MAORI MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 813, 30 August 1879, Page 2

MAORI MEETING.

A numerously attended Native meeting was held on Thursday night at the house known as Poho-o-Rawori on the opposite side of the river. The meeting had been convened by Henare Tomoana, the late Member for the East Coast Maori Electoral District, and who is again seeking the suffrages of the electors. The meeting was also addressed by two other candidates, Henare Matua, who was defeated by Tomoana at the last election, and by Henare Potae. Henare Tomoana, in addressing the meeting, defended his action in voting against the Government. It was because he had seen that they had done no good for the Natives. The Government had afterwards brought in the Peace Preservation Bill, which in its action would have been most oppressive against the Maoris. That Bill had been thrown out in the Upper House, for which they had to thank Waterhouse. Having done no wrong when representing them, he would like the people to send him in again. When a Member saw that a Government was not doing well for the Maoris, it should be the thabMcnitlcr to vote dgainst.' them: If elected he would try for these things, viz : To get more representatives; a commission appointed to investigate land complaints; To get a fair settlement of the question of confiscated lands. To have the present electoral district subdivided into three; to pass a measure to remedy the evils of management of Native Schools; and lastly, to make law those questions agreed to at the Native meeting at Pakowhai. He had said before, and he would say again, that he would not sell his vote for any money, or to be made a Minister of the Crown. He had been asked by a Minister that were he re-elected, would he support the Government, and he had said he would if they had a majority in the House. He was opposed to Grey because, having been in power for three sessions, he had done nothing for the Native people. He had been told that it was the intention of the Government to bring in a bill to tax Native freeholds ninepence an acre, and to make leaseholds Native reserves. Henare Matua then addressed the meeting and said he would not lay down any defined line of policy. If elected he would do his best for the people. They knew that the best for the people was what he had always been aiming for. If elected the people could keep him informed as to requirements, which he would try and carry out. Grey, Sheehan, and Rees were friends of his, as they were friends of the whole of the people. He had been •asksed to comp.,ih^wfti , Af .ipyl’rhq .typp?d, I they! would support him. . There were three' can-1 didates, and because they \verc opposed to I one another was ' tliey should' quarrel. If he watLdefcs6d he would still! help the one wlfq/\^/el<jgtod. There were' many evils under which Hie Maoris were l labb/iug,lanfll uobn Vvhich ’’Jic fc/uld Y'd Jon I talking ror'*a* ivodk/ *riic *pcoitlc‘ knew 'his views in the oast; hqJiadupt changed. ' HenarCiiiiwAddliSd.iJwXiis.seilijthe meeting ■ Sid said that as regards opinions he and 'weß6’-alike. ;Ho ll«d>‘<bcBii < asked to stand aS Metriber* twifeo'- before, and it was only.mow-tlmt,.Wik Consented,,- He did not thlrilr'tnar a' 'Could do ,ipuch. good.in , Parlianacqt, as ope j-jwas piiQutd support J? whoever was electe^. v *^ro t ,-what assistance he could give him." Tlis 'only ob- j jcct was to try and get the evils the Maoris WCro’suffering from redressed? < • Several speakers also addressed the meeting and there was a wish that Wi Tore should stanTand the others give way in his favor. Wi rfcre jn; .speaking declined to* come for-1 ward,’..and „after 'reviewing what;bad been, done in the past, said that a most necessary thing was to have committees appointed in districtS'with power to manage land questions, and although opposed to any more land be-: ing sold, whatever was sold should be through tho<J6mmitiicc. as the purchaser would [then be sure.to ( have a valid till?. , . i 11 /TBc meet ing broke up a late hour; it being 'generally understood that every man should vote as his fancy pleased him.