MAORI MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 7

MAORI MATTERS.

On Feb. 1, a meeting of the natives who had agreed to join the Thames Native Volunteer Company was held at the American Theatre, Shortiand. The project of starting a native volunteer company here was mooted some time ago, and forty-four natives put down their names as willing to join, and these were submitted to the Native Minister, and approved of by him. It was agreed on all sides that Mr. W. H. Taipari should be elected captain, hut the members of the proposed company met on Monday to elect the first and second lieutenant. Hoani Nnhe acted as chairman of the meeting. Aihe Pepene, Raika Whakarongotai, and Matia Poono were nominated, and the voting was then proceeded with, each member making a mark opposite the name of the man whom ha preferred. Aihe Pepene, a son of Aperahama te Reiroa, was elected first lieutenant, and Raika Whakarongotai second lieutenant. At the conclusion of the election, the whole party adjourned to the Shortiand Hotel, where the newly-elected officer's “ shouted ” for the men. Here the officers returned thanks for their election, in neat and appropriate speeches. As we have stated before, this is the first native volunteer company that has been formed in the colony. The men are not to keep their arms at home, but are to lodge them in the orderly-room. A large meeting of the Arawa and XJrewera tribes has been held at Galatea, presided over by Mr. Mitchell and Captain Mair, on behalf of the Government. These gentlemen, after several days’ exhaustive discussion, relative to genealogies and tribal boundaries, have succeeded in coalescing the various contending interests concerned, and have completed purchase for the Crown of about 150,000 acres of the lower Kangitiaru country on very satisfactory terms. The ■ extensive lands lying past the Raugitiani, and well up into the country, are now engaging the attention of the meeting. The proceedings are quiet and orderly. Xing Tawhiao’s sister Sophia died at Xuiti on January 21. A great number of natives are assembled there. The tangi has been most immoderate. The natives employed by the settlers in the district harvesting have all suddenly left to attend, causing great inconvenience. Another good old chief has departed this life. We allude to Iharaira Te Houkamu, of the Ngatiporou tribe, East Cape. At the time of his death, which took place somewhat suddenly at Te Kawakawa, on the 13th injitant, the deceased was quite a venerable ohP*jsaau. He had, for many years, been justFy held in the highest repute among his people for his goodness and kindness of heart. During the frequent inter-tribal quarrels which occurred on the East Coast, some forty or fifty years ago, although he was then a young man, many a time his voice swayed the councils of war. From the advent of the Pakeha, he became a staunch adherent of .the Government, on whose behalf his influence over his tribe was always directed. He was ever foremost amongst the chiefs in staying thoughts of secession to the ranks of the rebels. And there are few Europeans, who have partaken of his hospitality, but will remember with, regret the death of Houkamu, the Ngatiporou chief. The Natives have bought up the Haivhe’s Bay Times for £750. THE NORTHERS CRUISE OF THE LCNA. The Luna left Auckland on Friday, the 15th, taking the Hon. the Native Minister, for a visit to the natives of the north, calling at Xawau on the way. She arrived at the Bay of Islands on Saturday, and after a short delay steamed to Whangaroa. That afternoon she arrived at Mongonui, and at night natives came in from, Peria and other places, within a radius of twenty miles. In, order to save time, a meeting, which lasted till twelve o'clock,' was held on the deck of the Lima, and at this the principal topics discussed were roads, bridges, and schools ; and, in addition, a strong desire was evident on the part of the natives for the introduction of more European settlers among them. On Sunday, some more natives came in, and early on Monday morning they had their interview with the Native Minister, after which the steamer’s head was turned southwards once more, and about 8 p.m. the Luna entered the fine harbor of Whangaroa. Quantities of timber awaiting the saw, and a couple of large mills, attested the occupation of the majority of the five hundred inhabitants of the district, while numerous canoes starting -from nooks and corners around paddled rapidly towards the Luna, over the smooth surface of the harbor. Whangaroa is the residence of Hongi Hika, the descendant of the well-known chief who carried the arms of the Ngapnki far to the southward ; and he and other principal chiefs, Paora IJruroa, Heremia te Ara, Kingi Heri Keera, Wiremu Naihi, and others, with their people, were assembled to meet the Native Minister. The first subject of discussion was a Mock of land called Otangaroa, which had been offered to the Government by Wiremu Naihi’s tribe, the Ngatiuru, but the sale of which had been objected to by Hongi Hika and his people, who claimed it. The Native Minister informed them that he declined to purchase any land which was in dispute, and that the best course for the natives to adopt in such cases was to refer lands of this character to careful inquiry and investigation before the courts established for that purpose. Ho. would have

