Native Meeting in the Waikato.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3295, 14 July 1879, Page 2

Native Meeting in the Waikato.

A Press Agency telegram ■> says :-kA. large native meeting was held at Cambridge (Waikato)'6n Saturday. At the I beginning there was some disturbance, which caused a separation, but the meeting reorganised, and the petition prepared for presentation! to the Goternoil was read. It set forth that the natives were desirous of living peacably with the Europeans; that there were many complaints and grievances which could not get 'remedied by Government ov Parliament, therefore they looked' to the ,;Goverhor as the mouthpiece of the Queen to ameliorate their condition. They ask that he will iappoint commissioners ■to consider their ;wrongs, some to, be elected: Iby the Governor and some by the Maoris. They have discovered tbe lack of strength of the Native Minister appointed by tlie European^ and pray; jthat the 1; Maoris may be allowed ,to appointv a ' Nal;ite Minister. They say that the practice of Government in paying' at. few pounds on latid; that th£ y pay satisfy their greediness in' purchasing afterwards will lead to evil, and pray that Government land purchasing, be stopped* That, the Commissioners be instructed to inquire into the liquor traffic so as to prevent it' extending, and bring) it to an end* and stop its increase, among ...the tribes. A long, discussion ensiled, many speakers contending that Commissioners would do no good. They- had had Commissioners, and had elected native, membeirß, ancl Hone Nahe yjas'iaVtlie.*Mjbi.Btryj. bufcii was all the same. One speaker said it was foolish to blame the: Government because their lands were sold at half % crown an acreX the Maioris..were Jo.blamfe themselves. Some thought .they might try the petition and see how it worked^. The meeting-finalJy,nadjpUTned r still Monday to further discuss .tlie matter. | Another petition isi "going to Wellington demanding the. return of all confiscated lands at Tauranga, and all lands wrong* fully bought. This is sigiied by 12^) native landowners. ' . „.,. i £3000 have been •paid 5 duringthe'liit fe#days 6t± the Oakura block.: Sikiteißik chiefs: were overpaid in mistake,!and immediately refunded when the error was ,pointed,,'put»'.. '/■ '■' .' a;^;vyu"! Si ,:; ;i"' | '