THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TAWHAIO.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2672, 30 October 1882, Page 3

THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TAWHAIO.

[i'BBBS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAK.] AUCKLAND, October 2S. At Alexandra, Mr Bryce ordered flour and sugar, tea, and biscuits, and beef aa apresent for the King. There are not mom. than 500 Natives here, and they are divided into two camps, the Waikatoe being by themselves, and the Maniapotos by themselves. The Natives assembled ak ten o’clock, but Mr Bryce did not come till eleven. About a quarter to that hour Tawhaio stood up and said Mr Bryce was. coming there that day to see the people, but no talking aa to business would taka place. After they had seen and known one another they would fix a day when talkingshould • commence. This was merely a friendly meeting of a preliminary character. Mr Bryce cn arrival went and shook: hands with Tawhaio, and sat down before him. Silence being observed for some time, Tawhaio then went back and welcomed them, saying “It is good to come and see us all. This was the day for seeing one another. We will pick out a good day to settle business. We want a warm, day so that our blankets may be thrown off. He had a word to say about the Land Court, but it would be spoken at another time.” Te Wheoro eat by his side, prompting him. Mr Bryce rose and said,?* I greet you as you have greeted me, for all otur people. I reciprocate your good wishes. Let this be a day of greeting, a day of good will. Let us not in future look back on. this with regret.” He then said that he was ready to speak of other matter* beside the greeting. There were twoways of speaking, one open, the other keeping something back. If this were a day of greeting, then, he should let it be, so that when the time came to speak of tribal business he would speak plain, as he always did, and he hoped Tawhaio would also speak plainly. If he did so all the clouds would disappear, lie stood there as the friend of Tawhaio if he would accept him as such. With hi* help he would do much; without it he could do little. He was prepared to be his friend. Tawhiao said, in reply—Listen I’ll speak plainly, and you must do the same. You have been dead, and now yon are alive.” He then came out, and satdown beside Mr Bryce, and the people then began to disperse. Mr Bryce went over and shook [hands with Whanui, and the public business of the day was thicr over in half an hour. Later in the day Mr Bryce presented Tawhaio with a gold railway pass for the whole of the New [ Zealand railways for life, or, as he said, }“ So long as you live.” Tawhaio simply j replied he would take it. The pass haa I two fern leaves on one side and “ Free railway pass,” and on the other the word “ Tawhaio.” The presentation took place; at one o’clock, and Mr Bryce returned te the settlement before two. Mr Bryce an a; Tawhaio seemed to get along very welt together.

ALEXANDRA. October 28. Mr Bryce has left here to meet the Premier at Hamilton to-morrow. Consequent upon the adjournment of the Land Court at Cambridge considerable additions are expected to the number of the Natives--Mr Bryce gives the Natives three tons of flour, half a ton of sugar, half a ton of biscuits, 201ba of tea, and a quantity of beef.