NATIVE MEETING AT TE KUITI.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1593, 27 June 1903, Page 2

NATIVE MEETING AT TE KUITI.

(BY TELK3RAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION). Te Kern, Friday. The Hon James Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, met a gathering of about 2000 Waikato and Kiog Country Maoris here yesterday morning, including Hon. Mahuta and many of his chiefs. Mr Carroll left shortly after the meeting for Auckland en route for Wellington. The meeting with the natives lasted just over an hour, during which the Hon. Mahuta addressed to his people aome words of good counsel. He 6aid it was in the interest of the race and the colony that he acceptod the seat in the Legislative Council, and ho now asked for their active allegiance to the laws of the land. They must utilise their privileges to tho best advantage, and endeavour to improve their condition. The laws of the land were now their laws, and must be fed. The unity which new existed, among the Maori people must be tho strength behind their resolve to carry forward the land policy of the day. He asked his brother and Henry Kaihau, M HE., to see that this purpose was kept in view. ' I declare,' he said, ' to-day that I will lay aside my faults and weaknesses ; I have been much to blame ; but, from now onward 1 would like my people to cultivate habits of temperance, to beoQino industrious, to turn their attention to making the land productive. I am satisfied things will turn out well. If thoy do not, no harm will come of my accepting the position that I have If lam not useful and oaunot do what is good for all, I can simply retire ' Mr Carroll followed with a speech which impressed upon tho Maoris the immensity of tho benefits that would arise out of intelligent united action. He showed how they would themselves benefit by active co-operation, and asked them to realise what was due to thoir country, to the age, aud to themselves. After this speech the immense gathering rose enthusiastically and cheered iu Maori fashion. They pledged their complete allegiance to the directions of their representatives, declaring that they would obey implicitly their instructions.