NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 148, 30 March 1872, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

(Fiom the D. S. Cross.') By the Waikato mail last night, our reports from native districts are to hand. THE FORTHCOMING NATIVE MEETING. An occasional correspondent writes from Alexandra :—“ The patience of the Kingites is almost worn out by the long delay that has taken place before holding the great native meeting to which the Governor was invited. Invitations were sent twice to his Excellency, and the natives were ready two months ago to hold the meeting. When the Ngatiwhatua natives were at Te Kuiti, the proceedings were delayed for a short time, in the hope that word would be received of the Governer’s expected visit, but without result. The natives are still expecting him, and, as the fine weather is going by, it will be impossible to hold the meeting in another month. I hear that Manuhiri is very dissatisfied with the non-arrival of his Excellency, as he has frequently advised the more dissatisfied of the Hauhaus to wait quietly until the meeting is over. When PaoraTuhaere inquired what he intended to demand of the Governor, Manuhiri replied that he had his requests hid in his bosom, and he would not divulge them until the time came. Tawhiao is said to be extremely moderate in his views. He is anxiwus to get back Ngaruawahia, because his ancestors, including King Potatau, are buried there. Tawhiao is a young man, and, if removed from the counsels of old Manuhiri, would probably be extremely favourable to Europeans. I telegraphed to you the result of the meeting with the Ngatiwhatua, and as the party have returned to town, you will probably have heard further particulars. Speaking of the confiscated land, Manuhiri said, 4 If you see a beautiful woman, what is your desire ? You wish to marry her, to have her to yourself ; and so we love Waikato, and wish to retain it. If the blood of our people only had been spilled, and the land remained, then this trouble would have been over long ago.’ Speaking of roads, railways, and telegraphs, Manuhiri and Rewi told Paul to warn his European friends that these things would be the cause of trouble. Paul said the roads did not belong altogether to the Government —the friendly natives and even the Hauhaus worked upon them. This Manuhiri admitted, but said he did not like them. He did not want to have them near him. It is impossible to say whether, at their meeting with the Governor, the request for the whole of the confiscated land will be repeated, or whether the natives will have decided to accept the suggestion of Paul, and settle upon a block of land in Waikato, if the Government will grant them a section for the purpose. I believe the natives would gladly come to Alexandra, and some of them even to Ngaruawahia, if that would facilitate the gathering. The Ngatiwhatuas appear to think that their visit has been very far from unsuccessful, as they found a hearty welcome, and, with the exception of the land question, the Kingites are, on all subjects, far more amenable to reason than they have hitherto shown themselves. “RUMOURED NATIVE MURDERS.

“ A report came into Alexandra, a few days ago, to the effect that certain friendly natives had been murdered by a band of Hauliaus. As native rumours are not uncommon in this quarter, great credence was not placed upon the report, and a want of further confirmation leads me to the belief that the rumour was a canard. It is not thought likely that the Kingites, properly so-called, will ehange their attitude until after thS* meeting with the Governor, but there are certain bands of Hauhaus, unconnected with the King party, who have frequently threatened the friendly natives, and it was thought not improbable that they had carried their threats into execution. These Hauhaus have been before rebuked by Manuhiri for their manifestations of hostility pending the forthcoming meeting.” STOPPAGE OF WORKS ON THE RAGLAN AND WAIPA ROAD. Our Raglan correspondent writes : —“ I am sorry to hear that the Government have found it necessary to stop for the present the survey of the road from Waipa to Raglan. The roads through native districts have been pushed vigorously. Large parties of natives, including some Hauhaus, were engaged on the road from Taupo to Tauranga, and worked willingly. The survey of the Waipa and Raglan road was being completed as fast as possible, the surveying party being protected by a small body of men under Major Mair. This road will, when completed, connect the settlements of the Waikato with the West Coast. It appears that Manuhiri’s secretary, with a number of King natives, went over to Major Mair and asked him to desist from proceeding with the survey. This Major Mair refused to do, referring them to the Government. Such an active

opposition has, however, since been shown to this road being proceeded with, that the Government have, I am informed, thought it better to sLay operations in the meantime, nsMair’s party is notsufficiently strong to resist any attack that might be made, and the natives after bucli repeated warnings might think themselves justified in putting a forcible stop to the works. The fact is tha( the natives are getting alarmed at seeing their hitherto inaccessible territory opened up by the employment of their own countrymen, under the energetic guidance of the Public Works Minister.”