GREAT NATIVE MEETING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1805, 3 April 1888, Page 2

GREAT NATIVE MEETING

THE GOVERNMENT'S NA-TIVfl POLIOY. (per press association.) Wellington, April 2. A great Native meeting has been held at Watapu on the Eaßt Coast, The oocasion was the opening of the big carved house of Major Repita. TheHonE Mitohelson, Native Miui3ter, and Me Lewis, UnderSecretary, with several others, left here by the b.s. Stella on Tuesday, and Wednss'day morning waa ooaupied by the reoeption of the Minlater and speechifying. Mr J. Oarroll, M. H.R., was the principal speaker, and ably advocated the wants of the Native people, more especially freetrade m Native land and thorough reorganisation of the Native Land Oonrt. Mr Mitohelaon stated thab Bills were m oouree of preparation, ore to repeal the Grown and Native Land Administration Act, and another to repeal the Grown and Native Lando Rating Act, The Government thought the time had arrived when tha Natives should manage tbeir owa affairs, and they would introduce legislation enabling them to do bo. Great changes would also be mode m tho Native Lands Oour£. The Bills would be printed m Maori and English when ready, and distributed throughout the country. An expression of opinion would be invited from leading Native men, and alterations mide if desired. The Maoris at the meeting h%vo held meetings since, and expressed the opinion that Mr Mitchelson's apeeoh was most satisfactory and would mcc: their views on every point There wore 5000 Natives present at the meeting, and 203 white people. Everything was successful, and the Meeting is probably the largest of tha kind that will ever bo held m the c ilony. There were 800 men and women, dancing hakas.