THE KOPUA MEETING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1626, 7 May 1879, Page 3

THE KOPUA MEETING.

[By Telegraph.] Alexandra, May 6.

Tawhiao appears to he completely in the hands of a party of mischievous young men forming the extreme Hau hau party. They are mostly soldiers under Pant Kutu, the murderer of Sullivan. Tawhiao is completely infested by these men, and closely watched. He appears afraid to assort his authority. Owing to their insolence and dangerous views he is unwilling to take action. Messrs Reeves, Buddie, and Schnackenherg visited Tawhiao at his invitation. They had exchanged only a few words, when an impudent young man bounced in and ordered the two clergymen to leave, Mr Buddie turned to Tawhiao and said—“ I will go if you wish me to leave, hut I was here before that young man was born.” Some denunciation ensued, the young man insisting on their withdrawal. Tawhiao said—“ I wish yon to remain.” He censured the action of the young man, but was apparently powerless to prevent his visitors being insulted. The missionaries remained another quarter of an hour, but as they were proceeding to their own camp they were again ordered to leave. Tawhiao lives in a small, miserable hole, and with squalid surroundings. The Ngatimaniapoto are much surprised at a return laid before them by the Government during the present visit. The return shows that out of the confiscated lands in Waikato and elsewhere more than half are being returned, in blocks ranging from small town sections to fifty acres. In other cases from seventy to a thousand acres are restored. Altogether over a thousand blocks of various areas are returned to the Kingites. Some of these blocks were inalienable, but others have been sold to Europeans, thus showing the incons'stent conduct of the Kingites. Even Mannhiri, one of the most obstinate irreconcilables, while strongly condemning leases and sales, received only last month £250 through Major Mair for land leased to Mr Morrin of Auckland, and there is another £250 due to him. Ngatiamaniapoto were quite ignorant of the extent of confiscated lands restored and sold by the Waikato Kingites, and they are all annoyed that, notwithstanding these concessions of Govsmment, Waikato still clamour for a share of the Maniapoto lands. This will tend further to create a split between the two great tribes, and enlist Eewi’s influence in order to restrain Tawhiao’s extreme action. It rained yesterday, and after a comparatively fine night there is now a steady downpour, which threatens to last all day. The Kingites have prepared a place spread with titree for the korero, but unless the weather clears up the meeting fixed for to-morrow may be further further postponed. The camps are in a wretched condition. Nothing has been done here yet, but the Hauhans sent round a notification this morning that the korero will definitely begin tq-morrow. The Natives spend their time in singing, cardplaying, and unlimited stuffing. Last night tho Ministerial party held a grand concert, Mr Sheehan singing a Maori song. Mr Christie played on a guitar, and the Natives gathered about in groups and listened. Tawhiao has sent three invitations to Ngapuhi to commence the talk. Last night r le Ngakau represented to Tawhiao that the fopd would not last many days, therefore something must be done. Tawhiao sent another invitation to Ngapuhi, asking them to begin the talk. Ihe Ngapuhis declined, representing in reply that they came here in Sir G. Grey’s canoe, and could not move without their captain._ They wanted Tawhiao to come out and speak ais mind before all, so that they might fix Mm deliWell informed persona here think that if tho Government attempted to bring down the Ngapuhis to Waikato, all the Southern tribes would form a confederation under the Maori

King. Winiata came over the other day to present food to the Ngapuhia. He had a revolver strung over his shoulders. Paul’s party ware very much annoyed at Winiata’s impudence. Honana, one of the leading chiefs, and the man who mounted the flagstaff and proclaimed the establishment of the Maori monarchy from the crosstrecs, was turned away .from Tswhiao’s camp by Puru Kutu’s soldiers. Honana was very indignant. Whitiora was also turned back when going to Tawhiao. Whitiora commanded the Maori army at Bangiriri, and is almost of equal rank with the King. Both he and Honana a. e very much cut up at the action of Puru Kutu’s party, and threaten to detach themselves from Tawhiao, and acknowledge Eewi as their head. Tawhiao alienates the support of important men by his distrustful and morose attitude. He is complete y the puppet of Puru Kutu and the rest of the scoundrels, who fear that perfect reconciliation between the two races would bring their necks near the halter. Puru Ku'u’s son is the King’s special guard. Many Kinaites actually express strong sympathy with Te Whitiora. It has transpired that the land at Paripite, which the Government have handed over to the control of the Waste Lands Board, is a reserve for the purposes of higher Maori education. The Waikato Kingites, however, charge Sir G. Grey with breaking faith by not handing the lands over to them, as they understood he would from the result of Hikurangi. Tawhiao also considers himself slighted because his concurrence

was not asked in the construction of the Raglan toad. At present there appears little prospect of any satisfactory and permanent undemanding with the Kiiigit-'s, many of whom speak bitterly against the Government. Later.

A Royal proclamation was issued this afternoon that no meeting was to take place to-day, but that if to-morrow is fine there will bo speechifying. To Ngakau interrogated Mr Sheehan this morning and had a long friendly conversation, There is every probability that matters will go on much more smoothly when business _ really commences than could have been anticipated. Whether the terms propounded at Hiknrangi, involving the relinquishment of separate independent Government by the Kingites will bo accepted it is impossible to say.