THE KING COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3777, 2 April 1875, Page 3

THE KING COUNTRY.

(Br TaLMSAPB.) The Auckland * Star's ’ special coires•ondeat at the great Kingite meeting bus successfully penetrated the country to Te Kuiti. He writes a long account of the journey, giving a description of the R ing country, and the opening of the proceedings. About 1,000 Natives live around Kuiti, whieh has bush on both sides of the river. It has a large courthouse capable of accommodating 300 Natives. The King’s tribe is a small one. All the land lies at Kawhia. He has two sons, several daughters, and three wives, besides concubines. The eldest sou is learning s work with a European named Mqffatt. Tawhiao and both sons are addicted to drink. It ii generally understood that at ms death one of his nephews will succeed bun in consequence of his abstemiousness. A tract of land is under cultivation at Kuiti under wheat, oats, tobacco, and melons. They have a large surplue of hops aud wheat, which they will send to market as soen as there is sufficient water In the river to allow the canoes to proceed. The correspondent describes the whole country as a series ofrhills and dales, some high mountains, and extensive forest. Pheasants and pigs are abundant, and there is a fair share of cattle and heroes, and a few sheep, which ths country Is mot adapted for, owing to the general growth of fem and tm-tui. In the river ironstone is always found, and only recently a seam of cannel coal was discovered There was also alluvial geld found on the downs. The Natives have resolved not to permit the introduction of roads or telegraphs, rtf -5, or i®* B ® the lands. Sullivan’s and Toad s murderers and Te Kooti live there. The chiefs are now all for peace. The correspondent adds that the successors may bring on a war; that if they do se it will be the last; but that before the Natives are vanquished many Europeans will be slain, as the natural features of the country offer great barriers to Europeans, The meeting eommeneed on the There were 4,060 natives present, nearly all Hauhaus ; 3,000 more are expected. Those thwe include Smith, chief of the Wanganui district, with 350 of his tribe. Disappointment is expressed at the non-attendance of Tawhiao. who will probably be sent for. The correspondent states that, subsequent to Sir Donald M Lean s refusal te go with the Governor unless the meeting was held at Kawhia, he offered to go to Kuiti if the friendlies were allowed to accompany them, to which the Kingite chiefs replied that “if the Governor could hot trust their safe escort he had better stay away.” The principal object of the meeting is said to be to stop the Waikato Natives from giving the Government, in return for presents, a lien on the lands which the Natives are permitted on sufferance to occupy and cultivate, and to which the Waikato tribe has no title. This is alleged to have been going on a long tune, the Natives accepting the Governments presents, and giving in return a liem on lands not their own. A warm discussion is expected. .