THE NATIVE MEETING AT WAITARA.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 326, 1 June 1878, Page 4

THE NATIVE MEETING AT WAITARA.

[from THE AUCKLAND HERALD."] The approaching meeting of natives at Waitara will he*, one ol the most important events in the history of New Zealand. There was fighting -Indore' the outbreak at Waitara, br.t it involved a principle as to land ownership winch had never been raised before. Then, ior the first time, the King movement became act-jv-lv hostile to European progress, and from Waitara war spread over the greater’part of the island. The lvingif.es have always said that if peace were niach*, it should only be after a moxaiug at Waitara, and the. fact that Tawhaio ami Rewi have expressed a wish to have a general meeting at Waitara shews that they expect and desire that peace will be the result. The famous Ngatiawa chief, William King, who resisted the sale at Waitara, will be one of the most prominent (mures at the approaching meeting. "William King and his people had been driven from Waitara by the Wuikatos, and resided for several years at Waikauae, at Cook’s Straits. He was invited to go back by Potatan, the first Maori King. Sir George Grey, who was then Governor, was much opposed to the migration of the tribe—foreseeing the probability of trouble in Taranaki—and at one time seemed to contemplate preventing it by military force. The Ngatiawa, were, however, determined to return, and it was at length agreed to allow them, on condition that they should settle on the north bank of the Waitara. Our readers will remember that after going to war with "William King for forbidding the sale of Waitara, we acknowledged that ho was in lhe light after all by restoring it to him hv proclamation. Wc understand {liftl invitations have been sent to the Hon. Wi Tako, Matenc To Wliiwhi, and other Southern chiefs who took a prominent part in the King’ movement, to attend the meeting at Waitara. The dispute about Teira’s laud at Waitara began in 1859—19 years ago.