NATIVE AFFAIRS. THE WAITANGI MEETING. Russell, March 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 351, 16 March 1889, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS. THE WAITANGI MEETING. Russell, March 13.

Yesterday morning there were close on a thousand natives ab the meeting. The meeting was opened in the hall by YVi Katene, with greetings to the Attorney(reneral for the Government and also to visiting natives north of the Thames and elsewhere. The first subject brought before them was the dog tax. Sir F. Whitaker said as it was nob on their notices he did not come prepared to answer them, but that they mutt adjourn that to the meeting at Auckland, where the Native Minister would no doubt be able to give them an answer; but he was not prepared to interfere with the laws of the country. This was discussed and the meeting adjourned after Sydney Taiwhanga had. aired some of his propositions, which did not seem to meet with much favour with the natives. t Jin the afternoon an open-air meeting was held to di-cu-s the Waihou lands (Hokianga district), the diileience between Hene Karo (the prophetess) and Retiti I'oi, and a proposal vva-> made by some that a committee composed , of ceitain chiefs be left to decide th ) matter, but the names of some proposed not; meeting with approval »b lapsed. They met again in the ball at 7 p.m., when the sume matter was discussed, but I have not heard the result. The Maori Synod was being held at Paihia yesterday afternoon. Bishop Cowie, Archdeacon Clark, Revs. Burrows ana Walsh, and a number of Maori ministers from all parts weie present.