THE KINGITE MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2527, 15 May 1882, Page 3

THE KINGITE MEETING.

[PSRSS ASSOCIATION TBLKQBAM.] ALEXANDRA, May 13. The meeting commenced to day. All the Maoris assembled in a circle on an open space in front of the bighouse, under Tawhaio’s •Id lie g» Tawhaio was the first speaker. He raid—This is the word 1 now speak. Isay about the surreys let them be repressed for the time being. Regarding the read—the road is one look steadily (I’ll wait, there is no hurry). That is the end of my speech about these two things here, for I say leave off selling Waitawhate. Let us all touch and think over the full end of these. Let mo say this to you ; there is no necessity for hurrying anything. Therefore I say about the gold, let it lie quietly that we may both look at it and both handle it. I therefore say about the leasing and selling of land, let it cease. I say it still. It is sufficient. You stand there in that place till I got these quietly. Although you be angry, nevertheless, I speak out about the Court. I say, let it end; let it stand in abeyance until I get there. It will be right. Now about another man. My word is, go back both of you to Parliament. I will not only sit down and listen, but will reply. 1 told Te Wheoro to stop going to Parliament. There is another word of mine, and there is no notice takew of it. I say about Parliament, let it coma to Auckland and stand there. I am the bulk. When I hear the word I will answer it. I say the Parliament must come to Auckland that the work be finished. There is another word of mine about Tawhaio. I have to see through it and look over it. One says, “ I will have such a place, and such a place ; I want to look over it. I have it to myself.” About Mokau, it is mine. That work that I own, Mokau, but there is a man who I told to stop there and look after it. This man is Te Wetere. My word rests with him. He is to guard and to protect it. This is the end of that man ; thence to Wanganui and to Tongariro, all these are mine. I told a man to etop here and take charge of those places of mine. Let me have these, and drive the smut and chaff away. That is all; these words are sufficient.

To Wheoro said—lf you have all these words written down, come over here and read it over to ns.

Waihunui, in response, gave a resume of the King’s speech, as follows: —This is my word to the pakeha and Maoris; second, to the surveyors; and, thirdly, to individuals. X say to those two “stop.” Another thing, is the word the same to both pakehas and Maoris—“stop,” that these things may be discussed. The reason 1 said “ stop ”is let me see through it. Fourth, to the Land Court I say “stop.” One makes the house, and the other is going to lease to go into that house. Let both stop till I get there, and wo will both enter it. Fifth, about gold digging, I say to these two parties one asks and the other makes known the lease. Let me came there also, that we may both eat about Kawhaia. I speak to the one man only—the European who says he has land at Kawhaia. Leave the matter to them, and I will take it into consideration. Don’t come into that place. Wait until the warmth comes round, and it will come. For you to come in without authority it will be wrong. Now about Mokau. I have a man Te Wotere. He is in charge of Mokau and Tuoporoto. He will arrange matters there, guarding the interests of Tawhaio. Parsons have been stationed at those various places, Wangari and Tongariro, I have a man there. If you come over these boundaries it will be wrong. I say it must come in Auckland, because I want it handy, so that we may enter in and speak our sentiments there, the King party. The man that has to carry all these is Te Wheoro. He is to hear the things there, and if they do not like it, then I will tell Te Wheoro to stop. If they wou’t listen to Te Wheoro I will tell him to come back.

Several speakers followed, but the only matters of interest in their utterances was the declaration by Tangakau that he had been selling out, and would cease to do so henceforth. Major Te Wheoro promised to lay these matters before Parliament. The meeting adjourned until to-morrow.

Tawhaio'fl speech at today's meeting may impress the casual reader at first sight with the idea that it is a mere reiterati .u of his old cry, “No surveys, no sales or leases, no road, no Land Court.” But there is a very material difference in the way these injunctions are impressed upon the people. Heretofore it was a policy of isolation, and noncommunication with the pakeha has been laid down as the basis of a permanent policy, but to-day Tawhaio plainly indicated that the time was approaching when he would gather his people into these things. His speech was wholly a plea for time, and in solicitation to his people not to do any of the prohibited things until some satisfactory arrangement is made, by virtue of which he and all his people may go together. The difficulty in the way was indicated in my telegram yesterday, giving Waihunui’s objootion to leasing under the present law, because of the liberty of complete alienation by the Natives whose names are entered upon the certificate of title. What is dueired by all the loaders is some law that would make the territory inalienable, or would prohibit sale without the mutual consent after duo consultation of all the owners. They have no confidence in each other, past transactions having shown that the Natives whose names are placed on a certificate of title are got at individually by speculators, and are induced to part with their interests without the knowledge of 00-owners. If such a law could be obtained, accompanied by concessions for the benefit of landless Natives, Tawhaio and the leading chiefs would readily open the country to roads and railways. The allusion to Te Wheoro signifies that he will bo entrusted with the duty of negotiating this programme with the Government and Parliament. From the readiness with which Waihunui repeated Tawhiao’s speech, it was evident it had been carefully prepared to strike the eye of the entire policy of the leaders of the King movement. Whether they possess sufficient hold on the people to carry it out remains to be seen ; but some of those who speak favorably of Te Wheoro’s proposals are now religiously negotiating with speculators, and even Bawl has ordered surveys of land west of the Waikato over towards Taupo for the purpose of having the title decided in the Court. The opportunity seems favorable for the Government to intervene to prevent this extent of country from falling piecemeal into the hands of speculators. The other speeches were of little importance except Te Ngatikau’s, who is representing the Ngatihau tribe, which bas been prominent in land selling. He declared his determination to cease from leasing or selling. One of the Ngatiraukawa chiefs, from Wellington, spoke of upholding Tawhaio and approving his policy, but excepting a complimentary and figurative sense no importance is attached to this utterance. The Ngatiraukawa’s have been the most prominent in land selling and leasing, and these here don’t hesitate to say that the contrast of their own condition with that of the King Natives leaves no temptation to exchange their policy for Tawhaio’e. Altogether, Tawhuio’s speechia as favorable as it could possibly have been hoped for in the present state of affairs. At the conclusion of the meeting Tawhaio entertained the European visitors in his own whare with an abundant supply of bread, pork, and tea. A liberal distribution of broad and other food was also made for the tribes located on the ground. May 14. The meeting was to have been continued to-day, but through the representations of the Revs. 8. Williams and Christian Magee, visitors, the talking was postponed out ot respect for Sunday. The Rev. S. Williams preached in the large runanga house. A number of Raglan and other Natives left for home. Kwerihiko, the successful gold prospector of Te Aroha, entertained Tawhaio, Waihe.nui and Rewi at a champagne dinner at Connell’s Hotel, Alexandra. The subject of gold prospecting was not mentioned at dinner, hut Rewi was asked privately, and replied, “ I will notallow it until all differences are arranged between kiugites and Europeans.” Kewi said he had seen gold specimens from Bungitoto mountain. Waihanui, in convorfa'ion, confirms the interpretation of Tawhaio’* speech given in my telegram last night Tawhaio, in referring to stoppage of surveys, roads, Laud Courts, &5 , always used the expression, “ Hamu, hamu tahi,” which means “ Tell me all; go together to parliament.” Major To Wheoro, M.H.R for Waikato, intended leaving here to-morrow to catch the Penguin on Tuesday, but has delayed his departure at Tawhaio’s request, and will probably be fully instructed in the wishes of the kmgile leader. This is the first open recognition of the authority of the colonial Parliament. This act itself is significant. The wasted food scattered about the settlement rotting in the sun and moisture caus“t“p-u intolerable stench, and it the Natives remain much longer it will unquestionably cause a fatal disease.