NATIVE MEETING AT HIKURANGI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) [BY TELEGRAPH ]. Hikurangi, May 15.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1384, 17 May 1881, Page 2

NATIVE MEETING AT HIKURANGI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

[BY TELEGRAPH ]. Hikurangi, May 15.

Since my arrival on the 6th, to date, little progress has been made towards ai riving at any decision as to the best manner of settling the prievances Hauh.uis al'ege they have received from the Government and the tribes living under European law. There were a good number of natives assembled on the 6th, but in consequence of their being so scattered, each tribe having its own separate quarters to which it sti ictly confined itself, it was difficult to estimate their numbeis. Certainly there were not nearly so many as at the last meeting here. Te Kooti and bis people were the last to arrive. They got here on Saturday, 7th mst. when the food was distributed Tins was the only lively time we had. The event appeared to the great majority to be the inostimpoitant part of the proceeding. An immense pile of potatoes, preserved pork, dried shark and other fish, ingeniously arranged to represent a war-canoe in shape and appearance, was, after the usual ceremonies given over to the tribes present, and by their chiefs again sub-divided amongst the natives. The West Coast native* »-aid the mat.iitai, (sharks etc,) of thoir portion cnuld so for the Hikuiangi people. There was a rush for it .it onoe, and as the donors had not prevou^ly removed their poik, most of this wiis trodden under foot and rolled over in the srener.il scr imblc. The result is tint they have h.ul little but pot'itoo* to livo on. The next d'iy oping Hmhau Sundiv nothins wa-, done hut cooking 1 and eat ins 1 . Mondiy <iKo n.i* similarly ob-erved with the exception ti mmho of the principal chiefs holding . i piivar,p conference of no im orta icp to the ffener.il public. Tuesday was a dny of rain and wind making 1 things most imple f-ent. Number- of tbf pne impmonts woie blown down On TWlne-day the meftinuf commenced by Piki.i and Hone To Ane thp K.uvhu cliiff, speakim* for Tawhi io Hone ieininded them th.it the throne of strength of their first Kiu" 1 Pot itou w n bis people and now they should ail suppoit T.uvhiao and come md live with him on this hill in unUv and not live divided fiom him a- for years they had been doing 1 . Tikia's <»pepch was in a snniHr '•tiain Tutun Te NVakui al-o c illprl on the tribes to C'ime and live nndiM the sh.ulow of the ' Kin?. Tuita of NtMtihma spoke in similar sti a ins H> had kppt thp Ring* law from the elef't'on of thfir fir--t Kinir. until thp preheat time Te WVtp of Nsratipuhcawhe on rising to ap Q -ik caused thp meeting to break np , the general opinion appeal ins? to be thit his doins; so, was a piece of presumption On Thur-id.iv again atter the weathpr cleared up, another meeting washeld. It, i was somo time before anyone rose to • speak as a damper was put on the meeting by the non-appearance of Te Wahanui and his people who were generally expected to attend ns none of the NEritimaniapoto had been piesent yestpiday The meeting consequently was a failure, ' no one of any paiticular importance taking any part in it exoentinq; in a conversational manner Te Whiti P-itato was of opinion that Tawhiao should givej them at once his authority to look after their own land 1 -, and then let each tribe do so It was no use con tin nail v calling mpeting-. which had no lesult, if Tawhiao told him to look ifter hib own lands he would do so, Te Wheoi o said if all would asree to do so, he wo'ild. If not he would not have anything to do with it. He would call a meeting 1 amongst all the chiefs at Hikurangi and they would tilk it ovei amongst themselves whafc should be done. Rain coming on at this stago of proceedings, the meeting, if it could be called one broke up There appears so rainy conflicting 1 ojiinions amongst the native interests that theie is not much piobability of their^ooming to any unanimous decision Theie is a strong opinion th.it th"jy should do as, they like with their own laud-, while the kinsjites maintain thnt all lands .should be handed ovpr to the king, he alone should have control Theie ii little doubt the Litter will not bo able ti cairy their point. The settlement is in a frightful state of unclean lmesb, and the erlluvia of the food, &c , they are consuming, is something hoinble. A drink of pure water can he obtained only by going for it a mile distant. If the meeting Usta much longer, it is a wonder if some divimcious epidemic does not break out. One boy died here on Saturday. He came from Napier, I believe. He must have been of some importance, judging fiom the value of the goods, shawls, &c, which were wrapped and piled round his body. Tawhiao is keeping very quiet. He is seen by few. Until the aimal of Te Kooti there was not much gu ml or police duty going on, but on his ,ini\\il a sti ong guard" was at onoe put on the road to his house. It appears they are somewhat apprehensive of Te Kooti, as at the last meeting, when he was ordei cd away for riotous behaviour, lie used some threats to the effect " that one day he would astonish the Waikato's by showing them what he could do " This they surmise was meant iti reference to T.iwlmo ; hence their caution for his safety. A European coming up on Satuiday with a curiosity to see the King sti oiled down the load towards his house. Being asked by the sentry what he wanted there, on replying to see the King, was at oiicp seizyd by the guard ; hustled off with orders not to return there again. The natives who left here for Punui, to bring Kewi, have returned with him. Now, there will "be some chance of their proceeding to business. To-monaw will, it is expected, be fully occupied in private meetings amongst tho chiefs, arranging what shall be "brought forward at the public meeting. — May 13rh.

Notice has been given this morning that to-day will be set apart for Rewi's meeting, and that Tawhiao will speak tomorrow. There is such a fearful stench here that all are getting tired of the place, and a great many of the people have already left for their homes. As I have heard a great many natives remark, it would be hard for Tawhiao to find a more unsuitable place for a lai-ge settlement. They cannot find a place large and level enough to build a whare upon, but have to cut into the hill side to do so. There is little chance of • any number of the visitors coming to live in so unpleasant a spot.

The quantity of timber cut from the Crown forests of Southland during the past month amounted to 1,277,168 superficial feet, and the Royalty to £159 12s 4d. "Two miners" elsewhere caution persona against eating rabbits in 'districts where phosphorus is being used. After making a meal of rabbit i hey experienced acute pains which they attribute to phosphorus in the flesh of the animal. Two gentlemen while fishing afc Oatnaru last weak caught something a good deal worse than the proverbial crab. This was a devil-fish, which beoatne entangled in their net, but which unfortunately escaped before he aould be killed. After making careful inquiries throughout the districts most infested with rabbits, the Tapaitui Courier has come to the conclusion that population i? the correct and only legitimate remedy for the rabbit pcs(.