Council shall be satisfied that any native tribe, or section of a tribe, or any considerable number thereof, have since the 1st of January, 1863, been engaged in rebellion against Her Majesty's authority, it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to declare that the district within which any land being the property or in possession of such tribe, or section, or considerable number thereof, shall be situate, shall be a district within the provisions of the said Act, and the boundaries of such district in like manner to define and vary as he shall think fit:
"And whereas the Governor in Council is satisfied that certain native tribes, or sections of tribes, having landed properties and possessions in the lands described in the Schedules hereunder written, have been engaged in rebellion against Her Majesty's authority:
"Now, therefore, I, Sir George Grey, the Governor as aforesaid, in exercise of the power vested in me by the said recited Act, do hereby, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the Colony, set apart as an eligible site for settlement for colonisation the lands described in the Schedule to this Proclamation, being lands described within the said proclaimed district of Middle Taranaki, and the Governor doth declare that the lands described in the said Schedule are required for the purposes of the said Act, and are subject to the provisions thereof, and doth reserve and take such land for such purposes as aforesaid.
"Given under my hand and seal, at the Government House, Auckland, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this 30th day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1865.
"G. GREY. "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN."
[SCHEDULE.]
"MIDDLE TARANAKI."
All that block of land at Taranaki bounded on the north and west by the sea, on the east by the Waitara River from its mouth to the
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the Waitara to the crossing place of the Kairoa and Waimate Road, junction of the Manganui River, and by the Manganui River from thence on the south by the said road to its junction with the Wanganui and Taranaki coast road, and thence by a straight line from the said junction of roads to the sea at its nearest point; excepting all lands within the said boundaries held under Grant from the Crown."
Similar proclamations at the same date were issued respecting lands in Waitara South and Oakura, described in the following Schedules:--
WAITARA SOUTH.
All that block of land at Taranaki bounded on the north by the sea, on the east by the Waitara River, from its mouth to the junction of the Manganui River; on the south by a straight line from the junction of the Manganui and Waitara Rivers to Tarurutangi on the Waiongona River, and on the west by a straight line to the sea at Waitaha; excepting lands within the above described boundaries held under Grants from the Crown.
OAKURA.
Bounded on the north by the sea, on the east by the Omata Block from the sea to where the boundary of the Omata Block is cut by the native pa running between the Patua and Pouakai ranges, thence by a straight line running between the above mentioned ranges till it cuts the Hangatahua river, thence by the Hangatahua River to the sea, except the block of land known by the name of Tataraimaka.
On the 2nd of September the following districts were proclaimed:--
NGATIAWA.
Bounded on the north-west and north by the sea from the mouth of the River Waitara to the tunnel at Parininihi, and thence by a straight line in a direction due east (true bearing) for a distance of 20 miles; on the south-east by a straight line from the eastern extremity of the said northern boundary in a direction south 39 degrees west (true) till it intersects the straight line between the summit of Mount Egmont and Parikino on the Wanganui River; on the south by the said last named straight line from its intersection with the said south-eastern boundary to its intersection with the Kairoa and Waimate Road; on the west by the eastern boundary of the Middle District of Taranaki proclaimed under the New Zealand (Settlements Act, 1863, from the point last named to the commencing point at the mouth of the River Waitara.
NGATIRUANUI.
On the north-east by a straight line bearing on the summit of Mount Egmont, commencing at the Kairoa and Waimate Road and drawn thence to Parikino on the River Wanganui; on the east by the said river to the sea; on the south-west by the sea from the
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mouth of the said River Wanganui to the Waimate stream; and on the west by the said Kairoa and Waimate Road from the said Waimate stream, which last or western boundary is also part of the eastern boundary of the said district of Middle Taranaki; excepting all lands held by or under the Crown prior to the date of this Proclamation.
NGATIAWA COAST.
Bounded on the west and north-west by a line drawn straight from the summit of Mount Egmont to the source of the River Waiongona, thence along the said River Waiongona to Tarurutangi, thence straight to the junction of the Rivers Manganui and Waitara, thence along the said Waitara to the sea, thence along the sea-coast to the tunnel at Parininihi; on the north by a straight line in a direction due east (true) from the said tunnel at Parininihi for a distance of 20 miles; on the south-east by a straight line drawn from the eastern extremity of the said northern boundary in a direction south 39 degrees west, till it intersects the straight line between the summit of Mount Egmont and Parikino on the Wanganui River; and on the south-west by the said straight line last named from its intersection with the said south-eastern boundary to the summit of Mount Egmont.
NGATIRUANUI COAST.
