GEE AT MEETING OF THE NATIVES.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 305, 23 July 1868, Page 2

GEE AT MEETING OF THE NATIVES.

CANNIBALISM REVIVED. LETTER FROM THE REBELS. As everything from the North Island must now be interesting, we republish the following, taken from a Wanganui Times Extra of Monday 'Times' Office, "Wanganui, Monday, July 20th, 10 a. m. As the " Ahuriri " leaves for Wellington this morning, and, as the " Lady Bird " which arrived from there yesterday brought some important items of intelligence, we publish this short Extra. Our friends" down South" are anxious for the latest intelligence, and we are most happy to inform them that although rather important there is nothing exciting. A gentleman—a personal friend—who left Waihi on Saturday evening, reached Wanganui at 7 p. m. yesterday, and reports " all well," but that for want of men to defend the town of Patea, Colonel M'Donnell can make no aggressive movement. On Saturday night Colonel Gorton had the town placarded with the following notice : •" •

VOLtmTEEBS FOE THE EBOIfT. Wanted—One-hundred ablebodied men for the European Contingent now being raised for immediate service... ":".. Applications will be received at the Militia office, from ten o'clock a. m. on Monday/the 20th instant, where the conditions of Service can be seen. Pay, 5s per diem, excluding rations ; 3s 6d including . rations. (Signed) Edwabd Gobton, Lieut.-Col. Com. Wanganui M. D. Militia office. . Wanganui, 18th July, 1868. We earnestly hope that" able-bodied

men " will cheerfully respond to the call to-day. . GBEAT MEETINQ OF THE WAITOTABA. WATIVEB. "For some time past (as we have frequently informed our readers) Hav-hau agents have been traversing the Waitotara districts—in fact the entire country from Patea to "Wanganui—trying to induce the different tribes either to join them or remain neutral. The Waitotara natives held several meetings out of which arose-a determination to hold one grand and general turn out on Friday last, July 17, when the assembled tribes would showclearly to both Europeans and Hawhaus the determination to which they had come, and the line of conduct which they would pursue. They invited Lieutenant-Colonel G-orton, and any of the authorities from Wanganui that might wish to attend. Consequently, on Friday morning Colonel Gorton started, ac- . compamed by Mr G. "W. Woon, as * interpreter, also the Putiki chiefs Hori Kingi, Aperaniko, and four or five others-

On arriving at Perekama, the place of " gathering " Colonel Gorton and his party were warmly and enthusiastically greeted with the usual friendly salutation—Heerema, Heerema, welcome, welcome, friends, welcome. The more substantial proofs of welcome were ready, it being then about 2.30 p.m. The feast provided eonsisted of pork, pigeons, potatoes, &C-, followed by a dessert of lampreys and other delicacies.

That important part of the ceremony having been discussed, the leading men assembled at a large runanga, in a new building beautifully finished, especially inside, and capable of accommodating about 200 persons. There were about 120 present, of whom 50 or 60 were able-bodied men, the remainder boys, women, and children.

The meeting was opened by Hare Tipene, in a speech expressive of loyalty and welcome. He was followed by the following chiefs and influential natives, each of whom in prose or verse reiterated sentiments of loyalty and welcome: —Harira, Eehunana, Rehari, TJru, Tamati Kakakaka, Hoani Te Karae, Te Eetini, Hamiora Te Atua, Perinona Te Kahu, Tawake.

Hori Kingi and Aperaniko reserved their addresses for the wind up. Hori Kingi said that he was glad to hear their expressions of welcome and loyalty to the Pakeha. They had said that they had seen the folly of having fought against the Queen, and now wished to live at peace with their European fellow settlers whom c they must look upon as the best promoters of their prosperity. " This," he said, "is my house; this my office wherein to transact business —ye are my friends and relatives—welcome, welcome. One house of business is at Wellington, I have built another here. The work must be the same.

Haire Tipene replied- "I am willing. Hani Te Karae said—rather irreverently —" Come, give me the living water. You—Hori Kingi—and Colonel Gorton, are the living water. It is now light ; the Colonel has come and we will know their real sentiments.

Hori Kingi said—"You are all in my hands, not only you but Taupo, "Wanganui, Eangitane and Ngatiapa, (meaning the various tribes). Koiri Te Kara replied—We are your slaves. Hori Kingi wound up by singing— Come let us be one Let us be valiant for our Queen. And fight for the good cause &c, &c. Colonel Gorton then addressed them and said that he was much pleased with the hearty welcome they hade given him, and their expressions of loyalty. He told them the time had come when we must distinctly know our friends from our foes. They had that evening showed that they were true friends, and so long, as they continued to be true and faithful to the Government, and try to promote their own best interests by preserving the peace of the district the Government would respect and esteem them, but the rebels, wherever found must suifer the consequences of their evil works. He was happy to find that they had resolved to live in peace and harmony with the Pakehas, and felt assured that by doing so they would be contented and happy. The meeting was wound up with warm expressions of friendship on both sides, leaving, we believe, Colonel Gorton perfectly satisfied that there is at present, a firm determination on the part of the Waitotara natives to preserve peace within their boundaries. CALLING OUT MILITIA.

From reliable authority we can state that Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton has received positive instructions to call out the Militia for active service in this district, the boundaries of which are thirty miles radius from the "Wanganui Court House. It is not, however, his inten-

tioii to call upon them to perform duty, but merely to order the Ist and 2nd clas3 in town and country to parade for receiving arms, and if they do not come voluntarily forward to ballot for 150 or 200 men from the Ist class in town, to hold themselves. in readiness to assemble at certain posts on sound of the bugle. This is a very necessary precautionary measure, in so far as the town of Wanganui is concerned, and we have no doubt but men will cheerfully come forward to receive arms. The old members of the Wanganui Yeomanry cavalry and others meet to-morrow evening to re-establish the Company. ESCAPE OF THE PRISONERS FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. SEIZURE OF A VESSEL. THE GUARD TIED UP. LANDED AT POVERTY BAT. (From the New Zealand Advertiser, July 18.) "We received a telegram from Napier this afternoon to the effect that the Maori prisoners had escaped from the Chathams, and had landed at Poverty Bay. The following is authentic information on the subject:— A letter from Captain Biggs, at Tauranga, Poverty Bay, to Colonel Whitmore. Napier communicated to the Government by telegraph, states that the Chathamlsland prisoners have been landed to the northward of Tauranga, and are all well armed; they are said to have tied their guards. There were only thirty-one stand of arms belonging to the Government on the Islands, but the resident natives had guns which may have been taken. The friendly natives have received a letter from the rebel head chief, it being put on a stick and stuck in "the road near "Waihi. Its contents were to the effect that "he had eaten the white man they had killed. His wife and children had tasted the white man, and it was good. In future all white men would be but food for the beasts of the field and fowls of the air His throat was open; it was hanging and red. We have tasted the white man, and who knows when we will stop F You know not when the winds die. Death is now my friend. Every white man who crosses here death will claim even as the heavens, so are my words. "Will the next meteor come from the east or south, or from the north or from the west ? Ye know not even so —you know not where we will gather the next palm of the white man. 1 have said,"