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Southland Times, Issue 715, 26 August 1867, Page 2

The " Wanganui Times" says : — An important native meeting is to take place at Patea on Monday, the 26th inst., which is expected to be one of the largest held upon the West Coast for many years past. It appears that the Hauhau god has warned his votaries of the fact that the year of peace has commenced, and that they mußt come from all quarters to meet the loyal Maorie3 and Pakehas with whom they are henceforth to live in peace. About a fortnight ago messengers were sent from beyond New Plymouth on to Wanganui, Turakina, Eangitikei, &c, to invite the tribes to attend. We are indebted to one of those messengers for a regularly addressed copy of the " Taranaki Herald" a fortnight old. It is expected that that meeting will have .a very, beneficial effect upon the West Coast natives. Mb doubt Lieutenant-Colonel M'Donnell, his officers and men, and Mr Booth, 8.M., will be there, and we purpose, sending a special reporter. Some fears were lately entertained at Hokitika as to the condition of the diggers on the more southely goldfields, where it was known that the I rapply of provisions was very limited. It wa3 known that only three tons of flour, a few quarter-chests of tea, and a small quantity of sugar, were left in Btore there to support a population of 100 souls distributed between the Haast and Big Bay. -Mr Frederick Greer, agent of the .steamer Bruce, writes, however, to the •• West Coast Times," stating that in his opinion there is no ground of apprehension that there is any destitution, at the Haast, as when the Bruce . left, on the 16th ultimo, the diggers had stores to. last them more than a month. The population has since dwindled down to about thirty souls.