THE PROPOSED MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND TAWHIAO.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 786, 30 June 1877, Page 3

THE PROPOSED MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND TAWHIAO.

Alluding to the telegram, which we reprint elsevrere, stating that an attempt had been made to bring these two shadows of Royalty together, the 'Herald,' of Thnrsday, says :— ""We are more than surprised that the Native Minister should have taken any steps m the direction of aggravating ;|fl^|tejgrd pretentions of Tawhiao, atttf OT^uld have thought it m anywise advisable to send an emissary to the King or his secretary m order to bring about a meeting between the Governor and this potentate of the disaffected Maoris. The attempt is met by the cold shade of pretentious opposition. It is the old song, "Give us back Waikato f that and that only ia the basis on which the semi-savage will consent to meet with the representative of the Queen. The position is altogether absurd,, and, m fact, considering the whole.case, it has m it an element of farce which the Government should have avoided. The true Ijonrse is either to leave this ridicul ous king severely alone, to simply laugh at his demands for a restitution of Waikato,, which he knows - as well as we do can never be complied with, or plainly to remind him that one word of the. Governor would suffice to send three or four hundred Ngapuhis under a- resolute chieftain, with a steamer and provisions, into Kawhia Harbour, and and the fiction of the King's sovereignty would be exploded for ever. In fact this is what the King fears ; it is a course which the Government could take any day • and •we declare our opinion to be that it would be a far wiser and more dignified procedure than that of making applications to the King that he should meet the Governor, and have these propositions treated •with an assumed superiority, and by an accession to that vanity which seclusion and too much regard on our part have hitherto hedged the King witkal. Let him alone. So long as he or his folllowers do not molest the European settlers, we can easily afford to do without any intercourse with hini or them, and it is foolish to offer the opportunity for the savage chief to give a rebuff to the civilised Governor. If the King or his followers should be so iasane as to inhere witjj Ouv Jettlers,, two words

rendered active can effectually sett le them. These words — Words of fear to Maori ear are "Ngapuhi — Kawhia." If ne; cessaiy, let these words be spoken ' but, for Heaven's sake, let us stop all this absurd game of King and Governor, especially when the King can give check to the Governor, as he has just done, m rejecting this proposed conference of Monarchs !