MEETING OF NATIVES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4399, 26 April 1875, Page 3

MEETING OF NATIVES.

(From the Oishornc Standard, April 17.) A large number of natives assembled in the Court-house on Tuesday last, to interview Sir Donald McLean. Ihaka Ngarangi spoke a few brief words of welcome. Karauria Pahura, from Uawo, drew the Native Minister's attention to a little difficulty they had about the settlement of Mangarara and Ihoniu blocks. _ Hoani Ruru presented a petition from Rongowhakaata tribe, relative to land at Papatu, Arai, and Pepewhakau, which the Government, as alleged, had included within the boundaries of the ceded territory. He said that so far back as 1869, Papatu had boen leased to Mr. H. Harris, and denied that Rongowhakaata had ever given this or the. other portions named, to the Government; 15,000 acres was

the amount agreed to, in equal proportions, at the Muhunga, Patutahi, and Arai, but the boundaries .given for the piece ceded by his tribe had not been adhered to by the Government in their survey. , . Paora Kate spoke at some considerable length in support of the petition. He named the boundaries of the land his tribe had agreed should be ceded, and said that the Government had not adhered to them in surveying. He further said that if the Government insisted in retaining the land as surveyed,' Rongowhakaata would be more heavily pumshod for the Hauhau rebellion than the other tribes, although many members of his tribe had been staunch supporters of the Government. -In conclusion, he asked that the land should be given back to his tribe. Sir Donald McLean said he would look into the matter, and give a reply before he went away. u : Hemi and others complained of grantees at the Muriwai disposing of their land. The grantees referred to had no real right to the land ; they had been put in the grant on the advice of Messrs. Atkinson, Graham, and WyHie, with the view of making the land more secure ; and they would wish the,title of these persons to be investigated, when it would be seen they had no real right to the land. ;Wi Pere spoke at.some length.- What had been said about the old land trouble was true ; but he considered it a very light matter to one that was pressing him now. He referred to the action of Mr* Commissioner Wilson, in purchasing land from Pera Te TJatuku and his brother, who had no right to the land in question. He considered it was a waste of the public money to let those two persons have it ; and that Mr. Commissioner Wilson's coming" here was bringing trouble, which would return back to the Government. It was known that he (Wi Pere) had been perverse among a perverse people, but since he had seen that the later laws made by Parliament for the native lands passing through the Court were good, and would be the saving of the people, his opposition had ceased. The work of the commissioner had, however, made his heart dark, and he intended returning on to his land, to await the arrival of Pera and those with him ; on their coming to survey the land they had sold to Mr. Wilson, he would try them in the same Court that his ancestors had tried their ancestors and fathers in. He would never consent that this land should be either sold or leased by them. If he wanted to lease it, then he would arrange it with Sir Donald. He complained that Mr. Wilson did not look to Wi Horonga, Paora, Major Robert, himself, or the real owners of the land, but gave his money to people who had no claim to it. At the conclusion of his address, Wi Pere was told by Sir Donald McLean, that he would see him about the subject he had referred to, and the meeting broke up.