THE NATIVE QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5661, 22 May 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

OPPOSITION TO THE NEW PLAN. (per press agency.) Cambridge, Wednesday, noon. By request of the natives the Laud Court has been adjourned till to-morrow, in order to allow the natives to have a talk with the Hon. Mr. Sheehan. Unfortunately the Native Minister has been unwell ail night, and this morning he is suffering a good deal with his throat, and is unable to talk with the people. It is expected the natives will ask for another day’s adjournment it they do not see him today. 8 p.m. No Land Court was held here to-day, but a native meeting enlivened the place all day. Manga’s new boundary proposals , were discussed by the natives. They understand that he wants the lands laid out by William Thompson and other chiefs before the war to be recognised by the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatihaua tribes, the land on his side of the line to be under his control, and land on the other side for tribes to do as they like with. The two tribes refuse to comply with Manga’s suggestion, and Ngatiawa, whose ancestral home is at Maungatautari, resent the suggested interference, and, as owners of the land, declare they will not agree. At the close of the native meeting to-day Manga said he would not go more fully into matters for two reasons—first, because the Ngatiawa speakers were not sober ; secondly, because he wanted Sheehan to he present at his (Manga’s) speech and the replies of the natives. The meeting is expected to be resumed to-morrow, when the Ngatiraukawas are expected to support the other tribes in repudiating the oldNgatimaniapoto chief’s request. Manga is a large landholder among the Ngatiraukawas, but "his present sentiments do not appear to be popular. At yesterday’s Land Court, out of 82 blocks (claims to which were expected to be heard this sitting), 24 were struck off tlie list. Fourteen of them, it is alleged, have had deposits paid on them by the Government. Another list of 10 have not been surveyed. There is great mortification amongst the claimants of the eight list, many natives having come from Otaki and other distant places. The eight set down tor hearing are— Te Paragamangaoliia, Te ICaraka, Tuarapuraharaha No. 1, Tuarapuraharaha No. 2, Okapia, Waiaere, Mangawhao No. 1, Mangawhao No. 2.

- Mr. Sheehan, who is apparently suffering from quinsey, is still very unwell.