WAIKATO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5455, 20 September 1878, Page 2

WAIKATO.

- (from a correspondent.) Alexandra, September 9. I have lately been reading the news from Wellington with great interest, and with many more here who know anything of nativehiatters iu this district, I am astonished at the effrontery of the present Government and at the complete manner in which they are hoodwinking the country. They seriously tell the House that they propose at once to form a railway from Ohaupo to Taranaki ! There is just as much chance of the Kingite natives allowing the line to go through their country as there has been any time during these last thirteen years. Matters remain between the “ King " and the Government as they did previous to the late Hikurangi meeting, which, as it was the largest, was also the greatest failure iu result when compared with any previous meeting held with the Kingites by the represeutatative of any former Government; in fact it was worse, for Tawhiao asked for more of the confiscated land to be returned to him than he had ever done before. At that meeting be distinctly told the Premier ‘‘that was the time to settle matters, and at no other time aftex wards." He reserved to himself alone the right of roads being made in his territory, and to this he still adheres. It was officially announced after that meeting that either Sir G. Grey or Hr. Sheehan would return here before the assembling of Pai-liament, to receive Tawhiao’s answer to the Premier's proposals, which he left witlx him for his and his people's consideration. Why was thie not done 1 Simply because there was no favorable answer to receive. .

As you are awaro, wo have had for some time past two Government agents here, viz., Majors Mair and Te Wheoro. The latter, since the advent of the present Government, has had his salary raised to £SOO, and has also a servant at ss. or 6s. per day, and during the last few months thero has been a clerk also at, I am told, £lslO per year, whoso duties consist in borrowing, reading, and interpreting the newspaper to his master, Major Te Wheoro, playing billiards, and concocting telegrams to the papers favorable of course to the Major's claims to the Government.

A largo number of Ngatimaniopoto natives have left the Kuiti and other settlements to go' to the Waitara tor the purpose of settling there with Rewi, who they are firmly convinced has had all the land there returned to him by Sir G. Grey, and where everything necessary in .the shape of rations, seeds, and agricultural implements necessary to form a prosperous homoare supplied to tbeip.