MAORI PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, 26 March 1881, Page 4

MAORI PARLIAMENT.

The chief Paul is again entertaining representative natives at his settlement Orakei, near Auckland, for the purpose of considering Native affairs. At a meeting held on Saturday Mete Kingi, of Wanganui, is reported to have made an excellent speech on a resolution referring to the Treaty of Wnitangi, in the course of which he said he had fought for Government in ton engagements, and had destroyed his own relations and would do so again if it were needed, provided the Government remained true to him, and fulfilled theii promises. The natives at the Orakei Parliament follow the custom of the General Assembly by having all questions for consideration printed in the form of an Order Paper. As a number of the chiefs who were present were under engagement to be present at the Native Parliament at Waitangi, permission was granted them to speak in advance on any questions they were interested in which were set down in the order paper. At a meeting on Monday, the chief Paul stated that be thought the doings of Te Whiti must eventually do them good, and he ended his address by saying his desire was not to make laws, but rather to bring the grievances of the natives before the House of Representatives at Wellington. A proposal was made to send representatives to England, but finally the motion by Mete Kingi to let it rest with the chairman was carried. A complaint was made by a Waikato chief that the Government had taken his land, though he remained loyal. The meeting passed a resolution condemning the conduct of the Government in confiscating the lands of loyal natives. Another item referred to the fisheries and pipi-banks, but a letter being read assuring all present that the matter was n Judge Fenton’s hands, it was passed over. In reference to Land Courts, it was resolved that native meetings should first be held, and their results be sent to the Native Land Court. It was unanimously agreed that Maori members did more harm than good and that they ought not to be sent to Wellington. The chairman in passing the next item said, “ We are passing this motion to cease selling lands, and before long we shall want to sell them. What are we to do ? I say, Let anyone sell that thinks proper.” Carried unanimously.