KINGITE MEETING AND WHATIWHATITIHOE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2515, 1 May 1882, Page 3

KINGITE MEETING AND WHATIWHATITIHOE.

[jPBBSB ASSOCIATION TBIEOHAM.] ALEXANDRA, April 30. ■ xhe difficulties of a special correspondent on reaching that ultima thule of European civilisation, the King Country, arc now of the most prosaic kind. The railroad carries him southward 100 miles to Te Awamuturight through the theatre of the eventful war of 1862 4 (now dotted with prosperous settle-; ments) at a rate of speed averaging about twelve miles an hour. It is somewhat trying to the patience, and is disgustly safe. The most adventurous part of the journey is the mile remaining between Te Awamutu etation and Alexandra, Landing in a pelting rain; and knowing there are forty Maoris and Buiopetai to be be stowed into a limited conveyance, a grand rush ensues, in whioh the Anglo-Saxon is triumphant, carrying the covered ’busses by storm, and leaving his dark-skinned brother and sister to commune with nature in an open expresses. Such want of gallantry, however, is doomed to meet with oevaro retribution, for nothing daunted the dusky belles, averaging 12 etono each, invade the cars and plant themselves on the Pukehas’ knees. The " distrust ” whioh has boon expatiated on in Blue Books, and has exercised the arts of New Zealand’s best diplomatists, is singularly absent from the countenances of these naive rebels. Groaning under its load, aggravated by sudden plunges of the vehicle into deep ruts in the unmetalled road, the seat gives way, and confusion is confounded. It is hailed as a happy respite when the horses make a dead stand at the second hill, and the Jehu orders his fares out in the rain and mud to push the coach up from bel-ind, a process whioh is repeated at each succeeding hill. These opportunities for viewing the outer world through a lees opaque medium than five substantial Maoris on the box seat, reveal a country of unsurpsssed fertility, and one unfortunate gentleman from South, while wrestling with the off wheel, is heard to exclaim that in Canterbury he has aeon hard metalled roads, that had scarcely been travelled on by a dozen persons, passing through poor sheep country.

After two hours of hard whipping and pushing from behind, the distance by sis or seven miles ia completed, and wo are landed in Alexandra, the border town of Maoridom. This town comprises forty-two homes, welllaid out in streets. Impossible rapids in the Waipa river stop the passage of the steamer, and upon the faith of its being the head of the Waipa navigation, the inhabitants rest their faith in its future as the great metropolis. Immediately across the river and overshadowing the town, rises the picturesque mountain of Pirongia, 2Sooft high. Perhaps the influence of mountain scener y accounts for the singularity of Tawhiao’s first manifesto tion of a disposition to relax his exclusiveness in his request for a bridge. The Waipa was bridged at Alexandra seventeen years ago for the convenience and safety of military settlers located in the Pirongia district, but that bridge is about a mile below Whatiwhatihoe, and if the Pakoha wanted to come to him they should come straight; hence the ,new bridge, the construction of which is being vigorously pushed on by McLean and Sons, the contractors. It will cross the Waipa at Whatiwhatihoe. and literally joins an European and Maori township, bringing Finche’s Hotel in a line with the Native township, a facility which, judging by last night’s proceedings, will be largely taken advantage of. It is satisfactory to know, however,that whatever the influence Tawhaio’s altered attitude towards the Pakehas may bo attributable to, it is a favorable one. He has expressed a wish tbat the railway should be brought to Alexandra, and it is believed that the completion of the bridge will be followed by permission. to survey the line, I have reason to believe that the Government are prepared to take advantage of the earliest permission to that effect, and the survey of the route for the line will be commenced by Mr Wright, now acting as Government inspector of bridges, immediately Tawhaio intimates his willingness. Alexandra was crowded with Natives last night, chiefly visitors from other districts. The Natives in Alexandra crowded into the vacant stores, filled the hotels, and slept in some instances on the verandahs. There was a good deal of drinking in the township. Tho Hon. Mr Bryce has telegraphed to the Constabulary here to enforce tho prohibition of the liquor law during the meeting. A question has been raised as to the interpretation of this order, some contending that it applies only to meeting places, but the authorities here, observing that their jurisdiction at Whatiwhatihoe is nil, presume, very naturally, that it is intended to apply to the Alexandra hotels, and will probably act accordingly. The following is the notice :—“ By instructions received from the hon, the Defence Minister, the law will be strictly enforced against all persons supplying drink to Natives at Tawhaio’e meeting, either by gift or sale. By order.