Bounded on the north by the River Hangatahua from its mouth to the southern angle of the Oakura district, and thence by a straight line passing between the Poukai and Patua (Kaitake) Ranges to the point where the Native path passing in the same direction intersects the south-western boundary of the Tapuae Block to the River Mangoraka, thence by the said River Mangoraka to its source, thence by a straight line to the summit of Mount Egmont, and thence by a straight line to Parikino on the River Wanganui; on the south-east by the said River Wanganui from Parikino to the sea, and on the south-west by the sea from the mouth of the said River Wanganui to the mouth of the said River Hangatahua; excepting all lands within the said boundaries held by or under the Crown prior to the date of this Proclamation.
The total area of land north of the Waingongoro River confiscated under orders in Council and dealt with under the New Zealand Settlements and Continuance Acts was 934,325 acres. Of this area, 47,800 acres were laid out as Military Settlements; viz., 45,681 acres as rural lands, 1,115 acres as suburban, and 1,004 in townships. The districts were Pukearuhe, Urenui, Tikorangi, Huirangi, Manganui, Mataitawa, Manutahi, Oakura, Koru, Ahuahua, and Okato. Of the total area confiscated, 35,000 acres were allotted to the Military Settlers, 6,622 acres were returned to the natives or reserved for their use, and the remainder was allotted for education and other reserves, or devoted to roads.
South of the Waingongoro River, an area of about 50,000 acres was laid out in military settlements, forming collectively the Patea district,
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the towns being Kakaramea, Ohawe, and Makoia. It was hoped at the time when these settlements were established that the men when released from military duty would settle down upon their allotments, and becoming permanent settlers in the Province would tend by their numbers to ensure peace and security; but from a variety of causes the Military Settlements scheme did not result in the immediate permanent increase in the population anticipated, and even before the expiration of the three years residence required to establish a title to the land allotted under their terms of service, a large proportion of the original military settlers had left the Province, settlers, and the sons of settlers, taking their place in the corps, and the reversion of their land as substitutes.
In 1866, when the prescribed three years of service had elapsed and the men became entitled to a grant of their allotments unfettered by any conditions, the great majority of the military settlers then remaining in the Province either sold or mortgaged their land and left, and by the end of 1867 probably not more than a tenth part of the men introduced under the Military Settlements regulations remained in the Province. Of the eleven towns laid out north of the Waingongoro, the majority had not a single house upon them, whilst the most populous could scarcely boast of a dozen. The bulk of the rural allotments had passed into the hands of settlers. One great cause of this general exodus was that when the Military Settlements scheme was adopted the great requirement of the colony was men, and the immediate exigency of this requirement was such that there was no time to select men who might be expected to utilize their land beneficially and become permanent settlers. But the chief cause of the departure of numbers of those who would have proved themselves useful Colonists, was the total inability of the Provincial Government after the settlements had been handed over to the Province either to provide work for these men, or to open communication between their allotments and the settled centres of the district. Isolated from the original settlement, and without any employers of labor among them, the men had no other alternative in most cases than to part with their land, more especially as the financial position of the Province was such that little could be done to aid them in opening up the roads and bridging the streams.
So severely was this strain on the Provincial Treasury felt, even in the little that was accomplished in respect of opening up roads through confiscated lands, that although the military settlements were handed over fully surveyed and with a fair population located on them, without expense to the Province, yet the expense actually incurred, or estimated as being necessary for opening road communication between them and the original settlement, constituted the chief groundwork of all the applications from the Province to the General Government for financial aid. By degrees, however, these lands have been traversed by roads, and though the original Military Settlers no longer occupy them, they are rapidly being utilised, either for cultivations or pasture, and support a fair and increasing
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population. These remarks apply equally to the magnificent Patea district, now the most flourishing portion of the Province.
In addition to the military settlements, and in order to keep up the line of communication between them and New Plymouth, blocks were laid out at Waitara, including the town of Raleigh and suburban districts of Waitara East and West, at Opunake, and on the Patea River at Carlyle. At various times auction sales of town and suburban allotments in these localities were held, and over 20,000 acres of land sold in the Taranaki County District, realising over £10,000.
During the years from 1868 to 1871, great expectations were entertained of the phormium trade, and large works were erected at Opunake, the centre of a very extensive flax district, involving an expenditure of several thousand pounds by the projectors and undertakers of this industry. Had the results hoped for been realised, the district would have progressed rapidly, as the natives showed every disposition to throw open their lands to capitalists; but unfortunately the trade collapsed, and the site of the town of Opunake was for a long period all but deserted by Europeans. The only acquired rural land is an area of 735 acres, formerly allotted to Major C. Brown and Captain R. C. Hammerton for services in connection with Militia and Volunteers.
