PROPOSED NATIVE MEETING AT TE KUITI.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 632, 8 June 1876, Page 2

PROPOSED NATIVE MEETING AT TE KUITI.

Several native chiefs of standing have passed through Hamilton during the past few days from the lower country en route to Alexandra, to take part in a large native meeting to come off shortly at Te Kuiti, and to ditcuss with the King and leading chiefs the state of native affairs as affected by the recent visit of Sir Donald McLean to the King. That we are on Ihe eve of a happy solution to that great incubus which has sat upon the Colony, like the old man on Sinbad'a shoulders, for year's past, there is every reason to hoj c

and believe. Our Alexandra Correspondent in his last letter alluded to the f.ict that cortain l J akoha and half caste vagibondg were busy in the intorosls of the Opposition, endeavouring to iufluoncj the native mind against Sir Donald MrL°an and the Government, but from the names mentioned in a piiwite letter received from liim of the samo date, there is not the slightest reason to fear that any mischief ia likely to arise from the action taken by such mere tutuas. The natives themaelvoß have fully weighed the question at issue and are alive to the importance of establishing a more satisfactory basis of understanding between the t.vo races. They hare come clearly to see that tho position of isolation in which they had entrenched themselves was a false one, and one which to them was the most disastrous they could hare settled upon. They could soe that year by year the Colony was becoming richer, more powerful, and more thickly populated — that the uaar-ch of colonisation was moving steadily on and that while they were impotent to stay its progress they were sharing in none of the benefits it conferred ; aud they were cle<*r-headed enough to see that this state of flings would go on, till in a few years the dammed up tide of colonisation would burst in upon them, carrying with it diaaßter and ruin, whore if it had from the first been allowed to flow gently forward it would have secured to them tke enjoy1 ment of peace, plenty, and great wealth ; but above all the natives have come to look with confidence on tho ruau to whom alone the working cut of this great scheme for the happiness of both races must be entrusted. The steady, comiatent, conciliating policy of Sir Donald McLean lias won its way to the Maori heart, and the leading men and chiefs have come to look with confidence on a Colonial Govern mont bo long as its native policy is the policy of Sir Donald McLean, and he is at the he.id of the mnch and foolishly abused Native Department. It is to be regretted that on the health and lile of one man depends so much but so it alv/ays has been and doubtless will be with the management of native affairs in New Zealand. Tho value of the head of that department will depend entirely on personal influence. There was a time when Sir George Giey could have done much with the natives, when his influence was large, as large almost as that of Sir Douald McLean is now. That day is however past. Tho influence was need against and not for the Maori pcoploand the man who threatened to dig round their institutions till they should fall — institutions that might then have beon so directed and worked ai to have tended largely to the benefit of the mco — and by whose act the loss of their lands was brought upon them, is now held in as mnch contempt and suspicion as he was formally almost worshipped. Whether at tho coming meeting, the whole of what transpired during the private discussions between the Defence Minister, the King, Taheri te Ran, and Major Mair will be laid before the general meeting is of course, as yet, mere matter of conjecture, but we may, we think, venture to say that the conjecture is a fery probable and reasonable one. The two principals have fully discussed and talked over the matter as between Maori and European, and now it ii very natural that the Maoris should talk it over as n question amongst thenuelves, affecting probably different tribes in different degrees. So thoroughly satisfactory and clear, however, has Leon the understanding come to between the principals, that we look with neither fear nor anxiety for the ultimate decision to be arrived at by any Maori plebiscite such as that which will be probably taken at To Kuiti at the coming meeting.

Ir is a sad commentary on civilisation and religion that from time to time the world should be shocked with the oceurrenoo in such a country as England of outrages so atrocious as that which forms part of the intelligence received by the last Sues mail, alluded to in our telegraphic columns of to-day, and revealing a state of social depravity and barbarity which the very savages of Polynesia would repudiate with scorn and indignation. During a half century's intercourse with the native race of New Zealand, through periods of war and excitement, and while they were at one time savages not merely in name but in fact, nothiug so revolting or brutal has ever boon attributed to tho most forocious among them. In justice to the savage races of the world it must bo acini tted that they full f«ir short in wanton anJ devilish cruelty of that which too often is to bo found among the morally -aofl religiously neglected claasea of the most civilised nations of Europe. The cause is not far to look for. The thoughts of the church at home are too much engrossed with Ritualistic observance!!, thinking more of the decoration of an altar or the cut of an alb or ohasublo than parish work, to grapple with the underlying strutum of immorality and irreligiou Tvbich lies outside of their own congregations — while Exeter Hall and those who make tho religious societies of the day the medium of spending hundreds of thousands of pounds annually in the cause of the Gospel overlook the necessities of the | heathens living at their very doors, their sight being taken up with the more pic. turesque savagry of distant countries, and in spreading a thin veneer of religious professions over South Sea Island savages, which, to keep it bright, needs the French polish of a continual supply of blankets, flour, and rum, rubbed in occasionally by the guns of a British cruiser.

