NATIVE MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 319, 29 September 1875, Page 3

NATIVE MEETING.

j (l-IIOM OeE OWN COIiRESIXXSBEXT.) ! | Taui'O, Lionel ay, Sept. 20. j : The native element-waxes strong: Imre i 5 ilist now, attracted, 1 have no doubt, ; ;by tlie plentiful supply of hi promised j to be distributed at the great meeting | ■ wide]i is to begin to-morrow ; the pre- ’ vise object for which the meeting is ! railed at present remains in “ a fog.” It is lo be hoped when the illustrious savages hold foith that some light will ho thrown on the subjects, which 1 have doubt are being prepared to be ' discussed ; come what may. the ilonr. sugar, dc., will suiter much, as all the visitors seem not to have partaken of much food lately, in order that lull . justice might be done to the good i ; tilings to bo provided. There are a goodly number of native noblemen now i : assembed and many more are expected : ito arrive. Mr ("'ommissioner Locke > wa« expected to be in attendance, but being unavoidably absent, .Major : Bcannoll. L.M., will preside. The Land Purchase Agents are here and i will it is expected be in attendance. 1 Tho District OJlicer under “Native Lands Act” is also hero. , Wo have had a good batch of visitors * lately, and may now say the season for tourists to visit the celebrated hot lakes has fairly sol in.

We experienced a very severe shock of earthquake yesterday morning at 4.30. 1 liavo not yet been abb 1 to ascertain whether it was local or not, but it is probable it was, as the shock was from south to north. Immeuiately before the shock a loud rumbling noise was heard. A Vision KROV sriUIT-LAXT). A most, extraordinary story lias been related by several gentlemen which has caused no little amount of discussion. The story is—Some short time ago the relators left this place in a whale-boat for an old kainga called Wailahamii, a few miles along the margin, of the lake, that after landing and remaining for some time, they decided to stay fur the night, and finally took up their quarters in an old .Maori where. In the evening they made a

fire in the house and retired to rest. | Their slumbers were not so soft as i could be desired, however, for in a, short time sounds, “strange and un-

natural,” saluted the ears of the wouldbe sleepers, and very soon after a strange figure made its appearance in up a position

beside the lire. The oeeupants of the house, it can ho easily imagined, did i not rare particularly for a being in such “a questionable shape,'’ and Horne ; of them gazed in fear and trembling 1 and soon left the lions* 1 ; the rest | remained with their heads nude']’ Die blankets. One gentleman courageously seized a frying-pan and shied it at the object, wldeli. immediately tied Irom their gaze, but not like a “beautiful dream.” The spectre is described as being in the shape of a man, of a light colour, large grey beard, with eyes like balls of fire, and seemed as if it

{sad 'just emerged irom ilia water, as its bead was covered with water-cress hanging down to its shoulders, about three foot in height, and a perfect skeleton, and as it walked or hnl.bh-.l they could hoar its bones rattle like dice in a. box. The story is uadi authenticated by all who were present (Europeans), and there Is no doubt that some extraordinary object was seen by them, but whether a spirit from Heaven or a “goblin damned” remains ad present a prolound mystery. Tuesday, >bept. 21. The “rolling 1 up” for the native meeting- is now going on, and the gentlemen savages are making much fuss. Major Seinmoll, accompanied by a number of ladies and gentlemen, has just crossed the river, and "the party are wending their way to Tcihipi’s settlement, where the meeting is to be held. The Maori ladies and a great number of lordly savages are gesticulating su’d exercising 'their arms and limbs to a great degree, and welcoming the major and party with these ami other expressions-—“ Welcome, illustrious stranger! my beloved, child has fetched you from yonder side of the and drawn thee hither.” The party were met by Poihipi at the door of the marque, which had been erected for the party, and were soon aseoneed inside, when the real business of the

meeting began by the convenor, PoiLipi Takairangi making a short address, after which he road out to the assembled tribes the various points to be submitted for discussion, viz.;—

To prevent other tribes from robbing the Taupe chiefs of their mana; to try and establish Native Lands Courts here; surveys, &e.; roads and bridges, increased representation, polling place, schools, church for Taupo, native reserves. &e. A great number of orators aired their eloquence, and the mooting adjourned to the following da}', when the points will bo further considered. (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s proceedings in our next.)