ORAKEI NATIVE MEETING. Auckland, March 28.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 355, 30 March 1889, Page 5

ORAKEI NATIVE MEETING. Auckland, March 28.

After we went to press yesterday the native meeting at Orakei was resumed, but nothing oi consequence was done ; the only business being speeches of welcome, and expressions of determination co abide by the Waitangi Union were made by the following chiefs : — Eru te Uremutu, Matenga Taiwhanga (brother of Sydney Taiwhanga), Wi Katene (Ngapahi), Taiaho (Ngatimahuta), Paitaki, Wi Parata, Rev. Wi Turepona, Major Kemp, Makaraari (of Naaitevangi), Titore (Ngapahi), Wi Hope (brother of the late Wi Tako Ngatata, M.L.C.), Te Aoterangi, Wiremu Hoete, Whitiao, and the Waikato chief Patara te Tuhi. To-day the p.s. Alexandra conveyed a large number of Europeans down to the scene ot gathering, the major portion of them being on curiosity or pleasure bent. The steamer's passengers were landed at a reef near the Orakei Beach from which a short walk brought them to the kainga. Here they occupied themselves until the discussion began, by wandering around the village, watching the preparations making for the meeting and the after part — a most important one, — the dinner. Here and there clusters of merrily chatting loahmes and girls were busily scraping potatoes or in other ways preparing food, while others were hard at work attending to the cooking, which was done partly in European modes, and also by means of the old Maori ovens, or hangi, the steam from which was rising in columns in the air in several places. A very large quantity of food has been prepared for the feaebing, including beef, mutton, pork, potatoes, kumeras, pipis and some two tons of pieserved till or mutton-bird, fiom Kapiti and Stewart Island, in the South, encased in layers of their own fat, and then made up in totara-bark baskets. These preserved huahua keep for months in this way, and areremarkably good eating, as many present at this meeting yesterday can testify. Several more natives of rank have arrived at Orakei since yesterday, including Waihi te Kopuru (Ngatiwhatua), Waata Tipa (Ngafcipaoa), Kawhena (Waikabo), and the well-known Ngatiporou Native | Assessor, Paratene Ngata, son of Major Bopaba Wahawaha. These will most likely i close the list of visitors expected at the gathering. The native runanga was to open at 10 a.m. to-day, but owing to the late arrival of the Native Minister nothing was done this morning. Amongst those who arrived early on the scene were Mr Kelly. M.H.R., Mr Locke, of Hawke's Bay, Mr Aitken Connell, and Mr Clendon, R.M. , who will in all likelihood act as interpreter for the pakeha visitors. Shortly before noon the Native Minister arrived from town via Remuera, and | had an interview with Major Kemp, Patara te Tuhi, Hoani Taipua, M.H.R., and Paul Tuhaere. As it was so late, the natives decided to adjourn the meeting till after dinner. The formal proceedings were to commence at 2 p.m. in a large tent I erected near Paul's house, the church having been found to be too small to hold the numbers attending. After the usual welcoming by the native chiefs the meeting was to proceed at once to the consideration of statutes affecting the Maoris and their lands, and to discuss the clauses in Sydney Taiwhanga's pamphlet of " Proposals for the Colonisation and Settlement of Native Lands." Mr Aitken Connell also was to bring forward drafted proposals of bis own regarding native land laws, their administration, and the Native Lands Courts, and lay them open for discussion by the natives. Sir Frederick Whitaker, Attorneygeneral, was to proceed to Orakei to-day to represent the Government at the Parliament, in conjunction with Mr Mitchelson. Amongst the North Island tribeß now represented at the Okahu meeting by many of their most influential chiefs are — besides Ngatiwhatua and Ngapuhi — Ngatitamatera, Ngatipaoua, Neatimahuta; Ngatitahinga, Ngatimanipoto, Ngatiawa, VVhanganui, Te Karawa, Te Aopouri, Whakatohea, Ngatiporou, Ngatiraukawa, ■ Ngatikahungunu, Ngatimaru, Taranaki. Ngatirangiwewehi, Ngaiterangi, and others. In all there are now about 300 natives assembled, at Okahu.