THE GREAT TE KOPUA MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5654, 14 May 1879, Page 2

THE GREAT TE KOPUA MEETING.

(prom our own correspondent.) Alexandra, Tuesday.

Monday's meeting was another fencing tournament, Te Ngakau and Wahanui proving too much for the Government side. No reference was made to the alleged breach by Sir George of the agreement made at Hikurangi, for the reason that his presence has been persistently ignored all through the proceedings, he having only been alluded to in the third person singular. At last he got up to explain away the charge which he heard had been brought against him, viz., the making of the Raglan road, the projected sale of the Harapipi land, and the proposed railway to Taranaki. Referring to the last, he said be never intended to make it except by the wish of the natives themselves; that out of pure love for them he proposed to do it; that God had put iron and coal in the intervening country to facilitate the making of this line. He thought it was right to set apart money for the purpose, and that'he was only opposed by designing men, who, while they debarred the doctors from coming to save the lives of innocent people’s children, were selling land, &c., in other places. He concluded by giving the Kingites till TO o’clock on Tuesday to accept or reject the Hikurangi proposals. He then flaunted off in a passion, although requested by Te Ngakau to remain a few minutes' that he might reply then. The Premier’s speech was the silliest exhibition ever witnessed at a Maori meeting. An amused titter was running through the entire assembly all the time that he was speaking. Every one felt that the meeting had come to an abrupt conclusion. During the day Wahanui stated that the report of Europeans having prejudiced them against the Government was untrue, their ideas being their own. On Thursday morning the people began to assemble before 10 o'clock, but there was no response from the Government party, and at halt-past 11 Sir George Grey andhisstsff, with the Northern natives, departed in silence. In the afternoon the Kingites assembled to discuss the position, and Rewi is said W have offered to take up the negotiations and try what terms lie can make with the Government on Tawhiao’s behalf.

(per press agency.) - Alexandra, Tuesday.

This morning Rewi waited upon Sir George Grey with a message from the Kingites, requesting the Premier to meet them again to discuss last night’s ultimatum. The Premier will reply in writing. The Hikurangi programme was not accepted up till ten o’clock, and therefore all the Hikurangi offers have been withdrawn, and any future negotiations must be made on a new basis altogether. The Ministerial party left Thompson’s house at 11.20, and embarked in canoes. Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Miss, M.H.R., go to Cambridge via Te Awamutu, .but return to, Alexandra. The Ministerial party proceed to Ngaruawahia by steamer to-night, and will reach town tomorrow. The Kingites hold another meeting to-night.. Evening. The following correction should be made in Rewi’s speechyat his request. He said ; “ Be cautious of our prey" (Grey), not “ be cautious to make prey of him.” After the Grey party left, the Waikatos and Ngatimaniopotoa assembled ■ in front of Tawhiao’s quarters. Your reporter, hearing that something important would occur, remained and dined with Whaitaro’s party on ‘ dampers and tea. The extreme K'ngite party asked me whether. Grey had left in anger. I said ! believed he had gone because they had hot met him fairly by accepting the Hikurangi terms, but that he was not in anger, and if they made any direct proposals, they would be ; favorably considered. At. twenty minutes to two, the natives, having partaken of food, assembled for talk. Manga was

present, but Tawhiao kept out of sight. Te Vi'iienro and some of his people were present.

Honane commenced the discussion. He said:—X did not under.tand the meefi-g. I have not heard anything definite. The chiefs have had all the talk. lam a lone man myself. Tawhiao and his people want to hold til the chiefs. That was the reason nothing was done. We proposed Te N.akau and Wahanui to speak, and they did nothing. They still talk only of the Almighty. It has been left to the chic s, and nothing has resulted. Antipcua Kihau : It is useless to discuss what is past. Let us enquire into matters today. Tawhiao and Grey placed proposals before all the chiefs who attended this meeting, but they did not discuss them. What is the good of going back now. One is born know.ug nothing, and one remains so.

FAREWELL LETTER FROM SIR GEO. GREY TO THE KIXG.

The following is a translation of a letter sent to Tawhiao after ten this day : “Hauwai, Kouua, May 13th. Friend Tawhiao, —I send you this letter for the purpose of wishing you and your people goodbye, and saying a few last words to you, as in accordance with the statement in my speech last evening to the meeting, I intend to return to Auckland at 1 o’clock to-day. I came here for tire third time to meet you and your people, fully expecting that you and they were quite as anxious as myself to bring about a final and s itisfactory settlement of all outstanding troubles. It has caused me sorrow to find that such a change has recently taken place in your views, and within so short a time. You and your advisers know the real reasons which have led to this alteration in your disposition ; but at present I am ignorant of the causes which have influenced you. Hereafter all that will be known, and it will be seen how far you have been wise in rejecting the friendly overtures I substantially proposed aud made to you on behalf of the Government of the colony. Friend, there is but one tiling which I said in my speech of last evening that I will now repeat to you. This is it ; When I leave Kopua to-day I will take with me all the proposals which I made to you at Hikurangi. I withdraw them absolutely, aud if at any time after this the Government and yourself should again discuss the terms of the meeting everything will have to begin afresh, aud you will not be able to start upon the basis of the HiUuraugi proposals which will have departed this day with me, aud will hereafter have ceased to exist. This is not an idle word, for when, twelve months ago, I made you those offers, and you asked for time to consult the chiefs of other tribes who were not present at the meeting, I agreed to that course. Therefore I caused all the lands which I proposed to give back to you, aud all those from which you were to select portions, to be made tapu, so that they might not be purchased and lost to you ; aud for twelve months these lands have been tied up, to the great discoutentof many who have come into the Waikato district to settle down, and have not been able to procure laud. As our arrangement is nowended the tapu on these lands v ill be removed, and they will not further be held from sale. Friend, good-bye. Do not imagine that Igo away in anger. I was your father’s friend. I have been your friend also, and will continue to be your friend in the days to come. I leave not in auger, but in sorrow, because you have not been wise enough to accept the benefits offered to you, and because the hope which I have cherished for years, that I might be the means of placing yourself and your people in a condition of prosperity and peace, has been again deferred. That is all. —From your friend, G. Guey.”