MEETING OF HIS EXCELLENCY WITH THE NATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 251, 12 April 1865, Page 2

MEETING OF HIS EXCELLENCY WITH THE NATIVES.

On Monday, during His Excellency’s visit to Napier, he held a sort of levee with the native chiefs of the district in the Council Chamber. Wo extract the following note of proceeedings from our contemporary’s columns : lIU Excellency having invited the chiefo present to steak, Karaitiana said that they had nothing to say, hut expected that His Excellency would have something to tell them. At present the position of the district was not so satisfactory' as it had been (referring to the, exertions of the hau-hau propagandists.) His Excellency bad come expecting that the chiefs of Heretaunga would have something to say. He expected to hear some expression of their feeling fn regard to the Upotiki murder, and the proceedings generally of the hauUau patties. He wished to know, as well as ti have it published abroad, what w«re the feelings and intentions in this matter of the people of Herelaunga. He bad received a letter from them on the subject of the hau-hau! that letter he had sent homo to England to show that the Maoris did not all approve of the late murderous proceeding. He now wished to know whether the chiefs of this district still abided by the contents of that letter. Paraone referred to the meeting at Pa Uhakairo, where, ho said, the feelings and intentions of Ngatikahuugunu had been fully expressed. They slill abided by what had been said on that occasion and iu the letter, and wished to see a good feeling between the races. They joined the king movement beimuse they thought it good, but they had since discovered Unit it brought uothing but evil. His Excellency said that if they were agreed as to what was expressed in the letter, that was all he wanted. Henare Matua hoped Ihe Governor would not imagine that they would content themselves with having written that letter—that they would ceaso their exertions to pat the evil down, They would do something wore; if parties carrying European heads entered the district, they themselves would apprehend them. KaraiUaaa said that’when he said he had nothing to say, he meant that lie could say nothing iu excuse of the murder and the conduct of the hau-hau parties, it was exceedingly had. It was the revival of a custom which had been long since abandoned for a more enlightened state of things. Tuo natives of this generation were not familiar with sued scones. They had never seen them, and were the more shocked at them. Tim Governor was not to supposethat they would depart from the terms of their letter j they would not allow inemseives to be led astray by thfthau-baus. Ills Excellency hoped they would recollect tbeir pro--miscs and fulfil them. Hori Kerci, a young chief from Wanganui, Accompanied His Excellency, and gave tbo few unlives who were in town a full account of the defeat of the bar,h,.u-natives at Wangunui. to which they listened with grc.it attention. Ilori Keroi distinguished himself upon tue occasion roferren to.