THE KINGITE MEETING NEAR ALEXANDRA. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1534, 4 May 1882, Page 2

THE KINGITE MEETING NEAR ALEXANDRA. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER .]

Continued Delay. ; Tuesday. Since my last, very little has transpired in connection with the King meeting to warrant me in saying that the formal opening of the meeting is near at hand. Unless we be exclusively gtiided by the fact that natives go about matters of public policy in a mysterious sort of way, and seldom preface their public actions with unwarrantable ostentation, everything in their mind receiving its degree of importance from the amount of mystery brought to bear, there is very little else to indicate a near approach of business. I visited Whatiwhatihoe this afternoon, but as it was raining, there were very few natives about, almost all being confined to their respective quarters indulging in the pastime of idleness", 'only a few wahines proving an exception. These were exercising their physical powers iix hauling wood and carrying fern for bedding, Th,e road .leading from Alexandra to the native settlement, crossing the bridge in the township, is nearly three miles long and is in a most unpleasant if not dangerous condition for travelling. There are two lowlying creeks to be crossed, as well as the Maungauika Creek, which is at present running pretty strong. In crossing the two former, the descent on the one side, and the ascent on the other are very precipitous, and the late heavy rain, together with the native traffic, have made these parts of the road anything but comfortable. On coining to the top of one of the banks my steed went off with a slide, and on reaching the bottom got firmly planted in the mire, requiring much exertion on my , part to extricate him. The best road to the settlement is along the east side of the river, and across the river near* the site of the new bridge in a canoe. A party of six of us had the good fortune yesterday to get ferried across in a large canoe and back again in the evening, but a number of European vi-itors who endeavoui'ed to get over to-day were laughed at by a few amiable ladies on the opposite bank, and had the satisfaction of turning back. This is very unbecoming treatment on the part of the natives, for it is not too much to expect that when they invite us to their meeting, and ask xis to partake of their hospitality, that they should not thus close the door in the face of those who have accepted their generous invitation. T notice, however, by a written announcement, posted up in town this evening, that this failing is about to be remedied, the notice intimating that visitors desirous of visiting Whatiwhatihoe can be ferried across in a canoe for 3d a head.

Scarcity of^Food. Daring my visit I noticed that there was not the 'display of food which usually characterizes gatherings' of this kind. Certainly there are a lot of potatoes piled at intervals over the ground, each being set off with a corresponding pile of firewood, but as for fresh bread or meat I could see none whatever. Yesterday we were treated to a repast of steamed potatoes and eels, which though partaken of did not seem to be very palatable to the company.

Gathering of the Natives. The natives who have made up their minds to take part in the meeting are gradually rolling in from their respective districts. A number of the Ngatihauas from Tamahere, Matamata, Mangatautari and other places arrived to-day, and were welcomed by those of their people already on the ground. The irregnlaiity and the delay in the arrival of the visiting natives is given by the King natives as the reason for delaying the meeting. They say that if the korero were to be commenced before they had all arrived, and when they were on the road, they would immediately turn back and proceed home. During my conversation with. W.hitiora (the hero of Rangiriri) to-day he said the king was waiting until >■ the pakeha rangitiras arrived before he commenced the talk. It ia quite evident from this that Tawhiao does not care to have all the talking to himself, but thinks that the Government should be represented by one of the Ministry, or some person who would be in a position to state definitely what the policy of the Government would be when Tawhiao reveals the proposals of which so much has been said of late.

Tawhiao and the Pigeons. Up to the time I left the iettlement' this evening Tawuiao had not' returned from his pigeon'-shobting expedition up the Pirongia, and .by a number of the natives was not expected to return until to-morrow morning. Considering the wet state of the weather! think the king must place too much reliance in his constitution. Lying in a wet bush overnight, and patrolling about for a few days without interval in. wet clothes "must e'er- J tainly be injurious to his health, and very trying to a 'man of his years. '

The Drink Prohibition. The publicans were finally .warned this ' ( ln'orriing ' against , supplying the natives with' ; arink, and consequently the supply has teen stopped. "> ''

'(by telegraph.— press association,) ! ' • ' " ' ALEXANDBA^LastTftght. It'is'believed'thafc' about 3500 natives in all* 'will 'be 'preset at' the' meeting. Nothing has yet. I.* .transpired ,, as to Tawbiao's'intentioVor as to' the nature of the policy he is expected r *to announce. It is.bfelieyed, jhoT^eyer,! that',, one of its' .feature's will 'be a proposal that 5 all native; ;lalHsahall'bejin"aJiiehgble'^x(^Rt l % lease. 1% \9 understood tliatr^awluaawiU be the

''first speaker and that he will be followed successively by Wahanui and Te Ngakau.

