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A Compendium of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs in the South Island. Volume Two.

VII—Excluded Portions

VII—Excluded Portions.

The triangular block at the north-eastern extremity of the reserve was, by common consent, excluded from the individualization. It contains 50 acres of excellent land, and from its position value, would probably command a price of from £15 to £20 per acre. I was anxious to keep this block open for the present, as it is yet uncertain whether the Natives may not have to raise funds, by the sale of land, for re-payment to the Government of the cost of the sub-divisional survey. They are relying on the road compensation money due from the Provincial Government as a means of meeting this charge. I thought it right, however, to guard the interests of the Government by having a reserve upon which to fall back should these funds prove insufficient.

The deep swamp on the western, and the sandy strip on the eastern side of the reserve, together page 101with the long arm forming the entrance to the reserve on the south, were also excluded, and for the following reasons:—
I.The Natives were decidely averse to the individualization of the deep swamp as a part of the general partition, for the simple reason that it is at present, and is likely long to remain, wholly unavailable for the purposes of husbandry.

The expense of effectually draining this swamp would be considerable, and, in the present circumstances of the Natives, the undertaking could be carried out only by joint enterprise. The main Rangiora water course (now in contemplation by the Provincial Government) will, when constructed, carry off much of the surface water from this swamp, but no substantial advantage can be gained without tributary cutting, and these must be made by the people collectively.

I have no doubt that ultimately what is now swamp will become the most valuable property in the reserve, but this must be a matter of time—probably many years. The scheme of partition aims at a fair and equitable division of the land with a view to immediate occupation and industrial improvement. It is obvious that to have included the swamp in the individualization would have been, on the one hand, to place a number of the proprietors at a great disadvantage as compared with the rest; while on the other hand, it would have practically shut them out for a considerable while from the profitable occupation of their land, and consequently from the development of those industrial energies which it was the chief aim of this undertaking to promote and stimulate.

II.The strip of land on the eastern side of the reserve is a sandy belt, about 60 chains in length, and varying in width from a few feet to three chains.

Being detached from the rest of the reserve it is, from its limited extent, practically useless to the Natives; and they have therefore asked the approval of the Government to its immediate sale. It would be valuable as frontage to the private property lying at the back of it, and would probably command a price of £15 per acre.

III.The southern arm of the reserve was excluded from this survey for several reasons:—
1st.It is in actual occupation by Kaiapoi residents who have erected dividing fences and built houses upon their respective parcels. Undisturbed possession during a period of years, and acts of ownership long exercised, were admitted by the runanga to establish, in each case, a prior individual right to the piece of land so occupied.
2nd.The resident Natives objected to its being included in the present survey, and the absentee claimants acquiesced in the objection.
3rd.This land is so situated as regards position and frontage value, that the rules which have regulated the division of the open land could not be made applicable here; and consequently its partition, if determined on, must be the subject of a separate arrangement.
4th.There is a very general desire to have this strip of land regularly laid out as a Native township, and for this purpose the present occupants are willing to waive their individual claims. The project of a township at Waituere Point (see my letter, 23rd October, 1861) was abandoned on account of the difficulty of approach to the proposed site during the winter months.

Having road frontage on the one side, and water access on the other, this arm would certainly form a very eligible site, but I was unwilling while the larger undertaking was; unfinished to entertain the proposal of the Natives in reference to the survey of a township.