THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1075, 15 May 1879, Page 2

THE GREAT NATIVE MEETING.

FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER. (Concluded from our last.) KOPUA, Monday. Ahapene Kaihau said, what Tawhiao said the other day was not intended to be absolute, viz. that he claimed all the land. .He only wanted discussion ; when you said we only went to Tamaki when Wahanui claimed the two sections of Ngapuhi (the two posts). Let this matter be discussed •without anger. Ngakau reiterated his question and it was answered by Meta Kingi. Te Ngakau again replying the same,Ngapuhi again answering, a regular cross fire, being kept up of no direct importance upon the result of the meeting. At 1 o'clock the whole of the meeting adjourned for " kai". An impression seems to prevail that Te Ngakau's question has an adverse moaning — that he intends to try and get an answer to the effect that he had done no wrong and then ask for the confiscated land that was | taken from him because he had done wrong. Time will show. At 3 o'clock we again adjourned to the scene of operations, and finding that the Natives had not assembled, we sat down, whistled tEe "expectans expectavi " for half-an-hour. At 3.30 they commenced to arrive, their culinary and digestive operations having detained them for two hours an-a-half.^ It was very nearly 4 o'oloek before the speaking again commenced. Then a chant was sung m Hauhau style, invoking a blessing on the 'proceedings. This was followed by two prayers one by a man and the other by a woman. Tawhiao was not there. Te Wheoro: Were eaclj. one has tried to argue the other one down, I am of opinion that this cannot give an answer to the question. You will not get an answer to satisfy i you. There will nothing more be said from this, side ; shall it be decided, or will ! you say something more? we have finished. The only thing now is foi you to bring the matter to an issue. Let us go into the question of Tawhiao and Grey, unless you do that we shall talk to no purpose. If you are satisfied that my body was m the Avrong, say so. We will not answer your qnestions. Te Ngakau said what you say is clear, if the people had followed all would have been right, but they did not. lam sure if we. sit here looking at at each other we -shall do nothing. Sir G. Grey says : — Let him who had done no wrong throw a stone. Who is that man? We have gone into all sortsof different channels. I only wanted you to tell me w nat *&& wrong. If they had followed out that advice all would have been well- *am grieved at what Grey said about the man without sin casting the Ist stone. If there is such a man' let him speak out - Tawhiao you say is a man who h*s <* one wrong. If a H this had not been said, you and Te Wheoro | could work out the matter together. Te Wheoro *iid the word that you have persisted m let some on e explain. You had better he quick or else to-morrow there will be nobody left. Don't say never mind but make a reply whether the man who does it is wrong or nsht. Te Ngakau : That is it T e Wheero. I do not wish the people to go with reference to what you say who is that has done wrong we shall he tired over this discussion,' who is the man without sin! People say as to sin everbody has done wrong. It is not my fault, It is yours. 'I am only following the question raised before me all these days. I understood the answer to Grey's suggestions, as to throwing the first stone. I looked round, there was no maori without sin. Here a pause ensued of about 10 minutes, neither side caring to venture, to closed quarters. It may have been a masterly inactivity. lam not sufficiently up m Maori to say. A.t the close of yesterday's meeting, Sir G. Grey said : My friends, chiefs of the tribes who are here I will say a few words to you. Now I have heard since I have been here murmurings of three complaints. First, I will say this to you. I with Mr Sheehan made offers of giving certain things to Tawhiao and his people. That offer I did not make as having a right to do it or as giving my own, but as a servant of the people of New Zealand, as a servant of all who hear me amongst others. Now as you may all have seen, my payment for this service is this. Three times I have had to come to you, I have had many troubles and discomforts to go through, and I .have hurt my health by so doing, and my only object was to serve' you. I wished to do you good, when I made these offers. I had no power to break them, because the people of New Zealand would not have let me do so. The three things I have heard the mutterings about are: first, the Road to Raglan. To that, I answer, that -there is no grouud of 3omplaints. The talk I had at Hikurangi was to this effect, that if it was igreqable to you andTawaio, there should be returned all the land on the we^t bank >f the Waipa, which had not been sold to Europeoans. Now, the road to Ragland went through Pakeha land, land fairly jurchased, and hence confiscated, and ihrough which all had a right to make.

roads. It was right that Raglan and Waikato should' have a road to carry produce. It was as much for the sake of Maori as for Pakehas. I could not refuse to make that, and -when I was ordered by the Parliament to do so. Now the road was made by Maories and you got the money. I was glad you got the money for making it, for I believed I did you a great benefit m getfciag you that money. There was no breach of agreement "there. Next the section of land at Sarappi which have been bought by the Government from Europeans, those -were excluded by me from any offer to Tawhiao from the land he was to have. The words were carefully used. The North landsweretobereturned,whichhadnotbeen sold, the lands had been sold to Europeans. As it was thought they had been promise^ by. a previous Government," they were set aside as an endowment for your children for schools — make it as an endowment for your children for schools so that you should have the benefit of those. Further 1 1 enquired into the case, ,and before 1 Vent to Hikurangi I heard you had refused to take those lands because you did not want to be near Europeans and their cattle. Therefore I did this. I offered you town acres m all the towns m Waikato. Now listen there was no understanding about those at Harapipi, but I say if you can shew cause that you misunderstood, you'^may rely upon it Parliament will give you ample compensation on that account, the people of New Zealand are generous and will not allow you to suffer from their mistake. I say this, m case these subjects and offers made to you should be further considered. Now, the subject is this : I have heard that you have grumbled, because we made arrangements, that m case you ever devised a railway to Mokau, the money would.be there to make it with. That was done without any intention of making a railway, unless the Chiefs agreed to it. It was done out of pure love for you, m case you should wish it. Look here: God made level plains of country, through which a railway can easily run. Was God wrong m doing that? Then there js plenty m your earth of iron, and iron is a valuable properly for you. Was God wrong m putting iron there. Coal is here too, to make fires to drag the trains along, that coal is very valuable and presently will make you. rich. Was God wrong m this ! which is wrong providence or the few men who try to prevent others from using these blessings. Children were dying all round and people who were selling land, themselves kept this country locked up an would allow no Doctors even to come and save them. Now I stand here your friend to add on\ to the other 'provision which providencehas made, that whenever you did desire this railways to be made it should be . done. I say that every comfort should come to your children and yourselves. 1 will not force it on but, I will, by words, try to persuade you to do what is right. J.W the offers at Hikungi were made without requiring you to do anything 1 for them m return. I shall wait until 10 o'clock tomorrow, and if you send to say that yon discuss these proposals. I will remain. If you do not send they will be withdrawn absolutely, and any future understanding which may be made. You will be upon a new basis. If you do hot discuss them you will . stiE have a friend m me, if you wha help, send for me and I will help you if I can. The meeting broke up. I cannot say if they will accept these offers or not but from the Ngakau attitude I think not at present at aU events.