THE NATIVE MINISTER IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 3 November 1882, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER IN THE KING COUNTRY.

IMPORTANT MEETING.

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

(per united pkess association.) AlexandbA, Nov. 2. The native meeting came off to-day, when the same number of natives attended. Mr Bryce had given Tawhiao a memorandum of the Government proposals yesterday to think over before the meeting took place, so that he should have full time for consideration. Afc 2 o'clock precisely Mr Bryce came on the ground, and Tawhiao commenced speaking in a metaphorical manner, hampered evidently by a knowledge of the Go-vernment-proposals. He said that ho had striven to get nearer the Queen's people by coming to live at Whatiwhatihoe, and going to Auckland. So figurative was the speech, and intended to avow any definite meaning, that Major Te Wheoro, M.H.R., had to be consulted as to what it implied rather than said. Mr Bryce, in reply, said when Tawhiao was in Auckland he had consulted with his colleagues whether it would not be more expedient for him to go to Auckland and to state to Tawhiao fully what were the intentions of the Government, but it was decided that as the visit was a f/iendly one it should be held as such, and business not introducedinto it ; but he wasreadynow, as he had been for some time past, to tell Tawhiao and his tribe what the Government proposals were. Some inexplicit conversation about the sovereignty then took place, the abandonment of kingisin being the sole point apparently. After this conversation had "passed, Mr Bryce said he would tell the Waikafo tribe and people assembled what the Government proposals were. All they offered must be taken or rejected as a whole. No opening must be left for any future trouble as would be the case if there were dual authority. The pro - posals must be accepted or rejected before he left Alexandra. They cnuld not stand over for an indefinite time. If they were not accepted he carried them away with him. Sovereignty and all other matters were included in these proposals. The bulk of the unsold confiscated land on the western side of Waipa should be returned to Tawhaio and his tribe ; the section of land Tawhiao asked for at Kaipara should be given to him ; he would make an appeal to the Maniaopoto chieftains to aid Waikato with land, as they were co -participators in the trouble of the past ; Government would build Tawhiao a houso where he pleased, and furnish

- • "■ \ it for him, and would give him a pension of £400 a year for life if the proposals wore acceptedl Asi to defining his status and authority .by Government, Tawbiao should be appointed an assessor under the Eesident Magistrates Act, an office before given only to Europeans. He should be made an assessor of the Native Lands Court, and a Justice of the Peace for the colony, and Government would advise the Governor to call him to the Legislative Council. Tawhiao, then asked, for. delay so that the chiefs could consider the proposals, and after some consideration, 'Saturday was fixed for the reply to be given. Mr Bryce does not know for certain the exact amount of unsold land „ across Waipa, but considers it about 20,000 acres, and that at least 300 Waikatos have to be provided for. Tawhiao after the meeting broke up came ' into Alexandra in Mr Bryce's trap.