ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 812, 30 August 1877, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

August 9,7. THE GREAT NATIVE MEBTINGk The great native meeting at Hikuranpi broke up on Saturday last. Your correspondent proceeded there on the previous. Thursday, and found the great .majority who attended the meeting already present. Hikurangi is situated about five, miles to the south-east of Kopua, the road thither being a very stiff one up the range, two. small, creeks only intervening. The 1 settlement consists of ' some twenty large whares, and is built on the ridge, with a deep ravine on each side, the southern one oovered with bush. The evening was showery, with a wind blowing that would almo3t.take one off his feet, so much so as to compel one to keep m the house for shelter. All were pretty well filled with visitors, and there was a perfect babel of sounds. Talking, and card playing with some, continued the whole night, so that sleep was impossible. Tawhiao's new bouse is some one hundred and twenty feet Jong, and was occupied by his own 'immediate followers. Food, at this time, i was hard to be obtained by those who had pome unprovided, and those who had brought a littlej. were little better off, if they produced it, as it was so quickly disposed of. Nearly all the tribes appeared to be represented at the meeting. The Ngatimiabiopotoß, however,' % were | conspicuous by their absenoe. '" Rewi having refused to attend the meeting. Hanauru was the only chief of- any Dote of that tribe present. Ire cognised representatives from Tauranga, Thames, Taupo, Ngahiterani, Kotuaira, Tainui, Ngatibikairo, Ngatimabuoga, Ngatiraukawa and other tribes. Amongst the assemblage. About one o'clock on Friday the " Pahu," a large log suspended, which answers as a bell, was beat 1 n by some fifty youths, with sticks, to summon the people to the Korero, which took place m the open epace. ;'y this time th<-re •must have been some fifteen hundred natives present. ■ Tanui, of the Ngatimango, Waikato tribe, was the first speaker, and. welcomed those present. He «aid they (the Kiogites) had been waiting for another and another man behind, meaning, I presume, for the various tribes to come iv under /Tawhiao'e anthority. Te Ngukau (Wit emu Huaia) the King's Secretary, was the next speaker, m his usual ambiguous and figurative stye, to that few could understand him. His speech was to the effect, that their, the tribes living under the Queen's .Government, "was an error." Did they net their ohiefs irom them ? " When you strike your toe, you feel the pain." He called on them to come under Tawhiao's authority, at Hit urangi. He then . remarked on half-castes residing at Kopua having been m the habit of inviting Europeans there for the purpose of shouting pheasauts and purchasing oattle, and even allowing and accompanying policemen'there. This must cease, he said, m future. No Europeans were to be allowed to visit the King district for any purpose. ' ■.;'/> -';■■ Tatni again spoke m a similar strain Tarahuia (a good oraiur) was the n*xt. He .also, called op inysa outside to com m at onoe. •• The King is waiting for you, let this hill once be covered with men residing on it, and all trouble would cease " Tumuia te Whenua, of Ngatingo, said : He was residing near Kihikihi, on hia farm, and was growing wheat and grass-seed, for, both of which, or anything else he* could produce, be had a ready sale, and goad prices. He was very well off where he was. He couldn't see bow he was to be benefited by leaving his own comfortable place, to. come there and reside on that bleak hill, where it would be a long time before he could produce anything for sale. He would take, at least, six months to consider the matter Te Toko : It is the Jike of you that keep us waiting. This is the rfay appointed to settle things, and now you say you are not coming to us, because you are so fond of the goods of the pakeha. Tami : Kawhia is; a man, and the whole island is Kawhia. All Maoris belong to the iting. He then called upon all to come and reside with Tawbiao.

Hanawru; It is quite true what you say, but I must take tune and consider before I c»o leave my own plaoe and come here. Hauraki, of Ngatituwharetoa : 1 cannot oonseut to come and reside here just now, and break vi» my own bom*. Why do yon ask us to come at once ? Where are yonr own immediate friends residing.? Where is Honaua, Hauauru, and Te To hi residing (relatives of Tawhiao)? Why do yon not get them to come here before you ask us to com*, who reside at a' distance? When they come it will be time enough. Tami ; lama very small man* "Ka taka ian te roro oto rangi." So prepare yourselves to come here at once; If you take too long a time to consider, I will not have you here on this hill; We will, olose this 'meeting until January next, which* will give you time !to consider my Words. That will be the last meeting that will be held. That i« all I have to aay to you. This concluded the meeting, which could not have been satisfactory to Tawhiao, who did not show out at all, but remained m his hous<? the whole time of the meeting. His obj ot is, and has been for some tiow pant, to form a large settlement at Uihurangi, and for all who acknowledge his Kingship to comein and live under his own immediate authority. The split petween Ngahinaniopoto and himself is evidently widening^ The former appear to regard with jealousy, so many strangers ponoinm m and occupying their lands fearing that after, claims wi\\ be made of ownership by sjiph occupation. Heroe, R"wJ,s steady refusal to atfcnd any meeting* palled by the Waikato's, \ large quantity of provisions were conauin*d' on the occasion, ipcluriing 10 to»§ of flour. Tbe homes, many of whiuh, had come loug distances, were tba grea, te.st sufferers, there being nothing whatever but dry fern for them, feteveral w-re found dead m a smal swampy creek at the back of tbe bill. On Saturday morning there was a .general- break up, fcho whole night bein« pAS ed m conversation and discussing the business of tbe meeting ; and the fe eaeral Jmyr^lon. appeared, to w »gaic.Bt Taw f

• biaoV wishe*. Mo»tokfcuem Dot • relishingthe idea of leaving their own homes for iiikurangi. , .o .■; "'.lv.;. !-'; A DETERMINED .SETTLOR; j Mr Oliver, the stprekeper here, did- -a plucky thing last, week m going m pursuit of.tue half-cast, Dawapn, who had victim* 'wed 'him : arid others by giving Valueless-' 'ohVqaes H£ followed him the" whole ; night atad next day, tracking him f som Kopua to Otorohanga, and 'the various 'set&eihents via Tokanni back to Kihikihi( where they lost the trail.' Pawion^ is idpposerd to have gone m the Tauranga or Taupo direotion. Oliver was fre« quently warned by .natives to go back, as his^jife' was I . itf danger/ m endeavouring to apprehend a man m the King Country. No doubt this is whatNgakau referred to at the meeting. . ;, .. • POSTAL MISMANAGEMENT. . Our mails here are far from satisfactorily arranged, and cause a great deal of inconven ; ence. We have now a coach here three times a week,. but only bring* ing two mails. The Auckland and AlexAndra mail is detained m Algaruawuhia until Thursday, a letter posted m l lex .' ami ra on a Wednesday is not delivered m Auckland until the Monday following ; while if posted at Te Awamucu, it is delivered on Friday, This requires an alteration.— Own Correspondent. •