ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 9 May 1876, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

May 8. 1876. The opinion of ffbe natives here seems junanimoualy to be that it would be useless foy the Governor to meet any (but those * \»ho really -desire to meet <us in u friendly •^spirit, and if anyone thinks that the law. Uees outcasts from Waikato are prepared to listen to ire»son at present lie simply Jknows nothing about them. They say thai if a GcrverDttot meeting were hold

here it would probably be a much greater success, as far as practical results went, if the King- and his clique absented themselves, for some of the less hostile tribes might be induced to assert their independence and speak for themselves — as they most unmistakably did when they thought we were going to demand Wynyard, and that their lands might be jeopardised. Many of the chiefs are really' of higher ancestral rank than Tawhiao, and our allies amongst the natives could easily raise a party that would set him at defiance, for he dares not use force to control his subjects. They say, however, that a meeting would prove an utter failure unless some of the friendly chiefs for the first took steps to organise a peace party, which could easily be accomplished by taking advantage of any good excuse such as a refusal to surrender a murderer like Wynyard — whom none could defend upon principle, and for whom they would disdain to ris 1 : their lands. The Kupapas know our en much better than we do, and if we followed their advice we should at once cease trying- to conciliate them by that excessive kindness for which they only despise us, but rat her assume the attitude of the injmed party, and imitate themselves by losing no excuse to assert onr rights, and bounce them whenever we have a grievance to show that we are not afraid of them. We can gain nothing by talking to those who have nothing to lose, but the real owners of the soil who have something at stake are the men that wi» should bring pressure to bear upon, il we wish to break up the hostile party, and we should enc mrage every chief to consider hiuwlf king of his own tribe, and let him know that we look to him to assist us in putting down the rebellion and maintaining peace. They say that the simple truth is this, that so long as we recognise the King, and endeavour to treat with the llauhaus through h'rn, we are simply humbling ourselves m vain. He is himself one of the outcast Waikatos, and thesamemay be Said of Manuhiii and all the leading chiefs by whom he is sm rounded, and th( yare sworn together to meet us upon no terras shoit of the restoration of all Waikato, which they firmly believe that they are fated some dty to recover. We might just as weU talk to the winds, as try to persuade the King and his outcast followers to makepeace with us upon any terms which would not be simply a disgrace to the Colony. We must eertaii.ly divide them by ta.viny advantage of their tribal jealousies, if we wish to conquer them, ;uid to effect it speedily without bloodshed. Sir Donald McLean has always been popular except with a few, but they seem to have no definite object in view, and coiisequeutly they effect nothing. Oru-o give them a leader and teach them to work f>r a common purpose, and they would soon be too strong for our enemies, for the native race is heartily sick of the present state of doubt and uncertainty. Messengers ha.\e just arrival with a letter fiom Manuhi to Te VVlieoro, who is at Mercer. It is, no doubt, a messige t o the Governor. — From a. Comespondent