THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 3 May 1907, Page 2

THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

ALLEGED BREACHES IJY THE J'AKEIIA. MAORI DEPUTATION TO KIXG EDWARD. A GREAT KOItEIiO.

Per Press Association. Auckland, ,\lay 2. Nearly 2000 natives I'roui all parts of .he North Island have assembled H t iVanlii. the settlement of Hie Hon. Manila, .M.L.C., where a great meeting will ie commenced oil Saturday, the object of lie koiero being, .so lar as can lie learn;d, the selection ol' delegates to proceed :o England for the purpose of interviewng King Edward, whose intervention is lo he sought in righting the alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi by Ihe Government of New Zealand. WliatI'ver the object is, the movement is a popular one, and has succeeded ill bringing together about what is said to be. the largest gathering held in Waikato since the death of the late King Tawhiao. The business of the meeting is managed liy a native committee, and, in addition, there are present several native parsons and ministers (Anglican and Methodist), as well as ninny pake■las iv lio take a sincere interest in everytinng that pertains to the native race. At the entrance to the pa is a notice board which forbids the riding of horses within the enclosure, drinking, or the ciuiymg into the village, and the admission of "drunkards" inside the fence under penalties to be inflicted by the "koniiti." _ it is stated that over £1(10(1 was raised on Tuesday towards the purchase of the necessary provisions for the large gathering.

Mr. Rewi Miutka, one of the promoters of the movement to send a' party of chiefs Home to present a petition to King Edward relative to land matters, was in Otaki on Tuesday (telegraphed the Wellington Post correspondent), and met the leading natives of this district, with the result that they have pledged their people to subscribe 5s per head towards the project. ]t was arranged that the funds collected in tin! district should remain under the control of the local committee until actually" required. Mr. Maaka, who lias just finished a successful tour of the South Island in the interests of the movement, must be possessed of considerable persuasive powers, for it is only a few days since the local natives held a meeting and decided to have nothing to do with the petition. Mr. Pitiera Taipua, son of the late M.H.R. of that name, is the only one who was able to withstand Mr. Maaka'a eloquence.