WANGANUI.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2809, 14 February 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI.

This day, 2.40 p.m.

Tiie Hon. the Native Minister arrived at Wanganui at ten o'clock last evening, from Patea. He has travelled from: Taranaki by the coast road, culling at all the chief native settlements 01 the road. He stopped on the evening of the first day at To Whiti's settlement, and was cordially received by the prophet of Parihaka. After food had been served in i wooden building provided for the use of the European guests, the Minister and party proceeded to pay a formal visit to Te Whiti in his own house. There was a large meeting, the house being full of people. The reception was cordial in the highest degree. The talk began at hflf-past eight, and lasted until nearly :,wo o'clock in the morning. It is quite c'.-av that Te Whiti will strain every nerve to preserve the peace. The great question along the settlements was the confiscated lands. Many demands were" 5 made fora return of the confiscated land, to all of which the Native Minister made the same answer—that the Government declined to entertain any such proposal. The confiscated land would be cut up and sold to Europran settlers, and that no interference on the part of >,the natives would be allowed. The last of such demands was made at Waitotara by Tapa te Wairi and his people. They asked that the survey of confiscated 'land near Waitotara should be stopped, and spoke of great troubles which would ensue if the survey were persisted in. The Native Minis^r told Tapa plainly, that the survey must go on ; that any trouble which might arise tvould be Occasioned by Tapa, not by the Government; and he reminded them that it was by their disobeying of the law in the past that they had lost their lands, and warned them against a course of action which might necessitate strong measures. It might fairly be put as the result of the journey, that the question of the confiscate . land is pract'cally settled. Mr Sheehan left by the Manawatu this morning to catch the up-country train to Greytown on Friday morning, to attend a large native meeting there.