MAORI MEETING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 300, 29 May 1875, Page 4

MAORI MEETING.

The Otago Daily Times of May 25th gives the following account of a meeting of the Middle Island Maoris with reference to the land question , A great meeting of Maoris, resident in the Middle Island, was duly commenced at the Kaik yesterday. The following chiefs were present:—George Grey Taiaroa, Timothy, and Korako Karetai (Maori Kaik), Henri Tahai, Tara Ohekau (Little River), Tom Parata, Eapi Marekaherik, George Tewamia (Waikouati), Tuarea (Taieri), Kyi Kurepohatu (Molyneux), Wai Karawako (Akaroa), John Miller (Purakanui), Wax Aipai, Te Kooti, Ah Piri (Kaiapoi), Paora Taki, and George Kahu (Timaru.) An abundant supply of provisions, comprising flour, tea, sugar, beef, mutton, fish, and mutton birds, for the visiting tribes, formed a barricade about forty feet long and six feet high, opposite the meeting house, which has been named Te mahi tamarika (“ the work of the children”). When his Excellency the Governor was passing in the Luna at noon, the Maoris dipped their flag several times. The weather was truly magnificent. At two o’clock, about 180 Maoris assembled in the Meeting House, and amongst the few Europeans present we noticed Mr Geo. M‘Lean, M.H.R., for Waikouaiti. Large numbers of natives are expected to arrive from Nelson, Canterbury, Moeraki, and Southland during the present week. The Rev Messrs Scott (Wesleyan) of Canterbury, and Patoramupu (Presbyterian) conducted the service in Maori, and to enable the school children to attend, they were given a half-holiday. A native manfully rang a bell announcing the service. Mr Taiaroa, during the course of an eloquent speech, said the intention of opening this meeting was to pass a motion of those natives who were present at the purchase of the Otago Block, Port Chalmers, by Colonel Wakefield, in the year 1844, and to ask the Government to return one acre out of every ten acres, according to the original agreement. The natives were not willing to take what he (Taiaroa) asked as compensation at the General Assembly at Wellington—viz, £2,000,000. They preferred to have one acre out of every ten, as it was not money that had been promised them. It was land that they were to get back, and this was the principal reason they gave way to Wakefield’s purchase, and also to Kemp’n purchase of Akaroa in 1848. The natives did not sell the whole island, but only a portion on the sea coast. The middle part of the island was not sold. The whole island was in Kemp’s deed, which provided that the Government were to give the Maoris large portions of land when the surveyors surveyed the Middle Island. That was the reason of the present meeting. Those promises, made about thirty years ago, had been neglected and not fulfilled. After Kemp’s, there was the Hon Mr Mantell’s purchase at Southland, and the Maoris then asked for a large amount of payment. Mr Mantell, however, gave them £2OOO, and promised that the Government would give them land, money, schools, and hospitals. None of those promises had been fulfilled, and they were not entered in the deeds. The Maoris were then unable to read and write. The promises were only verbally given, but Mr Mantell wrote them down and forwarded them to the General Government and the Queen for fulfilment. The natives thought the promises made by Messrs Wakefield, Mantell, and Kemp, were entered in the deeds as those gentlemen read them when the purchases were being effected, Mr Mantell acknowledged that these promises were made to the natives, who allowed the purchases only under the impression that the promises would be fulfilled. The Government, however, said “ Wait, wait,” and the natives were waiting yet. The object of this meeting was to subscribe money for several natives to proceed with lawyers, and lay their grievance before the Imperial Government and her Majesty the Queen, with the view of having the said promises fulfilled. [Applause.J It was resolved that those present were willing to subscribe towards the desired object. The Rev Mr Scott having pointed out the chairman’s duties, moved that Mr Charles Wesley be elected chairman. The motion was carried unanimously, and at 3 p.m. the meeting adjourned till seven o’clock. The meeting (with the customary feasting) will probably occupy three weeks. Mr De Maus, of Port Chalmers, succeeded in taking several photographs of a group of natives near the meeting house.