THE NATIVE MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 113, 13 May 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING.

Kopua, Monday night. The meeting commenced at 11 a.m., and lasted all day, the speakers being Te Ngakau Wahauui, Paul Petera, and Pukutua. The' gist of the Kingites' speeches was that tbey desired to know precisely what the Government terms were. Rewi bad breakfast and dinner with Mr Sheehan, and the probabilities of Te Ngakau taking a seat in Parliament were discussed. Late in the afternoon Sir George Grey addressed the assembled Kingitesat considerable length, explaining that any promises he made at Hikurangi he made as a servant of the people of the colony. Referring to tbe complaints which, it is saidj the Kingites made .against the General Government, Sir George Grey said that if they could show cause to make the people of New Zealand believe that the Kingites misunderstood those promises they might re'y upou it the Parliament would see that ample compensation was given them on that account. Sir G. Grey then said he would wait until 10 o'clock to-morrow for their answer and if they were then prepared to discuss his offer he would wait, but if he did not hear from them at 10 to-morrow the offer would be withdrawn absolutely, aud any future arrangement made ,with 'them would have to be upon a fresh understanding and not upon the offers made afc Hikurangi. Sir G. Grey and the Ministerial party then withdrew, and the assemblage dispersed at five o'clock. Alexandra, Tuesday. This morning Rewi waited upon Sir G. Grey with a message from the Kingites requesting the Premier to again meet them to discuss his last night's ultimatum. Sir George Grey will reply in writing. The Hikurangi programme was not accepted np to ten o'clock, and therefore all the Hikurangi offer has been withdrawn, and any further negotiations must be made on a new basis altogether. The Ministerial party left Thompson's house at 1120 and embarked in canoes. Messrs Sheehan and Moss go to Cambridge via Te Awamutu, but return to Alexandra, The Ministerial party proceed to Ngaruawahia by steamer to-night, and will reach town to-morrow. The Kingites hold another meeting at noon.