By a special arrangement with Military Settlers, the settlements of Hawera and Manutahi-Patea were formed, the Government granting 10 acres of land to each man who would consent to hold the positions in those localities. Flourishing towns are now springing up in those districts, the town of Carlyle having been established by Government, and that of Normanby and others in the Patea County by private speculation.
Under the several Acts bearing on the confiscated lands, powers were reserved to His Excellency the Governor to return portions of these lands to the natives, and to make reserves for native and other purposes within their boundaries. There has accordingly been returned to natives in this district, or reserved for them, an area of about 170,000 acres.
It was perceived at an early date that the most judicious course which could be adopted in dealing with the confiscated lands would be to promote their settlement and occupation as speedily as possible, and various schemes were propounded with a view to this end.
In the years 1865 and 1866, a lengthened correspondence was carried on between the Ministry and His Honor H. R. Richmond, the Superintendent of the Province, on the subject of the settlement of the confiscated lands, an offer being made by the Government that the Provincial authorities should take over and administer them as part of the territorial estate. Among the letters which passed is one from the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel to the Hon. E. Stafford, dated 14th September, 1865, forwarding a scheme for the speedy utilization and settlement of the districts acquired by confiscation, and which is farther interesting as containing the first germs of the
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Immigration and Public Works Policy, since inaugurated under the administration of the writer of the letter. This communication, favorably reported on by the Superintendents of Auckland and Wellington, was, with the correspondence between the Ministry and the Superintendent, laid before the Provincial Council of Taranaki, when a resolution was carried to the effect that it was not expedient to recommend the adoption of the scheme proposed. In fact, such was the condition of the Provincial Revenue, and so avowed was the impotence at that time of the Province to utilize these lands, that nothing could be done to further their settlement; nor were the Provincial authorities in a more favorable situation financially even at a later date had not the General Government intervened.
The insuperable difficulties with which the Provincial Government had to contend were: firstly, the question of unmolested occupation being secured to purchasers. It was felt that purchasers of lands within the confiscated boundaries would require some farther and stronger guarantee than that of the Provincial Government of the acquiescence of the former native owners of the soil in its confiscation and subsequent sale, and that such guarantee could be given only by the lands being administered by the General Government of the Colony. Secondly, the financial position of the Province was such that even if the land had been handed over free from native encumbrances yet the preliminary cost of surveys--no inconsiderable item in forest lands--and of opening up communications by roads, would have been beyond the resources of the Provincial exchequer. Under these circumstances the bulk of the confiscated lands in the Taranaki district remained unutilized until in 1873 the Government adopted the system of obtaining the concurrence of all natives interested in any block of land subject to the confiscation proclamations in its alienation, paying a certain amount of compensation to dispossessed owners not implicated in the rebellion. Under this system land to a very considerable extent has been acquired in the district within the boundaries of the confiscation, the title to which is clear and uncontested.
The Moa, Waitara-Taramouku, Kopua, Pukemahoe, Onaero-Urenui-Taramoukou-Ruapekapeka, Waipuku, Waipuku-Patea, Manganui-Te Wera, Huiroa, Otoia, Ahuroa-Ratapiko-Manawawiri-Mangaotuku, Mangaehu, Kataroa No. 1, and Pukekino, in all about 253,000 acres, have been handed over to the Provincial authorities, and since the Abolition of Provincial Institutions to the Waste Lands Board, to be dealt with as Waste Lands of the Crown. Other lands have also been acquired but are not yet handed over.
The Waste Lands Board, constituted under the Taranaki Waste Lands Act, 1874, and recognised by the Land Act, 1877, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Charles Douglas Whitcombe, being its chairman, and Messrs. William Morgan Crompton, Thomas Kelly, Arthur Standish, and William Neilson Syme its members, commenced proceedings in January, 1875, and its first land sale was held on the 20th of February in that year. Since that date other
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sales of rural, suburban, and town lands in the Moa and other acquired districts have been held, a special feature in which has been the sale of portions on terms of deferred payments.
On the 23rd of January, the town of Inglewood, in the Moa district, was established by the Provincial Government; and in December, 1877, the village of Waipuku, and the town of Stratford on Patea, by the Waste Lands Board.
Besides these transactions, arrangements were made with Colonel Robert Trimble, a gentleman who arrived from England in 1875, for the purpose of settling in Taranaki, for the sale to him of 2,000 acres of land, under the 66th Clause of the Taranaki Waste Lands Act, 1874, in which provision was made for special settlements. In 1876, a block of 2,000 acres was sold by the Government to Messrs. Jones and McMillan, and in 1877 Mr. A. Cracroft Fookes was permitted to take up 5,000 acres on the Mountain Road, under certain conditions, for the purpose of forming the Midhirst Special Settlement.
