THE NATIVE MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2673, 31 October 1882, Page 3

THE NATIVE MEETING.

[press association telegram .] ALEXANDRA, October 30.

The meeting resumed this afternoon at Whatiwhatihoe. The attendance of Natives was in all respects similar to that of the previous day. Rewi was present on this occasion, likewise a fair sprinkling of Europeans. The weather was fine and the gathering strikingly picturesque. After a brief parley, in which the usual oracular demonstrations were indulged in, and in which Mr Bryce sustained liis part to tolerably good advantage, the latter proceeded to say that it would be impossible to go back upon the offers made by Sir Donald McLean and Sir George Grey, to which allusion had been made. He would proceed to tell them what the Government was prepared to do. Ho would speak to them in a general way, as when they came to consider details these would have to be adjusted with the chiefs and not in a public meeting. He stood there as a Minister of the Qaeen, and as such he had to tell them the land was not large enough for the exercise of separate independent authorities in their tribes and still remain great chiefs ; but the sovereignty of the Queen would have to prevail from end to end of the colony. By that ho included the Queen’s laws as a rule. Those laws were good, but here and there they might happen to be bad. In the latter case what had to bo done was to get them amended, and in no case could they be resisted. Referring to their land, he would say to them what had been said to the Maoris in other parts of New Zealand. One tribe after another was dispossessing itself of the land. In some cases that might be right enough, but in others it was very wrong. The latter was the evil he wished them to avoid, and to achieve that object certain lands should bo set aside as a permanent inheritance for their children. As regarded the remainder of the land, it should be dealt with for the benefit of present owners. It should bo brought into useful occupation, which would be beneficial to all concerned, both Maori and European. If leased for occupation the rents would remain for their use as long as necessary ; if sold, as no doubt portions of it would be, a considerable proportion of the proceeds might be invested as an income for the Native owners. All that might be done in a right or in a wrong way, and he invited them to co-operate with him in getting it done properly. The Government had no particular desire to enter upon land purchases, and they would merely enter upon such purchases as could be shown to be to the benefit of both Maori and European. Those matters, however, could be more effectively dealt with in private negotiation with the chiefs themselves. It was vain for them to talk about all the land transactions, sales, leascs,&c.,being stopped. If Sir Donald McLean or Sir George Grey were present they would no doubt have told them the same thing. As regards Tawhaio the Government was prepared to deal with him as a great chief. The Government did not forgot he had been elected by many tribes to bo their leader. What ho had said to him now was, let us all be reasonable and settle this matter. Ho would ask the Ngatimaniapoto, to remember the Waikato had been asked by them to join in the disputes, which had brought great difficulty upon the Waikatos, and therefore these people had claims upon them. He would leave them to reflect upon what he had said. After a while he would return and renew the discussion with them. In conclusion ho professed his strong attachment for them, and assured them ho was a man of his word, and as such ho meant what he said.