THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING AT KAIPARA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5024, 1 May 1877, Page 3

THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING AT KAIPARA.

(From the New Zealand Herald.)

The native meeting at Kaipara appears to have been a marked success in point of attendance, notwithstanding the fact that the Northern tribes were almost unrepresented ; at least there was not an influential chief in attendance on their behalf. Ample provision was made. Mr. Civil Commissioner Kemp attended oh behalf of the Government. The proceedings were conducted in strict accordance with English custom. The Rev. Hone Waiti was elected chairman, and Eruera Paerimu vice-chairman. The regular business of the meeting lasted from Monday till Thursday, although the proceedings were formally opened several days sooner. Our own correspondent sends us the following notes of the proceedings : —The meeting of the Ngatiwhatua tribe, at Otamatea, on the 13th instant, has proved a success, and will undoubtedly be the precursor of much good in the Kaipara district. About 350 natives were present. The provisions were distributed on the 14th, the quantities of which are as under: —684 baskets of potatoes, 4 oxen, 38 pigs, 4 sheep, 16 bags sugar, 20 bags biscuit, 20 boxes biscuit (each lOOlbs.), 50 cwt. flour, and sharks (dried) innumerable.' Two services were conducted by the Rev. W. Gittos, in the Otamatea Church on Sunday, the 15th. The church is a fine neat structure, which has cost about £4OO, paid for by subscriptions and donations from Arama Karaka Haututu, chief of the Uriohau, and other principal men of the hapu. On both occasions the building was completely filled. The collections amounted to something over £4 10s. On Monday, the 16th, the business of the meeting commenced at 11.30 a.m., and continued each day till noon of Wednesday. Adam Clarke Haututu (principal chief), Paora Tuhaere, Pairarua, Ngatahi, and a number' of other chiefs spoke at considerable length; and after stating the object in calling the meeting, they all concurred in expressing their determination to adhere to the laws of the Queen (i.e. Government); and a number of resolutions to this effect were unanimously passed by the assembled chiefs. The chiefs of the North Ngapuhi tribe had been invited, and their nonappearance was regarded as a slight to the givers of the feast. The whole proceedings were conducted in the most quiet and orderly manner, reflecting great credit upon Adam Clarke, Rev. Hone Waiti, and others, who, acting under the advice of their pastor, the Rev. William Gittos, had excluded everything in the shape of liquor, and consequently enjoying the good food provided them in a much greater degree than had liquor been allowed. It is expected that this tribe will hold a yearly fathering at one or the other of their settlements alternately. As usual in such cases, a great number of subjects were discussed of a purely local and personal nature, irrespective of the political matters'; and the chief Arama Kamka deserves congratulation that not a solitary instance of dispute occurred on the occasion. After the general subjects had been disposed of, Mr. H. T. Kemp, 0.C., held an examination of the scholars of the Government native school at Taiwa, in the runanga house, in the presence of the whole of the chiefs. Mr. Kemp expressed pleasure at the rapid progress the children had made during the last two years, and at the general proficiency in reading, writiug, arithmetic, geography, and dictation, which he considered equal to the knowledge of some European schools of children of the same age. The Government have lately repaired the school buildings, which, with the site upon which they stand, have been recently purchased by the Government for school purposes, and is one of the moat convenient sites on the Otamatea River. Upon Mr. Kemp’s recommendation, the parents of the children promised to increase the number of scholars, and to use their utmost endeavors to keep up the school in a satisfactory manner. I cannot close this without stating that the earnest endeavors of the master and mistress, Mr. and Mrs. Hazzard, have in a great measure conduced to render this school so successful. The following are the resolutions, which were adopted : , 1. That all the laws of God be religiously kept by these tribes for ever and ever. 2. That this tribe, the Ngatiwhatua, live under the protection of her Majesty the Queen for ever and ever. 8. That the Europeans become one with this the Maori race. 4. That all European laws, wages, &c., &c., shall be alike for both races.