nothing to do with blocks where a difference o£ opinion existed as to title,- as he attached nii?e,v»lue to the lives of the people than to the acquisition of land. The most remarkaale featureaboutthismeetingwasalong speechmade ■4 by Hongi Hika,. an unusually silent chief, who, although now old, was then for the first time heard to express his sentiments at length. From his rank and position as undoubtedly the head of the Ngapuld tribe, great attention was paid to his utterances, which were to the effect that his earnest wish was that all disputes or differences in his district should be adjusted by law, before a Resident Magistrate, who should reside among them. Young people, he said, were frequently inclined to be troublesome, and it was highly desirable that some measures should he introduced _ so 1 as to suppress any unpleasantness which might occur between Europeans and natives. He welcomed the Native Minister, and hoped his visits would be more frequent than hitherto, Kingi Hen Keera then asked Hongi if he still adhered to the objections to a gaol which he had raised when Sir G. Bowen and the Native Minister had visited Whangaroa on a previous occasion. Hongi replied that now he had changed his mind, and that ho was desirous that a gaol should be built. This admission, coming from a leading chief of Ngapuki, is one of the best evidences of the wish of the entire tribe to conform to English laws,; and, in consequence of it, the Native Minister agreed that the building should be erected. A promise was also made that two or three additional native schools should ho started in the district. The meeting shortly afterwards broke up, and Hongi, Paora, and some other chiefs came to dine on board ; after which, the anchor was weighed, and the luma went on to the Bay of Islands, where she landed the Native Minister and the officials, and then went cn to coal at Kawakawa. On Tuesday morninf. Sir D. Maclean and Mr. Kemp went over to Waitangi Balls, whore they met the Hon. Wi Katene and some natives, and severdßuropean gentlemen, among whom were Judje Manning, Mr. Williams, M.H.8., Mr. Clair, and others. .'Returning to Russell in the afiemoou, the Native Minister sawHoterene, Tavatawa, Wi Pete, and others who wished to s>o him, and at 8 p.m. the Buna once more eft the Bay—having been joined there by tie Bishop of Auckland and the Rev. Mr. Tomlnson, who had found themselves without moms of returning to Auckland by sea, on acount of the non-arrival of the Rowena —calliig once more at Kawau on her return. HEW SOUTH WALB MINISTERS AT TAUI’O. Taupo, January 25, Wo have had a great number of visitors amongst us lately, anongst whom were Messrs. Salamons and Davi, the former AttorneyGeneral of New Soth Wales, and the latter Crown Prosecutor. Chese gentlemen, in company with Messrs. Davis, Warbrick, and Venn", were invitd on Sunday last by the chief Poihipi, to luiih with him at his residence. About 11 o’clock, the gentlemen

named, together with other European ladies and gentlemen, proceeded to Poihipi’s settlement, and on arrival there were invited to his house. Messrs. Salamous and ■ Davis were addressed by Poihipi somewhat in these words: “Welcome, my friends, from England ! You have come from ’ our loving mother the Queen, the mother who is so loving to the whole world. Welcome to my place of abode. In days gone by, wo bad Christianity introduced into this country, and I embraced it. I have seen all the Governors who have come here from the Queen, and I was present at the treaty of Waitangi. We have had trouble (war) in this land since that time on various occasions, and some of our people, alas, joined the enemy to fight against youand also against me. I have always kept a true friend to the Queen and her laws.* Welcome my friends, the great people from the other side of the water. You have seen the face of our mother the Queen. Do not notice any little trouble which may still he existing in the land ; all will yet disappear from our view, and the whole island will be under the sway of Victoria- Welcome, my illustrious friends ! Sufficient are my words.” Mr. Salamons, in reply, said: Welcome, oh, welcome, you the great chief whose name has spread far and wide over the surface of the placid sea. • I am heartily glad to meet you on this occasion, and receive from your lips such sentiments of loyalty and attachment to the great interests of civilisation, which I am an eye witness to on the present occasion. I had little thought when I left the shores of New South Wales that I should have received from a chief living in the moat remote inland district of New Zealand such noble expressions of sentiment and loyalty so eloquently and gracefully delivered by yon. Yr-* have spoken of trouble (war) having spread desolation in various parts of your land, and large numbers on both sides must have’fallen. You cannot well supply the place of those who fell. It is different with us. I can well compare the Europeans to the waters of your beautiful lake, whose waters are being discharged in one continual stream down the AVaikato,*and still there is no diminution of the waters of the lake; countless numbers of i our people have been killed in battle, and thousands are leaving then- lands to come to these colonies, and still if you were at home you would not notice that one person was missing. Mr. Gateward C. Davis, Crown Prosecutor of Sydney, rose, and in a most graceful and eloquent address acknowledged the sentiments expressed by the Hon. Mr. Salamons as those not only of his own heart, but of all civilised Europeans who are living under the banner and protection of our gracious Queen, her laws and institutions. This day (he said) and the reception which you have given us will not easily be effaced from our memories, and we shall oh our return to New South Wales make it known to the enlightened settlers residing in that colony, and it will be gracipusly received by them as a token and pledge of the loyalty of the Maoris of New Zealand. You have had war in your midst. A bee may find its way into a pot of honey, but wben you remove it you will find the quality of the honey uninjured 'by the aggressor. So with you who are loyal. Rebellious and ti'oublesome people have come amongst you ; they have now been removed, and you still remain as you were originally, true and loyal subjects of her gracious Majesty the Queen, whose authority and rule I am proud indeed to see you so steadfastly support. Harete, wife of Poihipi, next spoke : Welcome ! Welcome, my friends ! You have come from the mother of us all. Little remains for me to say, as Poihipi has expressed the feelings of the whole of us. We are all the children of our loving mother, Victoria, and we now cordially greet you who have only lately left the far off shores of England, where dwells the great one. Welcome, my friends ! It is not for me to say much ; all I can do is to greet you. Mr. Salamons suitably replied, saying ho was proud to find the wife of the loyal chief so completely one with her husband. It was an Englishman’s proudest boast that the fair sex would always receive protection and help at his hands when the occasion required it, and he was indeed glad that in the Antipodes the native ladies reciprocated the feeling, and were ready and determined to render their lords and masters every help in time of trouble.

The whole party were at the close of the ceremony requested to partake of a splendid lunch, specially prepared for the pakeha visitors. It is needless to say that the chief’s hospitality received full justice at the hands of his guests.