THE TE WAOTU NATIVE MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1180, 20 January 1880, Page 2

THE TE WAOTU NATIVE MEETING.

Friday. Q XABTnro from Cambridge on Monday morning last at 8 o'clock, we arrived at the To Waota settlement at noon. We were most hospitably welcomed by the natives, <lare Katera, whose quests we were proving a most attentive host, pro. viding sumptuous and substantial meals, a la pakeha, with clean table cloth, knives, forkH, Ac. Indeed, we could not have been better treated at any country inn. We found a large number of Maoris, principally of tb/» Ngatiraukawa tribe. Major Mair (Native Commissioner), had oome up the night before, and by the time evening net in more then a dozen pakehas had arrived. Our worthy host did not seem at all put out in providing slcopiug accommodation, comfortable apartments being allotod to eac>. 'he korero had not commented on Monday, nnd on Tuesday the rain came down in torrents all day, and most of the native* kept to their couches. On Wednesday morning a rueetim* of the principal natives was held, to consider to what date it would be advisable to request Major Vlair to communicate with the Judge, to ad* journ tho Land Court at Cambridge. Some of the natives spoke in favor of the first of February, but the majority seemed to think about the first of viaroh tho moat convenient time for most parties concerned. Major Mair said that the opinion of the majority seemed to be in favor of March, but the date was not fixed.— [Own Correspondent.] Monday. The meeting commenced at 11 o'clock on Wednesday. The following were the principal chiefs :— Hauhaus, Whitipatato, arry immons, acting as spokesman ; Taupo section of Mgatirau ama«, Hohipi, and Hohepa Tamuamutu ; Rotorta Rotorua natives, Ngahuruhuru, Riharoa, Katene, and Piripi fapsells; Ngatiterangi were represented by Kakawairoa, Uata, Paora Kantia, leTupara; Ngatemkorehs natives were represented by Hare Henri Potama and others ; \atiahuru, by ' uwhakarara and others ; Ngatimaihi, by Marbi te Ngaru, -\rekanara ard others ; Vgatihuri, bp Te Hei and others; Vgatikapu, by Karauamn and others; there were other sections of the Ngatiraukawas also represented To open tho meeting tfarry Simmons stated that he had been to Wellington, and acted as delegate from his people, and arranged that a meeting of Vgatiraukawai should be held at Waotn, during January or February of the present year, ihe Native Minister had agreed to attend himself, or i-end a representative with full power to deal with matters connected with the proceedings ef lands in the Patetere district. c then read his own letter to the Native Minister, anl the following reply, a translation of which we give :—: — Wellington, 14th November, 1879. Friend Harry Simmons, greeting.— Your letter of the 7th day of this month has arrived. I have now put a stop to all Hurvoy operations in tho Patetere district. 1 do so because the troubie would be easier settled, whore tho surveyors ordered off. 1 will carefully consider your desire, that a large meeting should be held to settle all difierences, but I am of opinion that if the tribe were to seleot some (fit) persons from amongst themselves to conduct the business, they would be able to go into and settle matters in a clear and a more ablo manner than if the question was loft to a largo meeting, as proposed by you,. Other questions m ygur Jettep I will

xurefully take into consideration, alter ihe oloao of the session of Parliament.— 3uffioieat from your friend, John Brtob. He asked Major Mair : I presume you it© here to represent the Government, with power to tattle these matters. Major Mair replied: c was preneut simply to report the proceedings to the Government. t this dissatisfaction wai expressed, 3ome of the natives saying it would necessitate another meeting 1 in order to get the decision of the Government. Harry Simmons then prooeeded with the business by commencing to state had the land had been fir«it leased by Brissenden and < 'o , who were afterwards bought out by the Government. He stated that these private parties paid the natives til Boo, but the Government had paid these Europeans a very munh larger sum, and which sum the Government oharged against the land. To this they demurred, thinking it unfair that the difference between the £1800 paid to the natives and the sum paid to «Mssend«n and Co. should be charged against the land. ■lessrs Moon and Major Hay, on being asked by the native*, said they had never sold out their claims to the Government. The natives then said they were perfectly willing to allow the <-:1800 to be charged against them, but they asked Major Mair whether the Government would relinquish their claim to the larger sum. Major Mair said he could not answer that question. The natires then said that he must telegraph to Wellington for a, reply, and till it arrived they could not go on with any more business. The meeting accordingly adjourned. Major Mair did not receive a reply till Saturday afternoon. The natives then assembled, and Major Mair read out the telegram he had received, that th« Government would not forego their laims, i.e., would not give up their purohase. he natives then expressed their disapprobaion of the action of the Government in the matter. •he meeting then broke up in confusion.