A Native on the Forthcoming Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3144, 17 March 1879, Page 3

A Native on the Forthcoming Meeting.

We have received a long letter from a native in Waikato in regard to the intrigues going on about the approaching meeting at Te Kopua. He states that several persons adverse to the. present administration are active in Waikato. One expedient of these people is to send slanderous statements on the Government to certain newspapers, and when these are issued, to send them to us (the Maoris). The Maoris cannot help observing that Europeans are the only people who are blaming the Government. This is done through envy. Another work of these people ia to collect the attacks on the Government from every newspaper, translate them, and send them to the natives, but they never send a word in commendation of the Government, so that the Maoris might judge. They desire to arouse the animosity of the chiefs of the Hauhau side against the Government, so that no good shall result for both peoples from the meeting of Tawhiao and Sir George Grey at JKopua. This instilling of evil into the Maori mind is, our correspondent thinks, avery evil work. These Europeans are simply acting from envy, and desire to create confusion and disturbance. In the time of the late Government some of these people were in its employment, and therefore they; speak evil of the present one. Andther reason is, that these Europeans are afraid lest a good understanding should be come to between Sir George Grey and Tawhiao for the island. They would like that another Government ■hould have the opportunity of regulating affairs. Our correspondent has heard that some Europeans have stated that Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan have not been invited to the meeting to be held this month at Te Kopua. These statements are false. The meeting is for Tawhaio and Sir George Grey, and arises out of what was said by them both at Hikurangi. The letter, of which the above is a condensation, concludes:—" O friends, do not attend to what this or that one may say, but listen to what Tawhiao says; for with him is the regulation."— Herald. .