— Edwabd Sttjbm, Sergeant, A. 0.” The instructions came to Colonel Lyon at Cambridge, and from him here. The settlement of Whatiwhatihoe is built, or rather is being built, on small plateaus situated between the Waipa and Nangiwaki. The land is good, There are no cultivations yet, all food being brought down the river from the other settlements. The whares are generally very poor, some being removed from Kopua and other settlements inland. A large number of Natives are living in tents. The buildings are scattered about without any order. Wahinui Manuhera and other notable chiefs have only, tents. Tho only good building in the village is Runanga house, which is 85ft. long and 25ft. wide, which it is understood has been erected for Europeans. The ground inside was so damp that they all slept under the verandah outside. Europeans must not come up with the idea that there is any sleeping accommodation available. The only practicable sleeping places for them there are at hotels only, at Alexandra, a distance of not more than a mile. The inconvenience would not bo very great in fine weather if Tawhaio provides a sufficient number of canoes to cress the Waipa at the settlement. Going across the old bridge necessitates the riding through two small creeks. To day, however, the wholo place was a sea of mud. The Rev. Samuel Williams went over and held Church of England services, preaching a very animated sermon from Ist Cor., 15th chapter, 20th verse—“ Now is Christ risen from tho dead,” He dwelt eloquently upon the certainty of the future life revealed in Christ, and appeared to impress his hearers. Service was held at the big runanga house, and only the Eaipara Natives were present at it. The Bev. W. Barton and Rev. Mr Ata, two Maori clergymen belonging to the Wesleyan body, were present. Dr Mannaril is in Alexandra, but did not visit tho settlement to-day. Mr Champtaloup, stationer, has come to represent the Maori newspaper, “ Koromaki,” and was at the service, and exhibited a handsome volume combining a Maori Prayer Book and New Testament and Hymns with “Tawhaio” stamped on it in gilt. One of the chiefs remarked that Tawhaio was a Hau-hau. There were no Hau-hau services, however, to-day, and most of the resident Natives were working between the showers at the construction of houses, or bringing down food or building materials. Many of the expected visitors have not yet arrived. The Taupo Natives are at Kapua. The Wanganuis and other south-weet Natives are at Eewi’s place at Panin, and the Taurangi and Rotorua Natives are at Orakau. The Kiwai Natives, with a supply of fish, have also not arrived. The parties are expected to-morrow, though it. might be later, and there will be no talking till they come. Tho king’s present council consists of Manuhiri, Waihinui, Eawi, and Ahiperi Natau. Of these Wahinui was absent to day entertaining visitors at Kapun, six miles distant, and Rewi was at his own settlement at Punui, and Teugakau appears to be under a cloud, not having received the king’s confidence, and the relations between Waihanui and Rewi are reported to be the reverse of cordial. The stores of food in tho settlement do not seem extensive. Wm. Thompson’s son brought yesterday nine head of cattle and thirty-four pigs, and other contributions will doubtless come forward in due time. There are plenty of potatoes. What course the meeting will take cannot be predicted with any certainty. Any Euro pean visitor who comes, however, will be struck with the fact that to all intents and purpoass tho king difficulty has settled itself from anything approaching to a menace to settlement, and has resolved itself into a mere question of getting access to that section of the country for the purpose of settlement. In Alexandra lost night, with at least 100 Natives within tho township, and 500 or 600 in Whatiwhatihoe adjacent, tho only

