The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 925, 3 April 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

TtW Waikato Chiefs fun*© expressed a wish to " see their new cuter," arid it is probabtsr that His .Excellency may gratify that wish by accompanying the Premier to the nest native meeting, which is to fee held; in the Waikato. Native meetings ace beginning to possess some atgnitieanee. Fur the last rutie years they have been little more than, occasions for a change of both, as regards f|natity and amount ; now it ww«t«t appear that they are ttkety to- be productive of a change in the relations which es,ist between the Europeans ami Natives.- We suppose-that the familiar demand of the natives for the return to, them of the Wa.iliiati» witt be omitted from the programme of future native meeting's, and that the .Mauri magnates witt condescend to give a tune to. the proceedings. We fuive not forgotten the farces that were gone through during the oh! dispensation, under the btistness-difce title of w native meetings' ; h»w Hb Majesty King TAWWAt», "with dignity that wosstd fuwe done credit to." any European monareh,and pe that betokened n»» tacfe of force of character, refused ti> visit the Waikato- to- hold " korerns with his brethren the rangattras of the Europeans. " It' they want to set» me. let them c»hu-' to me," said this potentate ; and, in obedieneeto this request, Sir litoßtiß iJoWKtf,. representative of Her Majesty, Queen of Great Britain, once apon a time, made the best of his way to the confines of civilisation;, in fch» t?pp«r Waitaki district. Pat! the- Maori King had become intoxicated by drinking ffovernroent rnm, or tie fiait repented ef having issued the invitation. I>e that as it may. he did not appear upon the scene, and Sir Ferhcso-s Bowks found solace tn the booming of his gtmand a wett-fdted bag of game. "Notwithstanding the opinions of Opposition journals to the contrary, we think that srteh nonsense wilt not occur again. He had a notion that Eve and his followers ctndd isolate themselves ; but he and his principal advisers see that the time is approaching when they will have to open the " King" country to Europeans, land that the wisest poliey under the circumstances is t" : make the best possible bargain as to retanneration and reserves. It is a matter tor satisfaction that his E.scetTeney has signified his intention to be present at the W aikato meeting, and tiW Statement that he and the Premier j will be associated in the matter adits to tile pt ensure with which the announcement wilt be received. The few tines in our telegraphic columns stating the fact ! have a weightier meaning than that which appears on the aurfo.ee. If his Kxeettency i and the fceroier,. influenced by a mutual feeling r»f anxiety for the good of theQotony, Work shoulder to shoulder in endeavoring to i-Usstpate the native dttheuiit j , may we not hope that the same c 1 n li:itif.y will esist wlienever they are brought tut" contact with each other in carrying out the business of the Colony.- We- are pleased because- his Excettency has begun his career so wott, and beca.use 11 f tl've tiarmony that appears to exist between him and the Premier. W%> havo lately Wen u-tt'orded a too practical experience of the effects of the existence of discord between the Pifßtniev and the representative of Her Majesty, aiul that experience was as unpleasant as tho (>ontuuuut and undignified bickerings were damaging It? our dearest interests.