MEETING BETWEEN THE NATIVE MINISTER AND KINGITES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4955, 8 February 1877, Page 7

MEETING BETWEEN THE NATIVE MINISTER AND KINGITES.

<(peb press Adaror.) i ' . ; ' January 31.< , . The Hon, the Native Minister, accompanied ' by Colonel Lyon,' Major Te Wheoro, and Mr. Bush as interpreter, proceeded yesterday to. Kaipaha, at the invitation of "Manuhiri. The ' party were afterwards.joined : by Mr. Mackay 7 and Major Mair. The Native Minister was ',' called on in Mr. Turner's,houseby,Te Manubiri, but very little conversation of any importance took place, the interview apparently v '"being purely a formal ceremonial and intro- ;' -ifluctery. , The chiefs Manuhiri, Takerei Te TRao, Takewani, Waihbu, Howato, Wiremu •' Witene, Te Tuki, and others, were present, and the Potatau family were well represented. The European party left Kaipaha about 4.30. The chiefs Takerei Te Bau and Te Tuhi (the King's brother-in-law), Honani Wai•ion, and others, shortly afterwards came

into Alexandra, and remained for the night. This morning they interviewed the. Native Minister in the large room at Finnis's Hotel. The Europeans present were Colonel Lyon, Mr. Mackay, Major; Mair, and. Mr. Bush. Te Whebro also * attended on the Government side. The chiefs were Takerei Te Ran, Te Tukl, Honaria Waihou, and the Rev. K. The Native Minister said he was glad to see them at Alexandra, and hoped that they would freely express their .views on all matters affecting,their,interests.''_ Taksrei Te Rau then handed in a document which purported to be a report of the're'sult of the interview with the late Sir Donald McLean,; hi which it had been promised that' ;Tawhaib should administer, the affairs,of'iris;own district.'- The Hon, Dr! Pollen said any promise which it could be distinctly proved had been made by Sir;Donald' McLean would be \carried out by the .Government,; but he thought theproper way to proceed wag toiascertain, firstly, if the natives present were willing to act in concert with the Government in maintaining peace and upholding the law. Secondly, if'.such was the desire, then a district might be set aside for.Tawhaio and his people, within which he could administer; the affairs' of his p«ople;. subject to the law. The first proposal was approved of, the second was not objected to, but" the chiefs present said it required 'further consideration. A question was then asked, "How about the Waikato lands; we cannot well arrange anything until that is finally disposed of,'' ' The Hon. Dr. Pollen said, "It iis of no use alluding to; Waikato. The lands .inside it are absolutely'gone, and even if the Government desired to return them ; to' the natives, they could not do so, as they have passed into the hands of Europeans." If Tawhaio consented to the first and second proposals, and then asked for a piece of land within Waikato, it • would be given to him. After some considerable discussion, it was suggested by Te Tuki that the, direction of land acquired by conquest should be left in abeyance. /Certain lands had been handed oyer to PotaUu, and it was-not -right—for -natives- or Europeans to deal with-'them after., the cession to Pbtatau. • The Hon. Dr* PoJlen" recited the natives who had handed them {to Potatan, and-said they had; since "altered their min'ds and'disposed of the lands to the government and to private, persons. , .All" he-and the law court require was that.'the rightful owners of'the'lands were the people to deal, ■with them. As'to Tawhaio, he could doias he pleased with his own lands as to selling ;or *leasiSgv or.'.witß;the lands of",the tribes within his own district, which also "wished to retain their property in their own handsj The "Government wished tb protect every man in the ; .disposal of his ( r own property.- -Where lands had been'passed through the Native Lands ' Court. and. ■ ' the •'' title fairly obtained, the Government had no right <to interfere either..for .'or. ,against the sale or lease by' the* grantees unless it could' he : proTfed that the title was;obtained by fraud. One case had been, brought .'unden the notice of the Government in which 'it-was believpd the.grant had:, been. improperly obtained, and ■the Attorney-General was":taking steps in/the' Supreme Court to cancel the; title by the process known as scire-facias. Questions were asked about roads; and-.other;'public works -within-native districts.- The Native Minister 'said he did'nbtirecbgmWthe right of Tawhaio ■ or anyone to interfere where the native owners were willing-that a road or other public works should be.made,: and'; in cases where the title was.: vested .in t Europeans -. the.. .Crown had.-the; right ito.'carry q.'oh ,any,;public works,;and native ought to interfere. ,-This: ;then.!.'6aused'; las. to the > stoppage on the' -Taupo-road. ;-o Dr.' Pollen said the. land was granted as far, as Huihuikaka, .and therefore he. would)make.the road to that point. * The chiefs present suggested that the making of the line "of road beyond the place on-, purely, native land: should Btiihd ovbr.until.they . come, to" submit the first proposals to Tawhaio.. -This; was agreed on both sides. .The .survey'of 'Mrs.'Morgan'sjand fwas then, brought forward. Dr. Pollen-pointed r out .that the land 'was ■ ■within the'fcpnfiscated'boundary, and had been granted tb-fcs.'Morgan, a'h'alf-caste, ando)ie' ; of-the -Ngatiaikairo tribe, and'her occupation of it-would -not be allowed to be interfered with. He therefore hoped, that as,they were willing ; to •' entertain' the' large: question -which' had been- that t day placed' before tjiemi they would not interfere further.fabbiit the 'Taiipo'roadi' br'Mrß. r M'brgan's land, brit would "have ft e'effect"of preventing a peaceful : and right vdlutibn'bf tba.preßent difficulty:'' It"was'then 1 , agreed that the Hon. Dr. Pollen shquld be furnished with a report as to Tawhaio! and Mamihiri'B vieWs," aiid'should 1 be asked to return to Alexandra to disbuasthem. ■'••-'•'; '"-,' ''..;:' * i •"' - The whole businesVwas introduced in a very conrteous laudJ friendly"- spirit on both sides, ."he. chiefs'at the conclusion testifying their ap-proyal-of the:yiews-enunciated"by Dr;;Pollen; afld^ney'wonid' as soon ai "possible submit them : to Tawhaio and chiefs. k ■"■ ] !