PROPOSED NATIVE MEETING IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 999, 19 February 1883, Page 4

PROPOSED NATIVE MEETING IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Tired, if not altogether disgusted with discussing the question of ‘mana as regards Tawhiao, and the means of settling the last question through the medium of that imbecile “monarch,” the Ngatimaniapotos have at last determined on a bold stroke—the settlement of matters in connection with roads and railways, and the opening of the country generally, as far as they are concerned. They have got tired attending the socalled King meetings at Whatiwhatihoe, which have been, invariably ended as commenced, so far as any practical good was concerned, and having now laid Tawhiao and the mana question aside, this influential tribe is about to come to the point regardless of all counter tribal influences. Rewi, Wahanni, Taonui Wetere, and other chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto, have arranged a meeting at which all the chiefs of the tribe are to attend, to take place on the 2.6 th inst. at Totoro, a native settlement about 50 miles inland from the Mokau Heads, and about two days’journey from Kihikihi, and Mr W. H. Grace is the only European who has been invited to be present. The object of the meeting is to discuss, all matters in connection with the land, the opening of the country by the Government, European settlement, and other matters of like importance. Having come to a conclusion, if such is possible, it was their intention to proceed in their canoes down the river to the heads, where it was arranged they should meet the representative of the Government to lay their yiews before him ; but owing to the nature of Mr Bryce’s recent reply on the amnesty question this course, we learn, has been abandoned, and none others, so far as we can gather, substituted. Wetere, after arranging for a supply of food for the meeting at Toloro, proceeded to Waitara, from which place he telegraphed to Wahanni, Rewi, and Grace, to the effect that everything would be ready on the 26th inst., and requesting them to be at the appointed place without, fail on that date. From what we learn, the Ngatmaniapotos mean business this time, and if things are properly conducted on the part of the Government, we see no reason why something satisfactory should not be amicably arranged.— Auckland Star.