THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TAWHIAO.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2676, 3 November 1882, Page 4

THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TAWHIAO.

£peess association telegram.] ALEXANDRA, November 2,

The Native meeting came off to-day. The same number of Natives attended. Mr Bryce had given Tawhiao a memorandum of the Government proposals yesterday to think over before the meeting took place, so that he should have full time for consideration. At two o’clock precisely Mr Bryce came on the ground, and Tawhiao commenced speaking in a metaphorical manner, hampered evidently by a knowledge of the Government proposals. Ho said that he had striven to get nearer the Queen’s people by coming to live at W hatiwhatihoe and going to Auckland. So figurative goes the speech and intended to avoid any definite meaning that Major Te Whcoro, M.H.R., had to be consulted as to what it implied rather than said.

Mr Bryce, in reply, said when Tawhiao -was in Auckland he had consulted with bis colleagues whether it would not be more expedient for him to go to Auckland and to state to Tawhiao fully what were the intentions of the Government, but it was decided that as the visit was a friendly one, it should be held as such, and the business not introduced into it ; but he was ready now, as he had been for some time past, to tell Tawhiao and his tribe what the Government proposals were. Some inexplicit conversation about the sovereignty then took place. The abandonment of kingism is being the sole point apparently. After this conversation had passed. Hr Bryce said he -would tell the Waikato tribe and people assembled what the Government projiGsals were. All he offered must be taken or rejected as awhole. Ho opening must arrive for any future trouble,-as would be the case in dual authority. The proposals must be accepted or rejected before he left Alexandra. They could not stand over for an indefinite time. If they were not accepted, he carried the many with him. Sovereignty and all other matters were included in these proposals. The bulk of the unsold confiscated land on the western side of Waipa. should be returned to Tawhiao and his tribe. The section of land Tawhiao asked for at Haipara should be given to him. He would make an appeal to the Mauiopoto chieftains. The Government would build Tawhiao a house where he pleased, and furnish it for him. Would give him a pension of .£IOO a year for life if the proposals were accepted. As to confirming his status and authority by Government Tawhiao should be appointed an assessor under the Resident Magistrate’s Act, an office before given only to Europeans. Ho should he made an Assessor of the Native Bands Court, a Justice of the Peace for the colony, and the Government would advise the Governor to call him to the Legislative Council. PiTawhiao then asked for delay, so that the chiefs could consider the proposals. and after conversation Saturday w:is fixed for the reply to be given. Mr Bryce does not know for certain the exact amount of unsold land across Waipa, but considers it about 20,000 acres, and that at least 300 Waikatos have to be provided for. Tawhiao, after the meeting broke up, came into Alexandra in Mr Bryce’s trap.