WHAKATIWAI. – THE NATIVE MEETING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1883, 5 August 1874, Page 3

WHAKATIWAI. - THE NATIVE MEETING.

——«- (FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT,) Seventh Day.—Saturday, Aug. 1. Our camp has become a busy scene during the day. A heavy nor-wester having set in with a bitter keen wind, all who are under canvas have _ set about making breakwinds with ti tree, and maay are indulging in the luxury of covered-in kitchens. A number of Waikatos have arrived overland j they are being provided for at a small settlement about a mile anda-half distant from here. Mr Mackay arrived atHauarakia little before dark. The wind has increased to a gale, and the sea is breaking with great fury upon the beach. EiaraH Day.—Sunday, Aug. 1. High wind and heavy rain have continued during the night. There is great fun going on upon the beach now, all the young people of both seies being out in the surf contending for the oysters and mussels which the heavy sea is washing ashore in large clusters off the rooks. It is of course quite delightful to cook outside in a heavy rain and high wind; that, however, had been accomplished, and just as we had got comfortably seated at breakfast, and the second peal of thunder had arrived—it thunders here a trifle—l heard a snap like a pistol shot, and away went the fly of our tent. (Jf course we had to go after it. Ninth Day.—Monday, Aug. 3. The storm raged with great fury during the night, but no damage was done to the camp. Wind, rain, and angry sea all day. The only business done was a proclamation that kits or baskets should be made for about 10 tons of potatoes which were spoiling in the rain. Tenth Day.—Tuesday, Aug. 4,10 a.m. The storm raged with, great fury during the night. It was with great difficulty that the tents were kept standing. Every•

thine; wet. It was intended to hare had a bullock slaughtered yesterday, but the state of the weather would not permit. In consequence thereof, there is an unlimited supply this morning of what is commonly known as "potatoes and point." The day being fine, we are all washing and drying our clothes. We are having a flagstaff for a flag twenty feet long erected to-day. It is the New Zealand ensign, with the legend " Ko te Puru o Hauraki," meaning that by peace and being well disposed to the Europeans, Hauraki has been preserved from confiscation like the Waikato. [I have made enquiries of Mr Mackay as to something referred to in your leading articles of late. He tells me that the " incidental expenses" were not mmeys received by him. The only sum received by him upon his land purchases was bis commission of fourpence (41) per acre. The incidental expenses are survey and other liens held by Messrs O'Kceffe, Hnnnaford, and Logan, near the Omaha, Wharekawa, Whangamata, and other blocks, which he was authorised to purchase for the Government. The remaining portion of the sum is comprised of ehurfjes forsurvey of reserves ,roads,&c. As to the payments in goods ami not in cash, he says a great deal of money has been paid away, and large quantities of goods have been supplied also The natives, when they have a great meeting like the present, prefer asking for so many tons of flour, sugar, and rice, and getting it delivered at once by a vessel, rather than having the money and incurring the trouble of getting the goods themselves. Mr Mackay states (and I I guarantee the correctness of the statement, from my own personal knowledge) that in a great many cases he does not give the orders to the natives to get the goods, but that the natives procure them for themselves, and give orders on him to pay the money. Very frequently these orders upon him are given before the land is negotiated for, and in such cases Mr Mackay has given his own personal acceptance for the amounts due, and has paid when he purchased the land. Mr Mackay denies the correctness of the statement that any storekeepers have renewed acceptances of his. He would much prefer that the natives would in all cases wait until he was prepared with Government money to make the purchases ; but he cannot always refuse to advance goods, or the natives would go to some other person to sell their lands. He says he has had no complaint from " the poor storekeepers" about his transactions with them. Such goods as he supplies the natives get at cost price, and he receives no benefit whatever, but a good deal of trouble. I am sure that both yourself and the public will receive this explanation as frankly as it is given.]