Tni Albiandba Cokcbut.— We trust the night may be fine for the loveri of music and the votariei of the " gay and mazy" in Wuikato. Drama, song, and danoe will all hold a\raj in turn in tlit Alexandra Fublio Hall to-night.

tFIAGMATP HOTBI, NORTH SHOBI. — To Wftlkato icttleri Tisitiog Auokland, wlio ralue puro air and are danroui of i*a bathing, the Flagttaff Hotel opened by an old Wnikato friend, Mr R J Dandson, oiTcrs peculiar advantage. Whilu at tho lame timo it Affords all the oomforti of a country r«sidenoe, it it within a few minutei run of Auckland bj iteamara pljing ererjr quar< tor of an hour. An excellent table it kept And •vcrj aotas comfort carefullj tttteuded to. I

Fat Cattle. — Yesterdny gome G7 head of fat cattle, belonging to Mr MoMinn and Mr Ander*on, pnised through Hamilton en route to the Auckland mnrkct.

Cambridge Liobnsino Court Meeting.— Iho Court fciti to-m>rrow to hear applications. T!i« only biwne«3 thU will bo brought before it wi'lbetlie terpral applications for the renewal of licenses to the National, Duko of Cambridge, and Musonic Hotels.

Champagne.— Sir Charles Garan Duffy, in a lecture delifered recently in Melbourne, stated that, clnriug his yisit to Fr»nc» lately, ho lrarned from excellent authority that of the wines of that country, 95 per cent ore drank at home, »nd only 5 por cent exported i also that 40,000 dozen of champagne are manufactured erery month in GlMgow from petroleum.

2LTk Awahdtu Corbispondbnt writes under date of yesterday on tha refusal by the Commissioners to giant a license for a second hold in Te Awamutu: "The continued refusal<»f mother 'lo Awamutu license has surprised a foir who aro not acquairitod with the ropet of this district, I but il is really a pity that such a fine building should bo kept closed for want of a license.

Ngaquawaiiia. Licensing Covet. — At the Licensing Court held on Tueiday lank at N«aru»wuhi», * renewal of licemei wat granted to Mr Harriii of tha Delta, and Air Hoag, of the Royal Mail Hotels, Ngaruawahia; to Mr Dawion't hou§# at Whata Wliata, to that of Mr Kulph at the Conl-minei, to Mr Bell, of the tho Trareller'» Beit Hotel, sad M> Shcrlej, of Sfaerlej 1 • Hotel, Rangiriri.

Licbhhno Coubt, Hahiltott.— TL© Licenemg Commissioners will sit t )-dajr *fc noon. The business to bo brought before them will be the application for » license for the new house, Hamilton West, and the renewal of the licentcs to the Hamilton *>nd lloyal Hotels, West wid Bait Hamilton, and that of Mr Erans, at the Pinko. The Commistionerc are Messrs Soaranck* {chairman), A. Cox, J Kunciman, and — Graham.

Waikato Agmcultuhai. and Pastobal Association. — At the meeting of the Aisooi&tion, held on the 11th April last, it nil resolved to cull a further meeting of mtmbers at Ohaupo for the 13th June, which will be held imu.«diately after the ctttle sale, to receir* the reply from the Waikato Turf Club, and to decide upon the place for holding the Showa of the Association. There will b« a mooting of the committte before the cattle sale commences.

•Chbmistrt op Fabjc €mops. — We have receiy«d from Mr Edward Wajtt.the well-known bookieller and publisher of Auckland, » paraphlet and chart entitled "Handy Chemiitry of Farm Crop*," indicating the amount* of tho chief inanuri&l uomtituents containtd in arerage crop*. These uieful publication* will be quite at the service of nuy of our agricultural friend* at our office for the next fortnight, when we purpose presenting the Manual aad Chart to the Cambridge Farmer* Club. .

Mb G- W Collier, hi will bo perceived toy adyertiienjent, will giro hit Drawing Boom Entertainment entitled " tha Stage and Actors" *t Ngaruawahiu to-morrow night, and Saturday eYtning at lamillon West in tht Comtabuiary Barracki. The perlbrmanc* on Saturday erening will bo under tho patronage of Colonel Ljon, tbc Offioor Coiumauding the District. We fadvo on prcriom occa^ioiit referred to Mr Collier'i undoubted abilitiei as Actor and Elocutionist-. Wo wish lain a successful tour through the Waikata

3amj o# Waikato Lasd.— We are §orry to Joae from th» district 10 energotio a settler and nell liked a neighbour at Mr H C Gib»on, who, wo learn, on Monday luit told hu farm at Te Awamutu witli (be objtct ofleavmg tha dutrict. It it satiifactory, howerer, to know that Mr Gibion hat betn niojt tuccettful at a tcttler, having told aut for coutiderably more tu.in double th« amount of hia original purcliusj mnd« two yearn ago. The farm at Te Awanmtu now told to a Mr Partont, was purchased by M Oibion for tomething under £2,L'00, and bat now been sold for coniiderably oter £5,000, or £7 10* per acre for tha whole 700 acrus.

