NATIVE MEETING PROCEEDINGS AT ORAKEI. Auckland, March 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 355, 30 March 1889, Page 6

NATIVE MEETING PROCEEDINGS AT ORAKEI. Auckland, March 27.

This large native ( meeting^ ab.?the, , Maori j setUomenb of Okahu, in Orakei Bay J , A some four miles down the harbour, opened today and was largely attended by natives of rank from the Nprbh and Auckland district. At 10" o'clock to-day the Devonport Ferry Company's p. a. Alexandra conveyed a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen down from town to vifeib tho scene of assembly. The kainga of Okahu, commonly known as Orakei, is situated in that sheltered little Bay ot Orakei, bounded by the steep points of Whakabakataka and Pokonoa, and comprises about a score of native - built raupo whares arid one or t\yo weather-board cottages, built in European style, one of which, close to the beach, in an orchard of apple and other tree^, is the residence of the well-known Ngatiwhatua chief, Paora Tnhaore. Very few natives permanenlby resident Okahu, for bhe'Kgabiwhatua tribe has dwindled to a mere femrianfc of itsfpvmer .sbrongtb, and tho major 'p'dr'tion of- 'the uoi now have their settlements in "the fcaipara district. To-day, however., Orakei vvab m fate, with clusters' ot Maoris scattered in all directions • 'discussing' the forthcoming formal korero. ..From the tall flagstaff near the , shingle ,< bead} the Union Jack and two or. f bhree -o^her, flags, including one which Paul Tuliaere ? was presented with by Admiral Try on two or three years ago, were fliibteritfg'gaily in tho breeze, and a Maori yacht. lying at anchor near the shore was likewise adorned Avith bunting. Ample provision had been made by Paul r and his tribe for bhe reception ofthe Maori guest?, and tents had been erected; f,or the additional accommodation of the ' visitors. In ,' $ largo open raupo building, which al&o served as a housing for the Orakei large war-; canoe, Taheretikitiki, babies had beon laid ready for bhe feaeb to follow the speechmaking, in regular European style, Maori waitois in white aprons being ready to attend to the assembled rgngatiras. Outside the wharesthe Maoris were s6atteredaround in ail directions, here a group lying' on the ground, passively watching and listening to an excited discuobion between t»vo oldelaboratcly tattooed aborigines regarding some obtruse point in the ethics of native land laws, and a little further off a number of gaily-at.tired young people busying themselves in various preparations for the accommodation^ of the guests. The scene w'ab an unusually animated one, and there must have 'been ebme two hundred or more natives present. This is however below the number expected, as' many influential chiefs wibh r their followers' from Waikato and elsewhere weie unable to attend. All piesenb, with the exception of one or two, who wore a ' handsome ' KaitoJca flax mat, were dressed in European' garb; and the -Maori 'belles especially were resplendent in the combinations of bright colours so dear to the native feminine mind. The proceedings of the day, owing to the absence Of the Native Minister and the Attorney-General, 'did not embrace any of tho matters relating to the legislation on native lands, but was confined to speeches pf welcome and congratulation by the principal chiefs present, and to the signing of a document drawn up at tho late Waitangi meeting by the Ngapuhi, and in which the 1 epi esen tati yes ot the various tribes through - out tho Island promfse td stand by arid assist each other in their endeavour to have laws affecting the Maoris and their lands rectified in accordance with justice to both ' races, which they style the " Maori Union of Waitangi." Already this Union has received the signatures of some 400 men of rank in the North I&land, and many more added their names to-day. Shortly before 11' o'clock this morning L the encrget'ic I'inging of a bell by a stalwart native brought ,the assembled Maoris flocking into the neat little whare-karakia, or chuchab thehuthor end of the kainga, where service is held regularly by a native Church of England minister. When all pakehas and Maoiis, who could gain admission were seated, Paul Tuhaere mounted the platform,, and opened the " Parliament '\ with a short prayer, and then addressed the assembly. Ho welcomed .the chiefs and people present on- behalf of Ngatiwhatua, and expressed, a wish that all would unite in their endeavours to secure the ends for which the meeting was convened. Peaceful argtfmentf was by far the best and most advantageous method of .sefitlintv all disputes, far superior to the' old mode of resorting to the whttwhai, and he hoped that their deliberations would result in a permanent benefit to the vital 'interests .of their race. 1 ' v • , The official native secretary, r £p Ivaw-hiti, of \Vhat.iwhatihoe, here read "a' lebter .received by Paul from bhe famous Nga*puhi chief Maihi Paraone Kawiti, who expressed regict at not being able to jatteijd, 'bub \ oflered, in his usual native style, his congratulations to the assembled chiefs. 1 ! A letter from King, Tawhiao was read, and I was reoeived^by' the meeting" with loud apr piause. Translated, 'it was as follows :—: — | '» Whabiwhabihoc (Waikabo), March 17th. Greetings to you all. I am pleased and glad to hear of your Action in endeavouring to secure justice and right-dealing for< the Maori people; but in your striving, for that end you must beware that the breakers do nob overwhelm your cance. ' If you see forty waves rolling in upon you , do. nob attempted' reach the shore ;if you see thirty do ,not J 'advagce ;' bub ,wait unbil you perceive a calm in the raging waters, and then push forward the prow of ,^our -canoe to reach the land. ' Theri' ' shall -Hie feet of the paddlers rest upon the, dry land, and your 1 end be gained. God will grant you andl enlighten your hearts. That is ail. J Na Tawhiao.'"" ' l ThY meaning of the metaphor in this 1 letter will be easilyseen. . Hoani Taipua,. M.H.R,, from Welling- ' ton, then f rose, an.d spoke briefly in the ' same sti'ai'tr as the (phairman, Paul Tuhaere, welcoming' tr\e people., and thanking Paul and iiis tribe for their endeavours for the general good. : Major Kepa (Kenap) te Rangihuinui next addressed the meeting,* being received with loud .applause, and spoke in a forcible and somewhat humouros manner. Afterthanking Paul and Ngapuhi for their exertions re-* garding native land legislation, he said that' although he was a "Government man" yethe. had the greatest sympabhy with bhe objects of the _ gentlemen, and had signed the Maori 'Union both at Waitangi and at Orakei. Ib was only by workirig in friendly relabions to the •pakaha, that .they 1 could attain their desired ends, and. he hoped all would remember bhat, The rhqebing was bhen adjourned unbil 2.30 p.m., after dinner, Kvhen bhe speechmaking would be resumed. The real business of bhe meebing will nob, however, commence until bhe' Nabive 1 Minister -arrives from Piako, which' will most likely be on ' Friday. *-/•'. <' .; . % . \