THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIVES. (From a special telegram to the "New Zealander.") Alexandra, May 12.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1888, 15 May 1878, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIVES. (From a special telegram to the "New Zealander.") Alexandra, May 12.

Sir Oeorge Grey and the Native Minuter have juit returned from Puniu, where they had an interview with Rowi. It will be remembered that ltewi did not attend the meeting t which has just finished, and' many people 1 thought ho wai landing, aloof. The result of the talk, which Ministers have had with him sUdf 9 the" supposition to bo unfounded. Bt« met them at the house of a Mr Ross, neat? the Puniu River, and had a talk of over an hour and a half with them. He was fully aware what had taken place at the meeting, and expressed his approval thereof, and throughout his whole conversation showed himself as still remaining attached to Tawhiao. He starts tomorrow morning early to travel through the lands occupid by his tribe down to the Mokau, to proclaim the terms of settlement and procure their concurrence. From Mokau ho will proceed to Waitara and meet William King, the leader of the rebel Natives in the Taranaki war. At that place he will be met by a number of chiefs from other parts of the island, and the hatchet will be buried on the spot where it was erased. He stated that the meeting at Waitara would be at the end of Juno, and strongly pressed that if the Parliament was not assembled at that time Sir George and the Native Minister would, if possible, be present at the meeting. Nothing could exceed the kindness and fairness of Rowi throughout the whole talk, and it was evident that a load had been taken off his mind. The Ministerial party return by the afternoon train to-morrow. It is understood that Rewi will take a seat in the Upper House as soon ai a final settlement is made. He is very anxious to do so, and it is also understood that he is excessively pleased at the chance of town acres being reserved in his own favorite places near Katikati and other spots to which he is attached. It is also known that he would have gone to the meefing with except from motives of delicacy, and that he offered to do so if Sir George Grey expressed a wish to that effect. Rewi thought it would be better to have two separate meetings. The meeting at Mr Ross's was quite private. Rewi came over the boundary out of compliment to the Ministers who were present. He brought with him some eight or ten of his principal chiefs. The meeting lasted about two hours. Some of the settlers had received information of the interview, and there was quite a large gathering in Mr Ross's paddock by the time tho meeting terminated. Rewi came out with his arm resting on Sir George Grey, and accompanied him to the vehicle which was. to convey him back to Alexandra. He earnestly entreated the Premier to be present at the meeting at Waitara if possible. I understand that Rewi brought under the Hon. J. Sheehan's notice complaints in reference to the attempted dealings with land in which he was interested. Amongst other things he expressed his anxiety for the termination of the present state of relations between the two races, with a view to his being able more effectually to protect his property in the Courts of the Colony. Rewi resides about half a mile from Mr Ross on the other side of the Puniu River, which runs between their respective properties. It was a striking sight walking over the beautiful valley between their houses to see what a magnificent country lay ready to the hand of the agriculturist when the present unhappy relations between both races are brought to a close. The mixture of Europeans and Natives in Mr Ross* verdant paddocks was also a very pleasing sight. Seeing the group of Ministers, Native chiefs, and settlers mixed up together around the quiet smiling homestead of a Waikato country gentleman, gave an assurance that terms of peace were really now close at hand.