The Native Meeting at Tokomaru.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 982, 28 September 1881, Page 3

The Native Meeting at Tokomaru.

A correspondent has obliged us with a report of the proceedings of the late meeting. After a full description of the preliminary observations of hospitality, reception of visitors, hakas, &c., he says: —After the hakas were finished, we strolled round among the Natives, and examined the house, the completion of which was being celebrated. It is about 60 feet long, by 30 feet wide, weather boarded, and a s higgled roof. The front is composed of carved wood painted red, with paua shells. Inside are carved slabs about 3 feet apart with intervening panels, worked with colored flax, 'Veach panel being of a different pattern. The ridgepole is'one slab of totara, painted in scrolls, as also are the rafters. There are twd glass windows in the end, but it is not at all an imposing edifice but the carving inside is very fine. The house is named “ Buatepupuki.” After lunch the Europeans were presented with an address, which vfas, at the request of the Natives, interpreted by Mr. Gannon, as follows:-*— “ Greeting: Subjects of Queen Victoria, welcome tO'jTokomarm.that you may see the assembly -of Nativepeople met here. There is not a great deal to be Said at this meeting, sufficient for the principal subject is the belief in the Almighty God, who has spread His goodness oyer all the universe, and all places .whifeh in darkness. He caused His servant, Queen Victoria, tij send bishops and missionaries to bring the Gospel of truth to the places which were in darkness, and gave them strength and courage to come to these islands, and preach the good tidings of Christ to the people, through which we ar© living in peace and happiness, let your guidance and direction of the, Maori people be good, and according to the law and good faith. “Long live the Qufeen. May her throne be established ; and. may she show kindqfess to the Maori children ; and may the Almighty God preserve us all. ' /'x- f .- “ Now, friends, the consideration and ktadriess of Queen Victoria for the Maori people of this island, have been established, and the Treaty of Waitangi was made to perpetuate her words; but the conditions of the ■treaty 'werb now to a great extent violated by the laws made by the Parliament, for instance, the rate proposed to be levied on wooden houses; dog taxes ; and rates on land, held under Native custom. “ These were questions which it was intended to discuss at this meeting, especially the dog tax, as it was a matter from which great trouble might arise; for instance if the owner of a dog had no money wherewith to pay the rate, the dog might be killed, and the owner in his anger retaliate, and low will the people be situated ? The same applies to the other questions.” Hoani Ruru asked if there were any members of the County Council present; and on being informed that Captain Porter was the only member at the meeting, desired that he would

reply to the, following questions 1« What action should the Natives take on demand being made for rates on wooden houses ? 2. What action should they take on demand being made for rates held under Native custom ? What action should they take on demand being made for dog tax? »■, ■

Captain Porter rose and stated that these questions had been put to him, as if he was undergoing cross-examina-tion, and he would not reply to them at once but would first return thanks for the /welcome accorded, and the complimentary remarks that had been made.

Captain Porter then addressed the assembly at great length on the advantage of these discussions, and continued : —The law under which lands were taxed had not yet passed, but it probably would be. When in Wellington, Henare Potae and himself had asked the Hon. Native Minister not to bring in that law until it had been submitted to the Natives for their consideration, and it would be approved. With regard to rates on wooden houses, rates cannot be demanded unless for crown granted property, when the rate so paid would entitle the person rated to a vote for a member of the House, otherwise the Natives had no vote for European members. The dog tax was a law made by the Parliament, which the Council was not responsible for, but cannot Refuse to administer it. Henare Potae then presented the“ Europeans with the potted pigeons, which had been placed in A row in front of himself, and they were very quickly removed ; this closed the day’s proceedings. I omitted to mention that a collection was made after the termination of the hakas, with the following result:— ~ Ngatiporou ... ... £42 Tutangahauiti [> , Whanauarua 27 Europeans ... 11 Total £9B