WAIKATO.—THE RECENT MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1307, 28 May 1878, Page 3

WAIKATO.—THE RECENT MEETINGS.

[“ N. Z. Times’ ” Own Correspondent.] _ I intended to have told you something about the late Parliament at Hikurangi before this. Intelligence has been so carefully dished up for the public by the newspapers after it has left tho hands of tho official cooks that it is not reliable, and I resolved to wait a few days to verify certain suspicions of mine regarding tho Ministerial accounts of what; took place in Waikato. You will probably be satisfied that I have acted prudently when I give you the results of my careful inquiry. According to the Auckland newspapers the results of the Hikurangi meeting are that Tawhiao is to live on his small reservation at Ngaruawahia, whore I suppose he is expected to weep constantly over tho empty tomb of bis father Potato u, and wash away ail memory of tho wretched past with Ids tears. The Waikatos are to bo located amongst; tho Europeans on the left bank of tho Waipa and of tiro Lower Waikato ; tho Queen’s writ is to run everywhere ; Ngatimaniapoto are to shout for joy at tho prospect of a railway through to Taranaki, and to do all in their power to promote European settlement ; universal rubbing of noses, tho new fashionable colonial form of salutation, will testify tho complete amalgamation of tho races, and then, having accomplished his life-long work of making everybody happy and rich and prosperous, the soul of tho great Proconsul will depart in a chariot of flame from To Reinga to the abode of tho blessed, for all time.

That is one side. This is tho other, tho reverse, if you choose to call it so. On tho 7th instant Sir George Grey, tho Hon, Mr Sheehan, and tho long tail of followers, reached Hikurangi. As tho meeting had been proposed by the Premier and got up by the Government influence, Maori etiquette required that Sir George should be the first to speak. Two days, however, passed—“ the lost days ”of which you have heard—and the Premier having made no sign, the assembled natives began sulkily to drift away. Ou the 10th Tawhiao himself opened tho proceedings. He took a fern stalk in his hands, and fixing it in the ground, said, “ You on that side, with your administration ; me on this side, with my administration ; the law between us ; the At.ua over all,” Of course, tho meaning wes unniistakcable, but the Government party said, “it was not clear.” Then To Tuhi (the chief adviser of Tawhiao) retorted—“ If we make it clear, what then ?” In this conjuncture tho Premier deftly proposed that Tawhiao and ho should arrange matters “privately,” whereupon Te Aroha, who is lbe_ leader of a very democratic section of the Kingites, said, “ No, it was the people who were chiefly concerned, and the question must be discussed in open meeting only.” Other chiefs having spoken in the same strain, To Ngakau closed (he parliament for the day by snouting to Luo women to prepare the food.

Earlier than usual on the next morning the natives reassembled, unci llawhiao commenced proceedings by saving tl'.ab ho would speak “ very plainly.'” He then wont on thus “ From Manga tawhiri to the mouth of \> ai» kato; from Mangatavvidi i (following the wind* ings of the Mungatawhiri River) on to Iwiruhh’ahi and to Taupe, (Iwirahirahi is u

famous burial place of the Ngatipaoa tribe, and is situated a few miles north of the native settlement of Taupo, near the snndspit passage in Auckland harbor). On the other side Mokau. Let all the Europeans between these two boundaries retire, or submit to my authority. You and your Government outside. Another word of mine—Road?, surveys, leases, all rest with me. No man is to do these things without my consent. This is my last word.” Sir George Grey replied—“ I cannot give you Waikato ; the Pakcha has got it. But I can give you what remains in the hands of the Government —that is, all the land on the west side of Waipa and the River Waikato down to the sea; live hundred acres for yourself near your father’s grave at Ngaruawhia; £SOO a year; the remaining allotments in all the towns in Waikato; a house at Kawhia; and further assistance in money for yourself and your people. You and I can talk together about roads. I will obtain the consent of Parliament to this word of mine. All that I want is to see you settled and happy before I die ; my love for you is very great.” [Tears and a pocket handkerchief.] Te Tuhi, not much affected by this touching appeal, replied—“ We have heard your proposal. The council will discuss it. We know now that you have not the power (that is, wo have discovered that your authority is not absolute as of old). Sir George Grey then offered to put his proposals in writing, but was told that he need not do so. A document was, however, handed to Tawhiao, and the great Hikurangi meeting came at once to an end.

