The Premier and the Maori King.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2798, 1 February 1878, Page 2

The Premier and the Maori King.

The Mooting in "Waikato.

Later News.

Pbb Pbess Agenoy.

Wbixingtok, This day. Sir George Grey is being conveyed today in a large canoe belonging to Te Wheoro, which arrived yeaterdav. The natives who came from Te Kopua yeater/day state that about 7CO natives are there. Bepresentatives of tribes are prarent from Napier, Wanganui, and Taranaki. Tawhiao sayp the kai is spoiling, and is anxious for the meeting to pommea 'c. Some Natives yesterday were very in patient at the delay, being tired witli long attendance at the recent tangi over the remains or tcrei (c Kau, and threatened to return^home, but wftW induced to stay. The Natives have only a few teuts } many

last night rode long distances to their settlements, but win return ■■to-day. In edditiou to the seven hundred already assembled, hundreds .more; are on the road from Tahmliere.

Puruhutu, Sullivan's murderer, and the redoubtable Te Kooti were at the place of meeting yesterday, having come from Te Kuiti; It is not known whether they will be present at the meeting, but it is not likely they will .take part in the proceedings. It ia not yet known whether Te Kooti will be present, but probably not, or, if so, he will lie perdu. Te Kooti got very drunk yesterday; mounted a horse, talked war, and attempted to ride over some natives. It ia said that some Europeans interested in land speculations have been inciting the natives to hostile speeches. Several chiefs living beyond the boundary desire to sell large blocks of land, and are expected to claim the right to sell.

Ngakau had heard that several land speculators accompanied the Ministers; ergo, the proclamation yesterday, excluding Europeans. It is not yet known how the Natives will receive Sir George Grey. At a meeting of chiefs yesterday, Te Ngakau advised that JSir George Grey should not be received with the usual pouwhiri on invitation from the women at the entrance to the settlement, which begins: ''Come here the guest," etc., but they should welcome him thus: " Come here governor. Your coming is .your own work."-. The meaning of this is understood to be that they will expect Grey to state the object of his meeting, taking ths initiative himself in speeches. They will probably not make tiny demand for the restoration of Waikato.

Rewi has been induced to remain s with the greatest difficulty. Yesterday he again threatened to leave. ,■ The story that he has a difference with Tawhiao is substantially comet. Bewi regards him as a mere puppet of the, Ngatihaua Chiefs.The following conversation between Bewi and a settler took place the other day:— Settler: Are you not ' subject to Tawhiao P jßewi: No; Ngatimaniapoto has only one Cnief; Ngatihaua has a hundred. Settler: Then, if Tawhiao asked you to go to war ? " Rewi(laughing): He asked me three times; I refused. The meeting will probably be over tonight. Sir Georg* Grey remains at the settlement to-night, with four, others. . The other Europeans, return.