[bt telegraph, own reporter.] Alexandra, Last Night. Since writing yesterday, very little has transpired in respect to the coming meeting worthy §t communiqatipja. I visited Whatiwhatihe&lhisjaftern'obii, and was pleased to notice that the natives had at Jast^been^broughihto'a-'sense'of'-theirfdTrty in the matter of conveying their European IviSitoriT across v . to the settlement. *A"^ 'lairgV ' canoe", with %^paddle^;ibeingv placed at the, disposal .of s aU ; who applied to Jbe ferried across. tne exception of a few missionaries, including Dr. Ma^nsell andf the TteyvSamJiel Williaint/ Major Wilson, Mr Seavancke, Mr C.^ 0^ Davis, ? Mv, Snow, <four other. Auckland gentlemen, and three representatives of the press, no 'have, as yet, made their appearance on the ground.

A Prophet on the Scent. The only European who has, as yet, thrown himself on the hospitality of the natives is a person who arrived on day last from'tKeT Thames! ; On' arriving at the camp this gentleman was decorated,, with a sorb of military 1 horn,' 'which was 1 - slung round ,the shoulders. . , He. appeared much exhausted, "and the ' natives directed him .to -the large - runanga housej ;at " present^ jocctfpiedA by by the Kaipara natives "^under Paul of » Orakei, where on aWaking 'the, following morning he * proceeded* to" enfertaifi'flhis - native friends, »with ja fewTof Sankey's hymns, accompanying himself on the Jew's harp. He then,' entered. upon a discourse dealing" 7 with 1 '- the k Anglo- Jewish question, in T which he called the Maqris, " Morians." He infbrmd them- that hu coining to the , meeting yas r( theWoi^c^l: God, notof man, and thatin l threeOT.ys'time he would blow the; horn,' when ''all ; the' aboriginals would assemble, and depart peacefully. He i&an intelligent looking man, but it would T3eem as if the natives did not properly enjtertain their guest, else his prophetic arclour has been somewhat shaken through' exposure, he having returned to town.

Rewi and .Wahariui., . These two chiefs have not arrived in the settlement, yet, but aje at present sojourning at Ilopua, v^elcoming "the tribes. According to native etiquette, they, are not) supposed' to appear on the scene until all are assembled: This consequently accouuts for their non-appearance, and their apparent want of interest in the coming proceedings.

•••'* ' . The king returned this afterrioon, after spending two nights on the Pirongia with his retinue on a pigeon-shooting expedition. ' Tawhiab came into Alexandra, but his men, with about 150 pigeons, proceeded to the settlement. During my ' visit they had just arrived, and before long the unfortunate birds were undergoing the plucking* process.' We made , several enquiries as to when the korero was likely to commence, but' no one,' not even the king's own responsible advisers, seemed to know anything whatever about it. Paul, of Orakei, in reply to a question by Mr Davis as to when the meeting would open, said as the heavens had now become weary of their great, work' of. sheddmg tears business^ would probably shortly commence. From what I can learn I'think Friday will be the' day, but the Europeans generally think' nothing will be done till Monday.

Visit of an Artiftt.-: ;>• Mr Bloinfieltl, an artist from town, has arrived, and is at present making sketches of the various scenes and incidents in the settlement. v Numerous new wharcs are in course of erection, anil "several tents arebeing pitched for the accommodation of the visitors.

European Enterprise. , ' On arrival at the river on my, way to Alexandra a few natives were landing three kegs of gingerbeer and several casea of syrup, the property of Me Clotworthy, who is about to open a store in the settlement here. I discovered the only feature in the condition of the place approaching anything like system: A dusky individual, enshrouded in a strip of sackcloth, was overseeing the discharging of the canpe, informed us that'he Was a Custom-house officer his office being to see that nothing stronger that Wa'ircki entered the place. He performed the duties solely for love, requiring no , remuneration. His presence, I believe, was not without effect, considering that an immense hogshead of beer was left on the opposite side.

A Maori Newspaper. Mr Snow visited Wtiatiwliatihoe today, and with Mr Davis had a korero with some of the influential natives relative to his paper, Te Kormutko. He explained to Paul of Orakei that the subscription would be only two shillings annually, but Paul, in reply, said that Maori publications had already beeii supported, but the subscriptions were never less than 225, and from' the unreasonably low price of the new publication he supposed that it was a plot of the publisher tO' further some ' private end. Mr Snow, however, assured .Paul of his intentions, whicH were pxirely philanthrophic, and -the 'whole tribe expressed their willingness to become subscribers.

The Drink Supply. l Notwithstanding the fact that the hotels lia'ye stopped the supply of liquor to the natives, there still seems to be a considerable amount of drunkenness among the natives. The strength of the local police force here ia very meagre, and should be augmented without delay. In all probability the drink is imported by the incoming natives, who are arriving daily. If this is so, it should be seen to, so that innocent publicans may not be blamed.