THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3190, 10 May 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1879.

OtJE special correspondent at Kopua sends us a long despatch to-day, and the most interesting report we have had yet from the meeting^ Sir George Grey is evidently improving his position, and there is ; every /. prospect of the Government scoring a victory. The importance of inch a result to, the Colony cannot well be estimated, and no wonder Sir George Grey

has so determinately remained at Te Kopua, for success means, perhaps, tenure of office. It may be well to glance at the position of the parties, the tactics used, and the results up to the present. Tawhiao's advisersaappearrr to have made up their minds to play a deep game, and if the result had been as they probably anticipated, there is no doubt but instead of the situation of the Government being improved, quite the contrary would have been the case. If the assumption of supreme authority claimed by Tawhiao in bis address had been acquiesced in by the representatives of the tribes present, his position would have been strengthened, and it would have made his party more independent, and less interested and inclined to accept' the terms offered by, the Premier. > Still knowing the leaning of the Ngapuhi people to the, government, it was a bold attempt to make, for a little consideration might have shown Tawhiao that this tribe atleast might be expected to refuse to admit his authority as supreme over the island. Again the assertion of sovereignty might have been made with the object of preventing a discussion and a settlement of the questions in dispute with the Government, so putting off the evil day y for anticipating the opposition of the Ngapuhi and,other independent .tribes a long debate would naturally follow. The latter view of the case has been borne out by the position taken up immediately by the Ngapuhi chiefs, who were the first to begin the debate, no doubt expressing their own opinions, but at the same time playing the best card possible on the Government side. Sir George Grey has evidently allowed every latitude to his supporters, knowing that by widening the breach and appealing to the independence'of the. several tribes, he stood every chance of gaining adherents, and lessening the, strength of the King party. In this day's despatch-the Premier makes his first speech, and it has evidently been received with attention and respect, and Ngakau's reply is not in that determined tone that might be expected from a man whose mind was made up to. a certain course, or one not open to conviction Bewi s«ems, notwithstanding all the in-

fluencos of the Kingites, to be stauucii to his promises to the Government, and it is probable; the; tactics of Tawhiao will result in further attaching him to the views of the Ministry.