WAIKATO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5638, 25 April 1879, Page 7

WAIKATO.

(FROM OUR OWN .CORRESPONDENT. )

The 28th April is the day fixed for the great meeting. I cannot yet say with certainty whether the time is to be taken by the pakeha or the Hauhau calendar ; the 28th day of every month, according to the new religion, is an important day, and it may be that Tawhiao has taken his own reckoning instead of ours. Te Ngakau was in Alexandra on Friday last, and, I am told, telegraphed some twenty invitation notices to chiefs all, over the colony, as far South as even to the Honorable Taiaroa. The King's secretary directed, the Government I Agent to frank the telegrams, which was done | of course, and Mr. Grace then mildly asked, j “ Where is the invitation for Grey and Sheehan"? The reply was, “ Tawhiao did, not tell me to invite them,” The Agent argued and .entreated, but could get no satisfaction. There ! were a great many natives at Kopua, bu| most of them have returned to their kaingas for the ‘present. It is not improbable, although it has not been declared, that the meeting has been purposely delayed in order that the outcome of the Parihaka affair and the Waimate Plains business may be known. I see a statement in the ! Auckland Herald of this date that the Kingites ’are not much concerned about the Waimate ’question. This is just as true as the statement made by the servile editor of that paper—upon whom the “ lucky ” mantle has fallen, and to ’whom a “ lucky ” reward may come—the other day to excuse the absence of the Premier from (Wellington when he ought to have beenattendihg to his duties there. The Herald boldly said that Sir George Grey was then confined to his bed at Kawau ; the next day, however, the Hinemoa came into Auckland from a cruise, and it was then announced by the Premier himself that he had been inspecting the site for the lighthouse which is to be erected bn Mokehihau at the entrance of the Gulf of Hauraki; and probably, although he did not announce that, also doing a little hapuku fishing about the Hen and Chickens. The_ fact is that the King’s people are watching the game going on at Waimate with the keenest interest. It is natural that they should do so, and they fully endorse the action of Te Whiti, Te Ngakau is reported to have said "that it would have been quite correct if the surveyors had been killed instead of being quietly removed.” Te Tuhi came to visit a friend of mine yesterday for the purpose of hearing the latest particulars of Te Whiti’s doings from the pakeha side. ' He said, and repeated, that “if trouble comes of this matter Grey must bear all the blame. He parted from Tawhiao at Hikuxangi with the distinct understanding that he would not. do anything to irritate us in any way before the next March meeting, but in spite of that he has been making trouble all over the Island 1” This; is really the general native opinion at this moment, and there is so much foundationTfor it, so many facts—like the Waitara meeting and the schemes in which Kewi’s name have been involved, to point to, that even the, few'friends of the Government and their many paid agents do not attempt to argue the point with the Maoris. They are content to supply false information and lying, telegrams wherewith to deceive the pakeha, and thus do something for their pay. Kewi is at Puniu, worried, as usual, by Government emissaries. The latest addition to the staff is said to be a half-caste lady, the wife of a professional gentleman much engaged in private ; and purchase transactions. For three days last week she was at Puniu aiding the Government agent in a vain endeavor, as I hear, to induce Kewi to do something or other which the Government wanted, and he did not like. In Rewi a splendid instrument for the work of pacification has been spoiled. The Premier and Mr. Sheehan have used him for their own party purposes only, and, as Te Tuhi says, they must now bear all the blame of their failure. Te Heuheu and seme other Taupo chiefs are now in Alexandra. Kewi, as you will remember, has been lately at Taupo holding a meeting with the natives there. On the Xlth March there appeared an inspired, if not an Official, telegram in the newspapers stating that “ Kewi had told the people at Tokann to permit the railway surveys to go on, even through their houses ! That railways , and roads were very good things,” &c., &c., in the usual strain, Te Heuheu and the others, having been asked as to the truth of this statement, were greatly amazed, and freely expressed their wonder at “ the Government pakehaa* lies,” ’ They declared that Kewi had not said one word at any meeting in favor of the Government lines, and that it was_ his own “line” and not a railway or a road line that, as ho explained to them, might possibly pass through some of the European settlements. Kewi'a “line,” as is well known, is the King's boundary, which he has undertaken to guard. These are the kind of falsehoods which irritate .the Maoris, ‘and’ bring the'Government, and

their “lying pakehas” into contempt. The feeling, I am sorry to say, is becoming stronger and stronger every day. Paul Tuhaere has gone up to see Manuhiri to negotiate an invitation for Kawana Kerei, or probably to explain the quarrel with Te Whiti, but the natives have very quick and wonderfully correct news about all that happens at Taranaki, and may be able to tell Paul something that he does not know. I do not remember whether I told you a story that comes from Parihaka, and is, X believe, authentic, that so long ago as the time when Mr. Sheehan’s army were scouring the Taranaki Plains in search of Hiroki, after the murder of McLean, at Moumahaki, Mr. Williams and a party of Government natives went to Parihaka to seek the fugitive and to attempt his capture. When Te Whiti was informed of the arrival of the party he gave orders that the European leader should be seized and imprisoned, and that the Maoris who accompanied him should be killed. This sanguinary order was happily overheard by one of the party, and there was an immediate stampede of the whole lot in the lightest marching order, horses and all having been left behind, Te Whiti, seeing the party skedaddle, was asked if they should be pursued ? He said “No;” as they have gone let them go,” and he contemptuously ordered their horses to be sent after them. This, if true as asserted, was no doubt reported to the Government. I wonder if Colonel Whitmore knew it when he was bouncing in the Legislative Council in defence of his friend and colleague, Mr. Sheehan, as Hansard reports, on the 29th October last ? I wonder it he should now read the report of that speech what he would think of himself ? Heoiano for tho present. Waikato, April 3.