INTERVIEW OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE TAURANGA NATIVES.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 241, 13 April 1866, Page 3

INTERVIEW OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE TAURANGA NATIVES.

Casip Te Papa, March 26. The p.s. Sturt, Captain Eairchild, which arrived here about three hours after H.M. s. Eclipse, Captain Preemantle, with his Excellency on board, 9 p.m., being, as I understand, about to leave here in a few minutes, I simply write these few lines to acquaint you that his Excellency Sir G-eorge Grey landed at 10 a.m., "under a guard of honor. Colonel Hamilton, commanding officer of this district, was in attendance to receive him, along with Colonels Lyons and Harrington, and his Honor the Superintendent, Mr "WTiitaker. The Governor at once proceeded to Colonel Hamilton's quarters, and precisely at 11 a.m. met the natives, about four hundred in number, in the paddock adjoining Archdeacon Burn's residence. I shall not attempt to give you the particulars of what then took place, contenting myself at present until I have more time to correct my manuscript, which is all in Maori, until the next mail. Suffice it, however, in me to say that his Excellency, in conjunction with his Honor the Superintendent, after about three and a half hours, succeeded in obtaining 50.000 acres of land, being one-fourth of the Tauranga block. This in itself is very satisfactory, particularly so after all the bounce which the natives have shown, and were inclined to show at the meeting. The G-overnor, however, after he had been worked up to the highest pitch, plainly told them that, if they did not quietly and peaceably assent, he would seize the whole of Tauranga. The colony is indebted to his Excellency and his Honor the Superintendent for this achievement, which will place this interesting and promising district open for settlement. I cannot write you another line until the next mail, as the steam is up, and I know that you will be anxious to receive even the news of the assent of the natives to this 50,000-acre block. Tauranga is now open for settlement.