CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 723, 3 February 1877, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE.

THE NATIVE MINISTER AT •CAMBRIDGE.

T.H« native? to the number of about 150, assembled m the Government paddock, opposite Kirwood's to welcome tbs Native Minister. AH the noted chiefs about the the district were present. The tribes represented were : &gatikaua, Ngatirakaua, and' Ngatinuru (from the Thames). Upon the receipt of a message from Mr Mackay that all -were ready, the Native Minister proceede I to the paddock accompanied by Co). Ilyori, Major Mair. and Mr Bush, together with several leading settler? of : Wtikat©. | -"Upon- reaohing the gate the, natives stood, up, waving whatever they had -in m their hand,' at the same time .raising a cry which is a kind of chords use! oa such occasions. The action is suited to the word, and the effect produced is ex- v ciiing. Many new men from each tribe spoke worJB of welcome to. their vbitoife* wuom they call the spirit of Sir Don&ld McLean. Many of ths speakers aiding chauts of lament to the end of their soeechea for their old friend now gone. There was one cantankerous fellow there who stood up to speak about ceasing selling lands and 'making wars, but he ■ was soon told by others that as tha Native Minister had just settled iheae matters with the , chiefs, there was no use his wasting their time with nonsense, he had better go off to the chiefs who had interviewed theh'ivisitor, and, learn' from them how much there was left for him to do .m these matt >rs. It is heedless to saj, Mr flauhau, subsided quietly. Che Thames people said : they simply desired to welcome the Native Minister, he place for talk being at their Own homes, this was a casual meeting, therefore they had nothing to say but words >*£ welcome, and to join wi h the other tribes m weko ning him to Waikato. Here the words of welcome ended, and it was asked if it was intended to disouaa other matters here, or were they to be laid before the Native Minister at auother time during the day, as arranged, a .course much preferred by the tribes bnemselves. It was eventually decided to adhere to the first plan. One of th© Ngatiraukawa hero got up, and askod the views of the Government with respect to the Taupo road, about which so much, fuss has been lately made, without reason, Lhe Native Minister then made a few re« marks to the assembled natives, ; Mr Mackay being the interpreting medium— « to the effeob that he had takeu up their friend Sir Donald's task where he had hid it down, and that the policy of the Government would be tad «ame as before m principle. If he was not as well up m Maori oustoms as his aud their friend Sir Donald McLean hail been, he trusted all the chiefs throughout the country would help them m promoting good works, which were for their mutual benefit. As to the road, he mu«(j leb them understand distinctly that the Government intended to make that aa far as the boundary of the purchased land, and it was not their intention to ge beyond that ab present. The words of the Native Minister's speech were eagerly listened to by the European settlers, a number of whom had congregated behind ■ him, to hear what he said. When ho v came to the portion which referred to the road, the listners became more attentive, and dosed up nearer towards him. When they heard the words he uttered, exclamations of approbation were passed from one to .the other. No 'further objections were, raised to the road after this by the natives. After dinner, each tribe had a lengthened interview, but, as the topics discussed at them only referred to tribal matters, they were devoid of public interest. The Hon. TDr Pollen left for Hamilton m the evening.— Own Ooebkspondbnt.