protection wag supplied by five police* wen. Europeans and Natives fraternised constantly, with perfect freedom, and without restraint. Tawhaio is in Alexandra nearly every day. Although there are here comparatively few people, and the weather may make many, of those who proposed attending the meeting unwilling to come, yet the meeting promises to be of more importance than Maori meetings generally are. The business which will be transacted here will be apart from what transpires at the meeting. To a large extent this is apparent from the faot that the King’s councillors are giving way, and as to . the barriers whioh they placed around Tawhiao, to isolate him from the Europeans, they are conniving at their being removed. Hence more than ever it is not what Tawhaio may wish or desire, or even Kewi may hope for. The bulk of the Natives here regard with attention what Waihinui may induce Tawhaio to say or compel him to do. Waihinui now feels that the “aukati ” has been broken down, and all the king’s horses and all the king's men cannot put it up again. Ho has recognised this more fully than he ever did sinoo he came back from Auckland by the host of letters and telegrams the King people received, all eager in their quest for land. As he remarked “The ‘aukati’ is gone, and I do not know what will be done with the pakeha. They are ail divided against the other. One says one thing and another something else. Conflicting advice comes from every different man. No one can eee the end. We shall have to got our lands made over to ourselves in selfdefence,” and when Waihinui says this a great deal is meant more than could b» meant by the utterance of any other Native in the Waikato. Ngetimaniapoto is the largest land owner. Bewi holds his through his wife only to a limited extent. His chief claims are about Taupo, and Bswi affords another striking illustration of the peculiarity of the Maori tribal tenure that a man may bo a great chief, be possessed of great power, reputation, authority, and yet comparatively a small land owner. Tiewing the action of Wahinuii in this light, and hearing the occasional utterances of Manga, the Natives regard the position of the Waikato lands in a light entirely different to what the Europeans do, and are now waiting with soma impatience to hear what the land policy of the Waikato is in future to be. The leasing of Botarua at high rentals has caused further room for deliberation, while the speech of Mr Bryoe at Kikihi, which was translated and sent in circulars, given to tbe various tribes advising them to sell no more lands but to lease them, has added complexity to the Maori mind. He cannot lease to advantage unless he can do so in the open market, and this he cannot do unless the lands are first surveyed and their title determined. This is a work of years, and the King Natives are short of money it is stated, although they were supposed to have corn stored at Takuiki. Hence the policy of free trade in land will cause the Waikato, now it seems on the point of being broken up, most probably to fall into a few bands. 1 hear this opinion expressed by Europeans here who are well qualified to form an opinion. Hence the anxiety with whioh the King people regard this meeting. So much by way of forecast. Mokau Jones, it appears, is at the bottom of the Mokau Land Court. Waihinui went down to Mokau to advise Watere what to do, and his advice was to do nothing until Tawhaio had spoken. What has been stated about Tawhaio’s proving his claim to Mokau and such matters actually means nothing, because Watere went to Mokau under peculiar conditions too long to narrate at present. Watere is hardly expected to show up at the meeting. Alexander McDonald, of Manawatu, is here, urging the claims of a section of the Ngatiraukawa persistently, as he did in his successful contest with Featherstone atd others in the Bangatiki and Manawatu block. Xengakau, tbe late King’s secretary, there, and will be largely influenced by Major Wilson, of Cambridge. What makes it probable that Kawhia will be opened soon is this—Those| living at a distance having claims there have been warned by Tawhaio to come and make their fires on their lands, to be in possession when the day of allocation comes. Several, to my knowledge, have acted in this direction from a distance, because the seeds of the Tainui immigration have been widely scattered. Tawhaio now regrets that he did not take the terms offered him by Sir George Grey. The £SOO a year would have been a material aid to have hold to preserve some respect for his mans, and to have maintained the bewi of fealty which he finds is being weekly relaxed. Such are some of the forecasts of the meeting and the outer environments of the Maori situation in the Waikato.