THE NATIVE MEETING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2994, 30 October 1882, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING.

[Br Telegraph.] Alexandra, Oct. 28. Mr Bryce has ordered flour, sugar, tea, biscuits and beef, as a present to the King. There are not more than 500 natives here, and they are divided into two camps, the Waikatos by themselves, and the Ngatimaniopotos by themselves. The natives assembled at 10 o’clock this morning, but Mr Bryce did not come till 11. About a quarter to that hour, Tawhiao stood up and said Mr •Bryce was coming there that day to see the people, but no talking us to business would lake place. After they had seen and known oue another they would fix a day when talking should commence. This was merely a friendly meeting of a preliminary character, jVXi Dryee, on his arrival, went and shook hands with Tawhiao and sat down before him, silence being observed for some time.

Tawhiao then went buck and welcomed them, saying : —“ It is good to come ami see us all. This fa the day for seeing one another. We will pick out a good day to settle business. We want a warm day, so that our blankets may be thrown off. I have a word to say about the Land Court, but it will be spoken at another time.’’

Te Wheoro sat by his side prompting him.

Mr Bryce rose and said ;—I greet yon as you have greeted me for all our people. I reciprocate your good wishes. Let this bo a day of greeting, a day of goodwill. Let us not in the future look back on this day with regret.” He then said he was ready to spoakof the other matters besides greeting. Two ways there were of speaking —one open, the other keeping something back. If this were a day of greeting, then he should let it be so. When the time came to speak of tribal business he would speak plainly as he always did, and he hoped Tawhiao would also speak plainly. If he did &o, all the clouds would”disappear. Be stood there as a friend of Tawhiao if he would; accept him as such. With his help he could do much; without it he could do little. He was prepared to be his friend. Tawhiao said in reply, “Listen. I will speak plainly, and you must do the same. You have been dead and now you are alive.” ; Tawhiao then came out and sat down beside Mr Bryce, and the people began to disperse. Mr Bryce went over and shook hands with Wahonui, and the public business of the day was thus over in half an hour. Later in the day Mr Bryce presented Tawhiao with a gold pass for the whole of the New Zealand railways for life, or us he said,“So long as you live.” Tawhiao simply replied he would take it. The pass has two fern leaves and “ Free Eailway Pass ” on one side, and on the other “ Tawbiao.” The presentation took place at 1 o’clock, and Mr Bryce returned to the settlement before 2 p.m. He and Tawhiao seemed to get along very well together. Lateb. . Mr Bryce has left here to meet the Premier at Hamilton to-morrow. Consequent upon the adjournment of the Land Court at Cambridge, considerable additions are expected to the number of natives.