THE NATIVE MINISTER AND THE KINGITES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 26 October 1882, Page 3

THE NATIVE MINISTER AND THE KINGITES.

THE NEGOTIATIONS FOE OPEN,,ING THE COUNTEY.

Mr Bryce, who arrived in Auckland on Saturday, has at present no arrangements made -for- a meeting with the Kingite natives, tut he expects to leave Auckland for Alexandra on Friday or Saturday next. We may state that Mr Bryce has received "a long letter from Tawhiao. After referring at length to Mr Bryce's ■^ visit to.Auckland last year, and to the fact of his statement that the meeting of Parliament prevented him from going to Waikato, Tawhiao concludes by asking k Mr Bryce when he is coming to Waikato. Most likely the first public meeting between Mr Bryce and the natives will be at i • the opening of the bridge at ; Alexandra, when the usual speeches of good-will and friendship will be made.. It has been reported that the Native Land Court, now sitting at Cambridge, : would be adjourned for a fortnight at the request of the Native Minister to allow the natives to meet him. 'If the Court is adjourned it will be done at the request of the natives. Mr Bryce would like all the principal chiefs present at the first meeting, but ha does not desire a large meeting. Mr Butler, secretary and interpreter to the Native Ministar, leaves" for Alexandra this morning to see the natives and hear what they have to say, but he has no 1 communications to make to them. The negotiations will be with Tawhiao in. the first place, but owing to the peculiar position occupied by that chief, it ifl uncertain how far these will go, for although he was undoubtedly the elected leader, he has not a large interest in the Kingite territory. It may even happen that Mr Bryce will have to act between Tawhiao and the Ngatijnaniapotos, the principal landowners. It -will no doubt be the better course to treat with Tawhiao, if possible, for the other plan of dealing with the landowners would prolong the settlement of the difficulty, for Tawhiao would use his great power in opposition to the , Government. It would be unwise to ignore Tawhiao if it is possible to work withbimon satisfactory terms. The question of tho route for the main trunk railway from Te Awamatu southwards will, of course, be a matter for future consideration. Mr Bryce will have to arrange for the surveyors and engineers to go to work after his preliminary negotiations with Tawhaio. Nothing can be definilbly 6aid about the route of the railway until the engineers have reported to the Government on the matter. Pursuant to the order of the Native

I Land' Court at Waitara and elsewhere, applications have been made by natives for permission to employ private surveyors to survey their land. These applications have all been refused by Mr Bryce, to whom they were referred by' the Survey Department. ' The reason for the refusal is because there is at present no trig survey of the oountry, and so much trouble has been caused in the past through allowing detailed surveys to be made before the trig survey, that it has been determined to prevent it happening in the future. Great dissatisfaction has been expressed by the natives and parties who are interested, but the action of the Government seems quite justifiable in the meantime. There is also the further reason that, if there is any objection to a trig, survey being made, it would follow in some cases that there would be objection to detailed surveys. The Government have decided to have a trig, survey prior to allowing detailed surveys to be made. The Government have ascertained that the natives fully understand the Amnesty Act which was passed last session. The negotiations with the Kingites will require the greatest! care and tho soundest judgment to settle the native difficulty at tho present time. It is not a matter which can be rushed forward, but patience will have to be exercised to attain the best results. — New Zealand Herald, 24th October.