WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 678, 3 May 1869, Page 3

WAIKATO.

THE FORTHCOMING NATIVE MEETING AT TOKONGAMUTU. (From the Correspondent of the Southern Cross.) April 20. The native meeting with the King party and the Kupapas has not yet taken place. The Rev. Heta Tarawiti and party arrived here upwards of a week ago, and are now waiting the arrival of Wiremu te Wheoro, Wiremu Patene, and others, who are on their way up the river, when all will proceed together to Hangatiki. At present not more than 70 natives have come up. I saw a messenger yesterday, who said he was the bearer of a letter to Mr' Searancke, the Resident Magistrate, inviting him to be present at the meeting. If this is so I expect the invitation will be accepted. I have heard a great deal of talk amongst the natives about the attempted survey, by Hone te One and others, of a block of land at Aotea. They all say any attempt at survey in that direction will be resisted. I thought when I read your correspondent's letter from Raglan on the subject, in last week's paper, that it was a strange thing that twenty armed men in charge of three chiefs should walk quietly away and give up their work at the order of :< two petty chiefs." In this he was misinformed, one of them being a first cousin of Tawhiao's, viz., Kati, who is a son of old Potatau's sister, and reckoned a swell of the first water in Maori ideas. Nothing of any moment has taken place here for some time past. We have had a meeting to consider the advisability of having a Road Board in this district, at which it was unanimously agreed to call upon the Superintendent to bring the Act into operation as soon as may be. I for one think that it will be a difficult thing here unless an acreage rate be imposed instead of the value to sell. Mr .Firth sent up ninety bags of flour here as a present to Tawhiao and and Tamati, but they would not accept them. I do not think their refusal is out of any ill-feeling to that gentleman, but rather that they did not thoroughly understand by whom and for what reason the gift was made. 8 o'clock p.m. Mr Searancke has been sent an invitation, and is on his road to attend the meeting to-morrow or next day. Te Wheoro's party are at Tuikaramea on their way up here. Heta and party proceeded to Hangatiki to-day, being, I expect, tired of waiting longer.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (From the Special Correspondent of the New Zealand Herald.) Hamilton, April 28, 9"30 a.m. The great meeting of natives came off on the 25th instant. Over 2,000 natives were present, of whom a considerable number were visitors from the friendly tribes, who were most amicably received.

Great preparations were made for their reception by the King and party. Flour, pork, sugar, fish, meat, &c, prepared in large quantities. Speeches were made by the King, Tamati Ngapora, and other leading chiefs, reviewing the "causes of trouble," and the condnct of the late war in Waikato. Allusions were made also to the more recent murders, which were indignantly repudiated and condemned. After many long speeches the voice of the people was loudly given in favor of peace, and it was declared that no attempt to invade any portion of the Waikato country would be permitted by the King and party.

The following telegrams have been received by Dr Pollen, Kesident Minister in Auckland: — " Hamilton, 28th April. I returned to Hangatiki on Monday evening. \Vaikato and Ngatimaniapoto mustered in number about 1,70 ) men. I saw both Tamati and Rewi. Speeches all of a pacific character. Friendly natives much pleased with their reception and treatment. I was most kindly received by tbem all, and did not bear of an improper word or remark applied to myself or Europeans generally. No other Europeans except Hetit and myself allowed to go up. —W. N. Seabancke, R.M." " Hamilton, 28th Aprii, Mr Williams returns to Mr Firth's run to'day. Rice wrote to him from Ohineroa at the request of the meeting, including Kereopa, lhat it was agreed by.all that Thompson's leases are not to bo interfered with, and Mr Williams was requested to go back at once and occupy the run. A letter was received from the king, but Rico only writes that it contained good words. —W. Mottle, Lieut.-Colonel."