ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 882, 16 February 1878, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

Tebbuaby lltli, 1878. These has not been any news of consequence from the Bang Country since the late meeting. AH are hard at work securing their crops, and some are threshing. Te Ngakau. not being able to secure a machine is threshing his with horses. Some eight or nine boys are mounted, and ride round and round, trampling on the wheat. He says the plan answers admirably. Many of the Natives have been great losers by leaving" their cultivations to attend the meeting, the pigs, horses and cattle having broken through their fences m their absence and committed considerable damage. It is not possible, I think, that the next meeting can take place next month, as ia generaUy imagined. Though March is the time stated, it does not necessarily follow m hauhau ideas that that month is meant. It may be some time afterwards. When it does take place it will be held, I am informed, at Hikurangi. It is Tawhiao orTukaroto that has called the meeting, and not Rewi, therefore there must be some mistake m the statement that the latter has promised to build a weather-board house for the reception of Sir George Grey and the Native Minister and party on his next visit. *As it is not at ail likely he would do so at Hikurangi, where none of his people reside. The Herald's Special is not only wrong m his spelling of the names of - the principal chiefs present,' some of. which are not recognizable, which appears something extraordinary m a person of his " thorough knowledge of the language, habits, experience, &c." (see 'Herald' report) ; but his account of Tawhiao's taking the name of Tukaroto is also incorrect. Tawhiao has gone by the name of Tukaroto, and more than onee — as mentioned by me m your columns some sixteen or eighteen months ago — when Po'atau a grandson of'Takerei te Rau died, Tawhiao took 1 the name from the lads dying- words, and has gone by it pjnongst feis own people ever since. The Premier's good nature was invposed upon when here by a persistent old iNative, tatooed m the highest style of Native art. " His heart was, sore for a saddle, he had none to riwe upon, tnd was getting too old to walk ; he was a younger brother of Sir George' s old friend Takerei te Raw, and his nephew the Horswai was his son." He got the saddle, but the means by which he obtained it getting wind, he was bo chaffed by his people that he had to clear out, declaring his resolution to restore it to tho storekeeper from whom it wag