In the evening Te Ngakau asked the Premier whether he meant all the land west of the Waipa?” and was answered —“ I will give all that has not been sold, and I will endeavor to buy out some of the pakohas.” Tawhiao was asked whether he wished his council to assemble that night to discuss the Government proposals. He made no reply, and it was then understood by Waikatos that the question was shelved once more. About two days afterwards it began to bo bruited abroad that at a private int«i>view Tawhaiao had accepted Sir George Grey’s terms. I need hardly inform you that no Maori believes this. There was a conversation between the King and Prime Minister at parting. Tawhiao then said, “ I will take my own time; there are weeks, and months, and years.” The King and his people are much surprised and disappointed by the want of originality in the Grey proposals. They say, “Why, this is simply Makarini’s idea enlarged uponbut there is this difference, that Sir Donald stipulated that Tawhiao should concede something; his were not onesided arrangements. It was the general impression amongst us Europeans in Waikato that Tawhiao would not on this occasion demand the restoration of the land, as the Maoris had began to feel that it was impossible. The late Sir Donald McLean, on several occasions, gave them to understand that it could not be done, but it was left for (hat well-abused man, the last native Minister, Dr. Pollen, to tell them that it would not bo done. At a meeting of Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos at Alexandra he said, in reply to Te Ngakau, “No, you will not get an acre unless you accept the proposals of my predecessor, Sir Donald McLean.” This speech was often quoted, and the Kingites began to realise the fact that the land was gone, “ Ake, Ake ! ” There has been so much talk during the last twelve months about “ the rights of the Maori,” about “ repudiation,” and about the “ recovery of the confiscated land,” and so on, that it is not to bo wondered at if hope began to revive in the Maori breast. After the Hikurangi fiasco Ministers contrived a meeting with Rowi. I very much doubt whether the simple New Zealand public will ever know what it cost to bring that meeting about. It was known that the Ngatimaniapoto were very averse to any interview, for the present at least, with Sir George Grey. To overcome this repugnance, a half- caste woman living here in Auckland, who is related to Rewi, was set to work. She made several trips to Waikato, well fortified with means and all sorts of authorities ; orderlies -were at her beck and call; the telegraph wires were at her service; and people saw that she had suddenly become a very important personage. This lady tried first to get Rowi to meet the Ministers at Te Awamutu, or at Kihikihi; but he would not consent. Then she endeavored to persuade him to attend the Hikurangi meeting; again ho was obdurate. At last he yielded so far as to consent to meet “ Kerei and To Hianga” at his hut on the Puniu. On the day appointed there was a fresh in the Puniu, so he crossed the river and met the Ministers in the house of a settler. It was intended that this should be a mysterious and very secret business indeed; even the very accommodating reporters from Auckland were invited not to be present. It is useless to attempt to bell the Maori cat; there were half-a-dozen Ngatimanianotos about, and any one who takes the trouble to inquire can learn all that took place. Sir George first asked Rewi whether “he had heard what took place at Hikurangi” between him and Tawhiao? Rewi answered, “Yes, I have heard what took place publicly, I don’t want to hear about anything else.” Sir George then said, “ What is your opinion about it ? ” Rowi replied, “I have nothing to say about it; if Tawhiao accepts your offer it is well; lam not concerned in it.” Rewi was then asked if he would not like “ to go to Kawau and catch kangaroos and antelopes ? ” The wily old chief answered, “ You had better give them to your son and namesake, Tu Tawhiao.” After some further conversation on subjects of natural history, especially in regard to the habits of the kakapos and of the salmon, Rewi asked, “ When does your Parliament meet ?” The Premier answered, “In August or September next.” Rewi then said, “About July I propose to invito Wi Take, Martini to Whiwhi, and Te Rauparaha to meet mo at Waitara. It is an old idea of mine ; I want to upbraid them for their desertion of the Kingite cause.” Some conversation then ensued about land matters, and Rewi explained “ that lie had never consented that a Land Court should be held at Mokau.” There was no reference whatever to the construction of roads or railways in the King country, nor talk about the sale of land by Ngatimaniapoto to the Government, nor about giving Rewi a scat in the Legislative Council. Nor were any of these topics broached at the Hikurangi meeting. Ministers carefully avoided unpleasant subjects, or anything likely to disturb the harmony of the meeting, The King may have been asked by Sir George Grey what Ids views were on the subject of kangaroos, and whether ho would not like to “ sec the birds” at Kawau, but it has not been reported to me. What the Premier said to his Majesty was in effect, “ Take my cloak, take my coat, and my blankets ; if you let me keep my trousers, bo pleased graciously to leave the mark of your august toe on the nether side of that garment, and I will bless you. Bless you all my children,” Purukutu (the murderer of Sullivan) was a central figure in all the proceedings at Hikurangi. Winiata, too, the murderer of Packer, was in the presence, not “ crouching like a wounded, hunted wild beast in his lair” (sec the “ Star’s” special thrilling account of the Kopua meeting, but swaggering about like any other lusty young Maori. Some of the bulletins telegraphed by the reporters are underprices of sensational fiction. I should like to try my hand in that style. What do you say to t his, which is at once sensational and true;-2 p.m. —Purukutu in very light marching order, his face painted, and his tongue lolling out, is now dancing and yelling, and brandishing a long spear in the Premier’s face!” An hour later—The scene changes—the bugle has just sounded parade for lollies ;” the great Proconsul, assisted by his amiable secretaries, io doleing out “ Scotch mixtures” to one thousand innocent little niggers, and talks of kissing them all—at a future period. The Native Minister, aided by bis secretary, a spirited party by the name of “ Hennessy” is winning the hearts of the women, and on these two points the triumph of the present Government is complete.” I make no charge for the “lines” occupied by these teharams.

