The King’s' Speech.

Patea Mail, 17 May 1882, Page 3

The King’s' Speech.

north island land PROSPECTS. (per united press association.) ; Alexandra, 16th.— ; At the meeting on Saturday all the Maoris, assembled in the circle on the open space in front of the big runanga house, under Tawhaio’s old flag from Masterton. Tawhaio was the first speaker. He said : ‘‘Tips, is the word I now speak. I say about the surveys, let (hem be repressed for the time being., -The road is one, look steadily (i.e. wait, there is no hurry.) Therefore I saj' leave off selling ; wait a white; let us all touch and think over the full end of these. Let me, say this to you there is no necessity for hurrying anything ; therefore I say about the gold, let it be quietly, that we may look at it and both handle it ; and therefore I say about the leasing arid selling of land, let it cease ; I aay ; .it still. life is sufficient; you stand there in.that place till I get these quietly. Although you be angry, nevertheless I will speak out. About the court, I say let it end ; let it stand .in abeyance till I get there; it will be right. Now about another man, my word is, go both of you to the Parliament. I will mot sit down and listen, but will reply. I told Te Wheoro to stop going to Parliament, There is another word of mine, and there is no notice taken about it. I say let Parliament come to Auckland and stand there. I am the bulk, and when I hear the word wilLanswer it., I say the Parliament must come to . Auckland, There is another word of mine about Kawhia .1 have to see through itmud look it over. One says, I will have such a place and such a place, and I want to look over it ; I have it,to myself. About.. the- Mokau, •it is mine.j is;;that I own Mokau ; but there is a man whom I told to stop there and look after it. This man Is Te Wetere. My word rests with him, and he is to guard and protect it. Thence to Wanganui and Tongariro ; all these.are mine. ' I told a man to. stop there and take charge of those places of mine. Let me have these, and drive the smut and chaff away. That is all ; these words are sufficient. s Major Te Wheoro-promised to lay these matters before Parliament. The' proposal - that Te Ngakau arid ten other prominent: chiefs shall accompany Te Wheoro to Auckland, to draw up the basis ; of - an arrangement or submission to Parliament will probably be carried out. Wahanui gave as an addendum to Tawhiao’s opening programme the proposition that Government be asked to suspend their decision in the case of Te Whiti arid Tohu until an opportunity had been offered of discussing the matter with other questions given to Te Wheoro for submission to Parliament. In the after discussion, however, no speaker even mentioned Te Whiti or Tohu, showing how little interest was tajsen in them by

he natives present. ; The talk was almost entirely devoted to recriminating about land sales, and to suggestions about removing Parliament to Auckland. One man thought that, now peace was made, thirty Maoris ought to be admitted: to Parliament ; another thought that Maoris should have a Parliament to themselves. Te tVheoro said he would bear all their wants to the House of Representatives ; but while he did so, it remained with themselves to cease from sales, leases roads, and land courts. He said that he represented the bridge, the one now building across the Waipa, and would undertake that the road should stop there, Te Ngakau represented sales and leases of lahd, and had promised to stop those. Te Wetere represented the Native Land Court —would he stop that ?. > ,