THE NATIVE QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5662, 23 May 1879, Page 6

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

NEW PLAN OP SETTLEMENT.

(fkom oub own coeeespondent.) Alexandea, May 19.

The reports in the Auckland newspapers that Rewi has seceded from the King are not true. The position is this ; The Waikatos have consented to give Bewi till March to see what terms he can make with the Government. There will ha a meeting then, and he will report progress, Bewi s scheme was made public in January last. It is simply the formation of the country between Alexandra and the White Cliffs, extending nearly to Eotorua on the east side, into an independent State, with Tawhiao as King, and Bewi himself as manager. No other chiefs support the idea.

(PEB PBES3 AGENCY.) Kihikihi, May 19.

The boundaries asked for by Bewi may be thus described; Commencing at Whangaroa on the West Coast line, to Pufceruhe or White Cliffs, and from Whangaroa to the west bank of the Waipa, and continuing thence to Pahi and Mangatautari to Taupo, including the lands unsold at the back of Taranaki, extending onward to . the White Cliffs, and this land to be conveyed and put through the Land Court, and leased, but prohibited from salta The natives to have the management of their own lands awarded them by the Court, and thus can make what railroads and roads they please through their lands. This is the proposal the natives have made to the Government for acceptance, and which will either be accepted or rejected forthwith. Manga (Bewi) attends the Land Court at Cambridge to-morrow, and probably Te Ngakau also. The definite result of the negotiation will perhaps be known later in the day, ■ Later.

. A meeting was held this day at 1 p.zn. There were present Hon. Mr. Sheehan, 'Manga, and several other chiefs. After discussion the fol-

lowing boundaries and names were laid before the Native Minister. Gommencingfrom Manga-* wliare through to Oraku, thence to Maungatautari, thence on to the Waikato river, which it crosses aud recrosses, and thence to laupo. Liens advanced over these blocks are to be investigated. As to lands disputed between Europeans and Maoris, the boundaries to be settled by Sheehan aud Rewi ; lauds of disputed boundaries between natives, to be settled by Manga mainly, aud other chiefs. Sheehan offers, if a survey of the boundary is wanted, to help them. It is not yet decided by whom tbe costs of survey shall bo borne.

At the meeting, Temata Tamihare stated that these proposals would meet with disfavor :rom absentees.

Manga, Apiha, and other chiefs have arranged with Sheehan to commence the survey of Mokau lauds at once.

Grauamstown, May 20.

The Sheehan-Rewi negotivlious are regarded here with considerable sati-faction. The Advertiser, which is not considered usually a supporter of the present Government, stated some days ago that the Premier and Native Minister had sown good seed at Kopua, although the meeting seemed to be unproductive.

Cambridge, May 20. After the despatch of the last telegram from Kihikihi, Sheehan, Manga, Lewis, and others went across to the parade, or exercise ground, from the township, with the cavalry ; aud Manga, after seeing the evolutions of the force, complimented them on their efficiency. He said that looking on them he could realise his position at the present time, aud the relationship in which he stood to the Europeans and the Government. He said, “ You can see your enemy face to face, and so my presence is au omen of better things." Grace interpreted for the old man, Rewi, who is close on 70 years of age, aud soft-spoken as a child. Those assembled cheered the old man lustily. He came here with Sheehan and partyto see the land being passed through the Court, as he is a bigger laud owner in Ngaliraukawa than in Ngatimaniapoto. The Ministerial party arrived here at 5 p.m., and were loudly cheered. Manga does not wish the basis of the agreement with Sheehan known. A great crowd of Maoris are hero waiting for the Land Court, and the presence cf James Mackay. The Auckland land ring hero are well represented. Oarnbride is full to repletion. The date of departure of Manga is uncertain. Manga is to have no mana over the territory Crown granted to hapus, only a general superintendence over the interests of the people, aud any assertion to the contrary is erroneous.

Kihikihi, May 20.

The southern boundary of the territory mentioned in Bewi’s proposals as from Taupo to Pukehau is undefined, as many of the places laid down in the proposals are unknown to Government and Europeans—in fact the whole of the boundaries are only tentatively given. In the northern portion of the reserve the King is reported to have somi; interest. The boundaries of this block will have to bo surveyed. It will be noticed that by the action of the Government the original proposal at Hikurangi to make Tawhiao a kind of independent priucelet in this territory is now abandoned. The consent of Apiha, Weteri, Tainul, Heremia, and others lo Bewi’s proposals enables the Mokau River and its coalfields to be connected with the Waitara line of railway at once. As the natives are anxious for the working of the Mokau coal it will enable the owners to run a line of rails up to the Mokau River district some distance, and the probability of the objecting landowners preventing the continuation thence to Awamutu or elsewhere will be considerably lessened. Apiha and Wetero are firmly determined to open Mokau.

The Native Minister, Mr. Lewis, and others went to the Cambridge Laud Court to-day with a number of natives.