According to a telegram from Constantinople to the “ Cologne Gazette” “ late events have so much shattered the Sultan’s health, intellectually and physically, Hat I"' 8 stale causes serious apprehensions.”

SIR G. GILBERT SCOTT. Tho dcatli of this eminent architect is announced. The following notice of his career is from “Men of tho Time” : Scott, Sir George Gilbert, R.A., E.S.A., grandson of the Rev. Thomas Scott, author of the “ Commentary on the Bible,” a leading member of tho school of Gothic revival in architecture, was born in 1811, at Gawcott, near Buckingham, of which village his father was incumbent. At an early ago he began studying and sketching from ancient churches, which induced his father to place him with an architect, though the practice with which bo became acquainted afforded him no opportunity for cultivating his early taste. For some years ho was in partnership with Mr W. B. Moffatt, but this connection terminated in 1845. The first work which brought him into notice was the “ Martyrs’ Memorial” at Oxford, in 1841. It was followed by the new Church at Cambridge, in 1842-3. The rebuilding of the church of St. Nicholas, Hamburg, destroyed in tho great fire of 1842, was intrusted to him, after a competition to which architects wore invited from all parts of Europe. It is one of the most important Gothic works of the day, and has been estimated to cost on its completion, £150,000. It is now complete, excepting the spire. In 1855 another design was furnished by him, also in a European competition, when he carried off the prize, though tho building has never been carried into execution, for the new Hotel do Villo and Senate House at Hamburg ; and the Cathedral Church of St. John’s, Newfoundland, was erected from his design in 1848, though still incomplete. More recent the parish church of Doncaster, destroyed by fire, has been restored under his superintendence. Mr Scott, who has been employed in extensive restorations at the Cathedrals of Ely, Lichfield, Hereford, Ripon, Gloucester, Chester, St. David, St. Asaph, Bangor, and Salisbury, has had engagements of a less extensive character at Exeter, Peterbovough, Worcester, Rochester, and Oxford. At Chichester he was engaged, in conjunction with Mr Slater, in the reconstruction of tho central tower and spire ; at Westminster Abbey, ho succeeded Mr Blore in 1849 as official architect of the Dean and Chapter, and has erected tho new Gothic gatehouse and houses adjoining the west of the Minster, and has more recently restored the beautiful Chapter House. He has written a “ Plea for tho Faithful Restoration of our Ancient Churches,” published in 1850; “Remarks on Secular and Domestic Architecture,” “ Gleanings from Westminster Abbey,” in 18G2; and “ Conservation of Ancient Architectural Monuments ; a Paper,” in 1864. The zeal which ho displayed in the establishment of the Architectural Museum (at first in Cannon Row, afterwards at the Museum at Kensington, and now in Bowling street, Westminster), rendered it one of the most interesting institutions in the metropolis. Mr Scott, who was elected an Associate of tho Royal Academy in 1852, temporarily undertook, in conjunction with Mr Sydney Srairke, the architectural lectures at the Academy, and in 1860 was elected R. A. He is architect of the new Foreign office, and, in conjunction with Sir M. Digby Wyatt, of tho new Indian office. He is now building the new Home and Colonial offices, which complete the group. In addition to the great works carried out by him, ho has been engaged on the restoration of old churches throughout the kingdom, as well as in the erection of a vast number of new ones. Among his secular works may be mentioned Kelham Hall, Nottinghamshire ; Walton House, Warwickshire; Hafodunos House, North Wales ; Lee Priory, Kent; the Town Hall at Preston ; the Infirmary at Leeds , and the new station and hotel of the Midland railway at St. Pancras. Among buildings connected with the Universities, ho has been engaged on the new chapels and other extensive works at Exeter College, Oxford, and St.John’s College, Cambridge ; works at University College, Merton, and New College, Oxford, and in the entire rebuilding of the University buildings at Glasgow. Mr Scott was appointed by the Queen architect to the National Memorial to tire lato Prince Consort in Kensington Gardens, one of the most marked of his recent works. The Q.ucen conferred on him the honour of Knighthood August 9th, 1872.