NATIVE NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1500, 14 February 1882, Page 2

NATIVE NEWS.

Tawhiao at Home. Tawiiiao's camp at Ruahine since his return from Auckland reminds one of a canvass town on a small scale, so many having visited him to hear his adventures during his absence at Auckland and the North. Of these he appears never weary of relating. Your correspondent has had several long interviews with him, and I have no doubt that the kindness he received from the Auckland people will result in conferring a great benefit to the whole colony at large. Whatever distrust he had of the pakeha is now entirely removed. The consideration and hearty welcome given to him by the Wnikato settlers had somewhat prepared him for a cordial reception in Auckland, but he now confesses that the kind and enthusiastic manner he was received by the thousands of people "who assembled to greet him quite upset his expectations. Te Wahanui, who is still here with him is equally delighted. At a meeting held yesterday by them it was finally decided that the great meeting should be held at Ruahine, as being more convenient for the pakehas than Kopua. One thing puzzles me, where the food and accommodation for the large number of people expected to attend is to come from. Ruahine is an old pah, distant about a mile from Alexandra bridge, on the west side of the river Waipa; there are only some four or five whares there at present, and the king is living in a small tent, others of his family and followers having similar accomodation. The only food they have is the potatoes planted in and around the township, supplemented by eels and an i occasional pig. No doubt the natives to J a man will do all they can in the way of contributing provisions of their kind, but, house-room will be an impossibility; so I should recommend all who can, Avho intend to visit the meeting, to provide themselves with a tent, and go in for a little gipsying like they did "a long time ago." I fancy a good many of the Auckland party think with regret of the good things and attention they received on their late visit while taking their present abstemious meals, devoid of all luxuries. Seldom a day passes but Tawhiao himself finds his way to Host Finch's, or ConnelPs breakfast or dinner table for a " kinaki."

Tawhiao's Family. All the Auckland papers appear to have taken great pains to get a true full and particular account of Tawhiao and family, bxit as yet, I perceive, not one of them has published a " correct card" of themembers of the Royal Family. Assuch would seem to be interesting to some, I send a return of them : — Tawhiao has two wives, and six sous named Te Rata Tutawhiao, (eldest) Te Pouku, Te Ngaehe, Tuporo, Tete, and Manga, with two daughters, Tiahuia, and Eiha, The second son has one child, a boy, Te Eipe, and Te Ngaehe two children, a boy and girl, Tutawhiao and Tamo—w hich for the present ends the list,

Visit of a Naturalist. Owing to Wahanui's staying here with Tawhiao, the Austrian 'gentleman (I forget his name) who accompanied the party from Auckland, with the intention of proceeding to Mokau for the purpose of procuring specimens of Natural history in that locality, was not allowed to do so, there being some misunderstanding between Rerehau and the big chief on the subject. He has^ however, been staying with Tawhiao, and searching Pirongia, where he succeeded in capturing two fine kiwis and qther birds. Yesterday he left in CQmpany \yith Honana ftjaioha for Hlkurahgi on a similar expedition.

General. Business' in the township is not very active just now, the natives being busy harvesting their crops, and a. good num-; ber ar,e also engaged getting the materials ready' for TawhiaoVwhare.' We hear, however, rumqursof new comers intending to open places' for business here in anticipation 1 - the good coming, Messrs I^aidlaw, arid- Copk', t of Te*Awamijtu, ha^^r,eady t gecin:e4fthe. lease of tfjg<s>jf business §i ; tej, ai^a'co getting, a 3fore^fitt^4 up.;^ Ah- tfieyjhtqnd to-go in foiffradingjKithl-'ijKe '.natiyes, they will; aou^tless^gje^thfi^shirejSf the najlave. $,w i? ji as Ejiropep;.; : I f -ha4 forgotten

to mention the two Berkshire pigs presented by Mr Dunningham to Tawhiao. Their levee every day is hardly inferior to Tawhiao's, being ever surrounded by crowds of admirers. — [Alexandra Correspondent, February 13.]