THE NATIVE MEETING AT WHATIWHATIHOE. [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1535, 6 May 1882, Page 2

THE NATIVE MEETING AT WHATIWHATIHOE. [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER .]

The Europeans and Their Host. Alexandra, Thursday. Disgusted with the continuous delay in the opening of the meeting, and with the very unsatisfactory replies received to their repeated questions as to when the king party is likely to come forth and declare its future policy, the Europeans who have come to Alexandra in response to Tawhiao's extensive invitation to hear the words of reconciliation and to fraternise with their enemies of the past, drew up the following letter, which they forwarded by one of the native chiefs this afternoou :—: —

Alexandra, May 4th, 1882. To Tawhiao. Greetings r Sir.— This is the word of the Europeans, to you. They are moving away, returning 1 to their homes, having become weary of thd delay. Those who remain ask you now this question • On what day will you stand up in the midst of the thousands ? (Signed) C. O. Davis, And my Eutopean friends who are here. Up to the time of writing, (9.30. p.m.) no answer has been deigned _to this straightforward and reasonable question, though Tawhiao is at present enjoying himself about town. Major and Mrs Wilson who have been here since Tuesday, have taken their departure for Cambridge. So also have Messrs Searancke and W, L. C. Williams, who were also here. Tawhiao informed a European gentleman who visited Whatiwhatihoe this morning, that the meeting would positively commence when one of the principal chiefs and his people arrived.

Cause of the Delay. It now transpires that the cause of the delay has, to a great extent, if not entirely, been occasioned by the 11011 arrival of the great chief Topia Turoa, of Tcvupo and Whanganui, with his followers, who are said to number something like 400 adults. I believe, however, that this number is slightly exaggerated, as I learn from another quarter that the number does not exceed 150. Turoa is the chief who lent such valuable assistance to the Europeans during the Te Kooti campaign. The Avhole party, consisting of the representatives of six tribes, were detained on the bank of a little river named Maugakiro, a tributary of the Waikato, which Avas considerably swollen by the recent heavy rain. They have now arrived at Orakau, near Kiliikihi, where they have been entertained by a chief named Te Puke, and will come on to Whatiwhatihoe to-morrow morning. They brought with them 300 preserved kirds called koaro, which are preserved in patua vessels made from the totava bark, together with 70 baskets of fish from Lake Rotoaira as a present to Manga, who, in company withWahanni,remained at Kopua to receive them. Tins fact very reasonably accounts for the delay, and fully explains the heretofore inexplicable circumstance of Rewi and Wahanui keeping away at Kopua.

Approach of Business. Rewi and Wahanni have now come into Whatiwhatihoe, and it is believed that Topia Turoa and hia people are not far from the settlement. The Wairarapa natives, numbeving about 20, arrived today carrying a flag. They proceeded to a spot opposite the Kaipara whare and received the usual Maori welcome. The strangers planted their flag, which is coloured white with a red border, in the ground, ai\d having . gathered round it said the Hauhau prayers. The chief immediately proceeded to sing a Maori song, the refrain being taken up by his followers, who are principally men of rank. Most of the natives, if not all, are now gathered in, and loads of provisions are finding their way down the liver in canoes as well as by bullock drays on the roads. Things will therefore be put into ship-shape to-morrow, andjthe natives are all of opinion that the korero will commence early on Saturday morning, Tawhiao is to lead off with a long speech, Te Ngakau following. lam almost certain, however, that Saturday will be passed over without anything whatever been done with the exception of distributingthe food and allocating the visitors. Monday I am convinced will commence the proceedings.

Proposed Maori Journal. There has been some talk recently among the natives of resusitating the newspaper which was some years ago published in the King Country, but which is said to have come to grief by the unspaiing use of the editorial pen. The plant, I learn, has been thrown into the river a few tunes, and afterwards fished out, consequently it can be of very little service for practical printing purposes at present. An European gentleman, at present staying here, has expiessed his willingness to the natives ot going to Kopua and inspecting the plant. If is capable of working off a newspaper he intends taking a tew intelligent native lads to Aiicklancl, to have them instructed in the avt of printing. The natives thankfully entertain the proposal. Royal Patronage. A couple of Europeans had access to Tawhiao's presence, tins morning, at Whatnvhatihoe. and induced him to lend Ms patronage to Mr P. Doran's entertainment in Alexandra, to-night. His Majesty arrived here in the afternoon, in full costume, wearing a scarlet riding coat which Avas presented to him in Auckland, and an imposing bell-topper, also the present of some generous pakeha, j and proceeded to the entertainment. The Liquor Traffic. Notwithstanding the non - supply of liquor at the hotels, drunken natives are not hard to be found. Among the noisy squad I notice the veritable Graham, wellknown to Cambridge publicaus as the rowdyest customer they have ever had to deal with. lam told that the natives who were instrumental in bringing the liquor law into force here are now the most clamorous for a " nip", when the old propensity is excited. The ' King himself applied to be served at one of the local bars to-night, but when reminded of the law and of his instrumentality in bringing it into force, he said that he only meant that the restriction should refer to Whatiwhatihoe, and not Alexandra.