Foot Baci. — Both the mon who took part in th« rupning match for £10 a-side, which came off on Monday aftornoon last, on the Remuera road, wer» well known, and hare relative* and friend* in Waikato. The " Crois " of Tuesday h«§ the following account of the eyent : — " Accoiding to arrannemtnt, thorunning'mateh between A Good a-qd F Gibson came off yo*terday at Remuera. Some intorwt was rrinced in the event, a* both are local man and well-known in the pedestrian world. J Regan acted •• •tarter, and got the men away in good itjlo. Good took the lead, which he gradually increased, coming in a winner by about 4jdt, hii opponent not collaring him once."

Tim Hamilton Concert and " Upboab." — The concert which will take plica under the auspicoi of the Hamilton Entertainment Committee, at the Gymnasium thiaovtning, will, from the novelties int r oduced, and tho care taken in the getting np of the several piecss, prove, doubtImi, one of the moit interesting, and, wo trast, profitable, of tho series yet given by the C'ouimittoo. The "Beggar's Opera," wlnoli require! only two Toicei, if always a popular and taking subject, cran when undertaken by amateurs of passable ability, such at Waikato, we nra happy to say, cm boast of. A nevr and first-class comic sia<*»w will also make his first bow to an Uamilloii audience, and it is more than probable that, lor the instrumental part of tho porformance, th» *ssi*tanco of perliups tho host profesai«nal pianist in this part of tl>c colony nay be secured.

Hoxob to whom lloifOß is Drs.— At the opening of thn Auckland Miuuorn nnd Institute, on Monday ovening list, Sir George Grey ii r»>poit»d to liavos.iul in reference to tho difficulty of fust starting tho movement; — * l Let mo tell you this, that nppnreutlr tho task wat hopeless until tho gentleman who this night iina ipokcn to you (Judee Gillies), authorised tks President g* tbo New Zetland Irutitute for the year 1874, ooncealinj hii mime, to it»to that « friend of Auckland — a friend of icienco in this proyini'e — was prepared upou kis part to lay dovrn £500 — (uheeri)— far the purpose of obtaining this Muieuin for tho public And then what took place ? He said that £500 should be forthcoming — hid name "being unknown, and fee being a namelpsi benefactor to us — if a further mm of £1,000 wa« lubaoriboi by other people. And then another gentleman stepped forth from thu community, and, out of the wealth which he hud accumulated here, determined to bosEow somo benefit upon his fellow-countrymen, and at onco put down hit name for another •urn of £500. (Cheers ) That wai Mr Jumoi Williamson. (Loud cheers) So, to theie two hiph- ': hearted gentlemen we are chiefly indebted for the magnificent building in which we are asaonibled to night."

OriWINO OV THI MOKIU COUHTRT OX) European Entibpbise. — The policy of the Natire Miniiter is working the moit favorable rtsults in other parti of th» North Island, at well a» in that of the country immediately south of Waikato. We learn from the "Taranaki Herald" that " a meeting, at which wai assentblod between twelre hundred and fourteen hundrtd natives, has just taken place at tk« mouth of the Mokau River. About twelve months ago there was a large gathering of friendly and hostile natives, when largo presents wers made by the friendly natives. Several white men were present, some from town aud aomo from Uronui. The general impreision amongst the natireu was that in the courao of about three months the rirer Mokau and surrounding country would be thrown open t» cmUiation and tradf. Nothing has boon heard of the gold, the finding of which in large quantities had beeti reported in the Auckland papers. As Tuhua was within one day's journey of the plaoe of meeting, a party, of whom To Wetere was one, started directly after the meeting to inquire into the matter. Thare was great ragerneis shown on the part of the natires to trxtio with the whi+o men. Purchases of wheat and pigs were made, but the wet weather and fii^htful state of the tracks made it almost impossible to net lire stock ovorlnud at Lb.ii Muon of the jear." ,

