The King Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4321, 6 November 1882, Page 2

The King Meeting.

THE NATIVE MINISTER'S PEOPOSALS REJECTED.

Alexandiia, Saturday. Mr Bryce met Tawuiao at 11. in the big house, at Whatiwhatihoe, some 300 persons being present. Tawhiao said the people were there to listen, not to speak. He wojuld keep on his own side, bat wpnld be

willing to leafn from the Europeans. Be had not from the begiuning separated from the Queen. He loved the pakeha, but he must keep his *' mana." Mr Bryce said this was the day for a decisive answer, which had not been given. The proposals he had made were so good and liberal that he would be blamed through parts of the colony for making them. If they were accepted to-day they must be so in plain* words, and not in dark sayings. If not accepted to-day they would be definitively withdrawn. He did not expect that lie should ever think it right to make them again. He left that afternoon for Auckland, and should take his proposals with him. He was entitled to a plain answer. Tawhiao said, with much distinctness and deliberation, quite solemnly : "It is good ; it is good ! go back and think over what I have said ; don't take your proposals with you." Mr Bryce said Tawhiao expected him to turn the proposals over in his mind, Tawhiao wishing to keep his mana as king. He told him and the tribe if this was the end, a dark day for Tawhiao, and his people had dawned. The opportunity was passing away. He spoke in love to the people, and should leave them in deep sorrow if his offers were rejected. If there was any man of iufluence .there, a friend of Tawhiao, let. him stand up and urge the acceptance of the proposals. If he went away thus he should leave much cause for sorrow behind. Wahanui rose and deprecated haste, and objected to Tawhiao losing his mana—a thing in itself sufficient for long consi deration. The light was coming in upon them; they were not going back into darkness aud isolation. Mr Bryce pointed out that Wahanui had seized on the main objection to the proposals in the loss of the mana of Tawbiao, but he never had and never would acknowledge any other authority in New Zealand than the Queen. What was claimed by Tawhiao was only the flitting shadow of authority, and the shadow itself was passing away. If the King movement were to be removed let it be done properly, and not by the dejection of individuals. He had no faith in the morrow ; to day only was ours. Wahanui saw the canoe drifting. Wahanui rose and said : The flowing of the tide was regulated by God, but there were people who troubled the waters. There was no trouble in the beginning about the Queen's sovereignty, the trouble came afterwards by degrees. Mr Bryce had said that two sovereignties were not wanted in this island, but who sent for them ? . Mr Bryce, replying, said: Wahanui had left the main point out of his second speech, which, was inconsistent with his first. If they were prepared to accept the Queen's authority, let Tawhiao get up and say so, when the two races would be one people. Wahanui, speaking with some zeal, said: Mr Bryce had told them that the flood of civilisation could not be stopped ; but he could stop it with God's help. They might take all that was offered, but they could not give up the king's mana. Mr Bryce, again replying, said no good could arise from discussing old affairs, whether evil would result from the mana of the Queen being re-established. If no evil would accrue let it be done at once. Wahauni had said that he was a strong man and could keep back the flood, but he should remember he had friends drowning in the flood he 'was attempting to stay. Instead of doing so let him rather help to build the canoe, and save the people. If Wahanui understood the grave importance of the decision of the Maori people who came to-day, well and good. . He (Mr Bryce) would go away knowing he had done his duty to the colony and the Maori people. He should never reproach himself with not having been more kind to them. The burden was now shifted from his shoulders to Ihose of others. His last word to Wahanui was that he was sorry—not angry; and his last word to Tawhiao was this —" Was there any other reply ?'" After a pause, Mr Bryce continued : It is- right the whole people should hear Tawhiao's reply, which was that the responsibility of accepting or declining the offer was thrown on Wahanui, and they were rejected.

Mr Bryce then rose and left the house and ground-