The Weather still continues wretched, and life in the vicinity of Wbatiwhatihoe may be fairly termed an unpleasant romance. A few of us were bent on ascending Pirongia this morning, but were prevented by the fog.

Alexandba, Last Night. Approach of Business. Sensational intelligence here is very scarce, and very little has occurred since yesterday in respect to native matters, with the exception of the commencement of business, and, indeed, this is not of such a nature as to warrant me in, forming any sort of definite t opinion. ' I visited the settlement this morning,, and in .company with a friend proceeded to count the number oorf r people encamped on thV' ground. „ Our calculations hed^Sjs to \ the conclusion that 1200 would, cover the'lo*. We made a soiourn-injSbmejpfvthe wbares for "the purlose^f Wring what the/people had I ;,to"say:relatiye^tp ~Jfce meetuig, I of my cpnversation mfaye'j geatie,^ j oiaa ia Holy -M ljss \

Kaipara party, he expressed himself (on behalf of the tribe) greatly dissatisfied with the kingly hospitality. He said his people were used to a variety in diet, but there they got nothing but potatoes and a few savoury eels. This was not how they entertained Tawhiao and his people when at Kaipara, and consequently they expected better entertainment when they visited Whatiwhatihoe. During our visit to another whare at the upper end of the settlement a Maori lady,' a perfect genius at the weaving art, produced a splendid collection of handsomely worked kits. My friend was successful in negotiating a purchase at the rate of 2s per article, but when I offered my patronage I found to my great chagrin that the price had risen to ss. We made a pretty careful oalculation of the number of the natives on the ground, and found that they were about 1200 people. ' ->

The Two Sages. We heard before starting Wahanui and Rewi had again taken their departure from the settlement, but during our peregrination we stumbled over the former airing his swarthy person and as apparently cheerful as ever. Rewi we were informed was overseeing some dietary concerns in a neighbouring paddock.

The Great South. Road. I hear upon good authority that one of the most important points to be brought forward and advocated by Tawhiao, will be the continuation of the road from the new bridge through to Kawhia. Tawhiao has given vent to frequent very significant metaphors indicating his desire for the execution of this work. Considering the probability of Kawhia harbour being opened through the decision of the coming meeting, the continuation of the road to Kawhia would naturally be a great desideratum, and a convenience to people in this part of the province. Mrs Jules Wilson, the lady who- opened the land in the vicinity of the harbour, but who is not in a position to throw open | the country, is now at Whatiwhatihoe awaiting the decision of the meeting in this matter. I

A Long Journey. About 100 natives, all on horseback, and accompanied by several pack-horses, arrived here this afternoon, and took up their quarters at Dufl'us's old store, The party is composed of nitives from Manawatu (Foxton), Taupo, and Waotu, and are certainly the most civilized lot of natives, both from their general appeirance and apparently comfortable circumstances., I have seen since I came here. Those who have come from Manawatu, have been four weeks on the journeytravelling overland by Tongariro and Taupo, and have supplied themselves en route -with kai by the assistance of tlieir dogs and guns, the former catching the rabbits, and the latter bringing down the pigeons. The chief Topia Turoa of whom I spoke in my letter, last night accompanied the party as well as the chief Matuahu.

The Weather. There is now no cause for further delay, all natives expected to attend the meeting having arrived, and unless the weather proves unfavourable I anticipate Monday as the day of business. Life is very monotonous here, the weather being exceedingly wretched, and those who would amuse themselves by having a trip over the country are debarred from doing so by the boggy state of the ground and the overflowing of the rivers.

The Hotels. The publicans here are anxious to know whether or not Alexandra has been proclaimed part of a native licensing district. Hearing from good authority thai they are not supposed to close their houses unless such- is the case, unless a proclamation has been issued by the Governor-in-Council, proclaiming it, so any infcerforence on the part of the police to the extent of making the publicans' close their house is illegal, and they talk of compensation being sougat for the interference they have sustained in their business.