The King Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4316, 31 October 1882, Page 2

The King Meeting.

(Peu Pbess Association.)

■ <'''¥■:■■ Ai-exanb**,-Yesterdays /■•■ The meeting resumed^ this afternoon at Whatiwhatiboe. > «Sewi-'.was present on this occasion, and HkewiJWf^ $ur sprinkling of Europeans. ; The ileathefr was fine, and tbe * Kstheringl,' strikingly picturesque. After a brief parley,; Mr Bryce proceeded to say: "He would now speak to them in a general way, as when they came to consider the details.theeei would have to be adjusted with the chiefs, and not in a public' meeting. Ho etoodi there as a Minister br^tfc&'Qai^-saltii^iiai such he bad to tell them the land was tot large enough for the exercise of separate

independent authorities. Referring to\•■■■■•.,■ their land he would say one tribeafter another ;wa3 dispossessing itself of the land. In some cases that might be right *' .enough, but in others it %as i very wrong. That latter was the evil he wished to assist them to To achieve that object certain lands should be set aside as a permanent inheritance, for iiieir"children. As regards the^emainder of the land, it should be dealt with for the benefit of the present owners. .It should be brought into useful occupation, which w^uid ,, be^UßeM^tp;< ; all w .<WJ^ni4| ? .both Maori and European. If leased for occupation j the rents would" remain for their use' as long as necessary; if seld, as no doubfc«-^rtionsoftit-wouldHbei*««a«iMder-able proportion,pf the. proceeds might be inrested 3aal an A itfcome" ror the jajtive owner/ All that might be done in a right or in a wtbnfe-Vajf, Ind he invii;ed|t^em to co-operate wieh "'him in getting'if done properly. Government had no particular desire to enter upon land purchases, and they would merely enter upon such pur^ chases as could be shown to; be-,to the benefit of both Maoiri and European. These matters, however, could be morpeffectuaUy dealt with in private, negpljiation with the chiefs themselves. It! was .vain for them to talk about all the land transactions, sales, leases/&c.y beinsj stoppedv slf Sir^ D. McLean could be brpujß|it back or Sir Gv Grey was present, "they- would, no dou.bt ; . have. told them^ Jhe* game ; As regards Tawhiao himselFi'GoVernnieflt was prepared" to deil' with; him as a great chief. Government did rot forget he bad been elected by "many »tribe» to. be flieir leader. What^-he sajd r io hH»iiow'>a«i let us all be reasonable, and settle this matter. He would ask; the Ngatio|M^ia> poto to remember thjat the hiid been^ asked by them to join Jn^he disputes which had brought such great difficulty upon the Waikatos, and that therefore, these'pepplevbad claims upon them He would leave them to reflect upon what he had said. After a while he would return and renew the discussion with-them." In conclusion, be professed bis strong attachment for them, and assured them he was a man of bis word, and as such he meant what he said. There was no meeting to-day, this being the;Maori*Sunday. /? i ■ The Waikalds sent Mr Bryce ?a> letter, stating they had made up their minds what they want, and asking for „ another interview. ■'. "-'; '■':} \i ■■■"A.- X .