5, That all murderers, thieves, &c., &e., shall be dealt with by the hand of the law. C. That the Native Lands Court, which awards land to any person by right of conquest, some of the original owners being still alive, shall be wrong.' 7. The Native Lands Court, which' shall award land on the ground of . a person’s fire having burnt, or mere occupation burnt upon that land, shall be wrong also. 8. That the Governor shall return to, Auckland, to the place where he is most required, on account of the many and great troubles of this province. 9. That all tribes from here up to the North Cape become united as one for ever and ever. : 10. That all orphan children who are sent to the various schools not having any friends to keep them should be supported by the Government. . 11. That this tribe entrust all their troubles and difficulties to the European members of this district, instead' of the Maori members, to bring such matter before Parliament. , ■ „ 12. That “ Takitumu and “Mahuhunga, the canoes that brought the native race here from Hawaiki, be kept in remembrance by the generations to come, that they be not lost and forgotten. „ , 13. The name that this, the Ngatiwhatua tribe shall be for the future known by, as a mark of loyalty and obedience to the laws of God and the Queen, is “The Englishman.” 14. That a sense of gratitude of this tribe be always great for the kindness to them, and for' the benefits conferred upon them by the Government of her Majesty the Queen in the many laws for the protection and guidance of the tribes, and for the schools established for the benefit of our children. The above were the formal resolutions, but few who are acquainted with the real objects or nature of a native korero will be so far led away as to believe that the native gathering was only for the purpose of passing those resolutions or coming to those decisions. In fact, the real objects of the meeting would appear, so far as those resolutions are concerned,' to have been totally set aside, but such was not the fact. As far as we are able to gather, the real object or intention of the meeting, whatever the ostensible purpose miidit have been, was in regard to the land question. The meeting was called in consequence of a conviction which had arisen in the minds of the Ngatiwhatua people that the titles they at present held in the majority of instances to the very large and unoccupied lands in the Kaipara districts, could at any time 'be assailed by the tribes in the north, and contested in the Native Lands Court. Looking at it in this light, and taking also into consideration the fact that a very large area is nominally occupied by this tribe, while a few of the chiefs have really acquired the title to the southern portions of it, it is but natural to suppose that the natives of the North, the Wairoa, and Wangarei, should make a stand for their portion of it through right of conquest. It seems evident, therefore, that in calling this meeting the principal object was that an adjustment, of boundaries might be discussed and adopted, and thus dissipate that rancorous feeling which now exists between them,' And to promote more friendly relations, and above all to avoid coming into conflict with each other before the Native Lands Court. : The matter for discussion at the meeting, that is to say, the vital object of the meeting itself, having become circulated amongst the Northern tribes, they declined to be represented, so that the real matter at issue stands as it stood before. It is, moreover, still hoped that these meetings,' which are to be held annually at alternate settlements, will be the means of defining the land rights, and settling the difficulties which now exist between two tribes which, more or less, are corrected by ties of marriage and descent. Another matter, which is not exactly included in the resolutions, also occupied a prominent position at the meeting - A motion Was proposed by Te Hotene, the oldest and the principal chief of the district, and seconded by Paul Tuhaere, —That the sympathy of this meeting be given expression to on behalf of the late Sir Donald McLean, who has been so suddenly removed to the resting place of his and our ancestors together. The proposer and seconder of the resolution followed in the same strain. It was not, the proposer pointed out, necessary to enter at great length into detail of all the sendees rendered to the Northern tribes by the late Sir Donald McLean, nor of the confidence with which he regarded the Ngatiwhatuas, to whom he had paid but few visits. He, however, always felt that the loyalty of the people in the Kiaipara district had never. wavered, and that fas they were the first to welcome the Queen’s representatives, and to invite them to Aim Auckland the seat of Government, so had"they shown the sincerity of their behavior by ready obedience to the laws os far as it was possible to render obedience to the laws which governed the Europeans. This motion was adopted without dissent. The convocation arising out of the resolution regarding 'the' late Sir'Donald McLean naturally led to Ijje subject of his successor as Native Minister, the Hon. Dr. Pollen, and a resolution was adopted, after sundry speeches, as follows.;. —“ In Sir Donald McLean they had a Minister, of long and tried experience.' Time would .show whether. Dr. Pollen as his successor would show knowledge of native customs, and whether his tact in dealing with native affairs might be the means of drawing towards the Government the same confidence which Sir Donald McLean had by his wise and friendly policy won from the natives.”

After the meeting the school was examined by Hr. Civil Commissioner Kemp, and it finally wound up with a dance, in which the settlers took part. The house in which the meeting was held was a weatherboard building, 60fti by 30ft., built expressly for the purpose by Adam Clarke, itaid it will in future be used as a village hall for instructions and entertainments. j-