Our Railway Mismanagement — Some hard truths were rapped cut at the late Mount Albert meeting in the matter of the Kaipara railway extension. One speaker is reported to have said : — " .Now he would go to the business part of the thing. Thoy all knew thai in any business therj was a great deal done that seemed unprofitable, but was subsidiary to the whole tiling. No inch th'ng us that was thought of in the Government management of the railway. Everything was done as if it were cast iron, and according to rigid rules. He believed an official said that commerce accommodated itself to the railway. He was told that commerce was rather a mimosa sort of thing, Tery sensitive. If the railway did not give superior accommodation tj other mode 3 of transit, peoplo would not use it. The officials should bd told that they were public servants, and worn to dispose of tie public money profitably. They must do that, or else, instead of developing the country, the railway* would become a monument of mismanagement and imbecility. An oftcinl was told that the public required flueh and such things to be done. 'Oh !' «aid the gentleman, *D the public' He wai speaking now of a very higk official in the Railway Department."

THK IME BLAWBBBS ON TTtl COIOJTT. — Mr J G Grant, of Otago, who lately represented in the " Belfast News Letter," that the immigrants ar.ived in New Zealand were «tamng by thousand •, and that nin« in*very ten of the women emigiating fonnd their way upon the streets, has net with n. supporter in no less a personage than tho Hon Henry Scotland, of Taramaki, a member ; of Hie Legislature Council of New Zealand •• Mr Scotland, a member ©f tke Upper Haute," siys a Ettiedin telegram to the Au«klaod papers of Tuesday, "has writtra a letter to Mr J O Grant, complimenting him for his «onduot in proclaiming the truth to* ■corrupted and demoralised colony, and telling him not to be afrail of anything oar contemptible centralist Government may «ay. He hss also wrrttea to the . '• Belfftst News Lstter 1( to say that what Grant has writtan about New Zealand is, to kit certain knowledge, correct.'" If thu i» so, if Mr Gr»rt has not been hoaxed, and if tho letter is genuine, then we shall hope to see the matter brought befir 5 the Legislature, and Mr Scotland remored fro in a position which Inuoo loag«r Jilted to occupy.

Lokd Help Us !— Mr Hojkal, of Passific City, New Jerioj, has for ttn jean past, in connection with a New York mechanic, been at work on •a inrention which promises to revolutionise ordnance. Thorn was an exhibition recently, in public, of the gun. The little one us«d yesterday looked like a t«elr;-foat gas pipe, with a halfinch tore, carrying a needle-«huped bullet. On the other side of the gun &r« metallic pockets, eaoh filled with as much powder ai the load at the breech. As the gun it fired theie additional chargei of powder explo 1* ai the projectile passes along the bnrrel, 10 that bafore it gets out it recoire* the impelling force of each additional discharge. Being spread along the barrel, fie danger of explosion is averted, and the force increased to a wonderful degree. The first shot \va.« fired through a tolid man of monitor iron four inches ihu k, which pierced it as though it had been a pint* board, and buried itself aerertl inches in an oaken stump againtt which tho iron had been placed. Then a shot was fired at a target, composed of twelre plate) of thrse-eighth inch iron plates, securely strapped together. The ballets went through this. Ono of tho oanaons of six inch bore has been completed, and will bs tested before tho United Stute* officers, and it is estimated it will send a ball from twelre to fifteen inilos.

TiiAifiM and Waikato Railway. — Tt it yery little comequence how the arrangement is brought about 10 long as the line ii contracted. Ihe Auckland "Herald" his tlie following in reference to the above n.ncli ne»dei public work: — "Wer<'coivo frequent complaint* from settlers in the Waikato ns to the miserably slow waj in which the railway works in that diifcriet ii carr'ed oa. The railway ought by tliis time to hare bonn finished, but we were informed that at tlio present rate the opening will not tako plaoa for a vory loug time to come. Iv th«»e ciicumstancei, seeing how dilntory the government are about all ra l*ay worki iv this prorince, it is almost hopeles* to look forward to the commencement c>f n railway to form a communication between tho Thames and Waikato. Sir Georgo Grry stated to the people of tha Thanes that he felt continent the work, could be managed by a company from Kugland, if th» GoTornmont would Hive a guarantee, fur a cettatn numbur of youri, if 6 per cent upon tho expeudituro. A railway to eonmct tho Upper Waikato with tht» nari^iition of the Thames river, would be the mitt uiuful public work in the North Iriand, and certainly ou^ht to huvt> been raide by tho Mini*'c/ as part of tho Public Works iclieme. Aj they have not dono it, and are not likely now to be in the posEe-siou of funds to do it, they ou^ht to tyke the Sup-rintenda it's proposal iut) conouiei ation, and ae-^t in erery way iv tho cßrrym»{ of it out. Tlic mutter depend* greatly upon tho Tbaruci people. Lot thnm keep both, their representatives up to tho ma>-k, wud pttitioa the Government on tlie subject ; and we do not loe how their request cm b- refused,"