Petition Of The Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay.
To His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.B., Governor of New
Zealand, &c., &c., &c. The Petition of the Provincial Council of Hawke's
Bay in Council assembled, respectfully sheweth,—

That in the opinion of this Council the prosperity and progress of this Province are very much impeded, and the development of its resources retarded by the existing laws in relation to the acquirement and occupation of Native lands.

That the Native Title to about half a million of acres, available for agricultural and pastoral purposes, is still unextinguished, and that the lands held by the Government and Natives, in some instances, lie in interseeting blocks which render it extremely difficult to prevent the rapidly increasing flocks and herds of the Province from trespassing and depasturing on Native lands.

That many persons, some from conscientious and others from selfish motives, refuse to give any consideration for such trespass, and a bad feeling is thereby engendered between the two races, which may at any time break out into open violence.

That ever since Europeans located themselves in this Province, the provisions of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance have been repeatedly infringed, and although several attempts have been made to put them in force they have virtually been unsuccessful.

That in the opinion of this Council the Natives of this Province will not for many years sell much more land to the Government under the only system by which they can at present be lawfully acquired, and it is the firm conviction of your Petitioners, that by providing some more suitable method for the acquirement and occupation of their land by Europeans, the prosperity of the Province would be greatly promoted, population and exports would rapidly increase, and the peaceful relations between both races would be secured by their having a mutual interest in each other.

That the most important agricultural district in the Province is still in the hands of the Natives. It comprises about 50,000 acres and is contiguous to the Harbour, and we have just grounds for believing that if the Government would legalize some other and more suitable method under which these lands could be beneficially occupied, the Natives in this Province would speedily acknowledge, reciprocate, and assist such endeavour to remove the great obstacle that at present exists to more friendly and satisfactory relations between the two races.

We believe that the making of such provision as would permit the beneficial occupation of Native land would reassure the Native mind in reference to the land question generally, and would lead them to agree willingly to, and assist in the indivindualization of their titles.

It is also the opinion of this Council that the Natives would willingly contribute towards the making and repair of roads and other public works if allowed to exercise the same rights of ownership with regard to their lands as those enjoyed by Europeans.

Your Petitioners therefore respectfully request that your Excellency will as soon as may be, take the subject of this Petition into your favourable consideration, and provide such means as will conduce to the profitable occupation of the agricultural and pastoral lands of the Native population of this Province.