GREAT MAORI ASSEMBLAGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 4

GREAT MAORI ASSEMBLAGE.

THE AVAAHI CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph-Special Corespondent.) Auckland, June 9. Great crowds of Maoris had assembled at the Native settlement at WaaM for the Native Land Conference to-day. The kaianga presents an animated spectacle and 100 cooks are busily engaged in preparing food for the visitors. The number at present in the pah is variously estimated at from 1000 to 1500, but to-mor-row this number, will be largely increased,' ' ; by; the advent of large numbers of Natives from all. quarters'of the Dominion. To provide food for the large number of Natives present, ,as well as for the local population, is no-small task, and' to-_day no fewer than 1168 meals were served to visitors. The fireyood consumed in cooking the food filled seven fourhorse wagons, and the expenses are thus very heavy. These have been principally borne by the Waikato Natives, but the visitors have been" also contributing largely. The representatives of one tribe alone presented the treasury with notes to the value of .£SO. Financial matters are left in the capable hands of Mrs. Mahuta. The object of the meeting-is principally to confirm the decisions arrived at during the- conference held nearly, a year ago, when the Natives agreed to partition their lands by splitting them up into four sections, namely (1) those to be retained for Natives; (2) those to be sold; (3) those to be leased'; (i) those to be given the mam of Mahuta. The proceeds of the sale were to go'to defray the expenses of the institution of a -papa kaiang, ii which Maori customs may be perpetuated, Maori institutions be observed, aao Native laws W given effect to. The question' of the proclamation • ol 18S4, whereby the introduction of intoxicants into the Eohe Potae was stringently forbidden, will be discussed, and it u expected reaffirmed, as King Mahuta ia strongly in favour .of Prohibition throughout the King Country. ,