NATIVE MEETING NEAR [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1538, 13 May 1882, Page 3

NA TIVE MEETIN G NEAR [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.]

*■ 3ppenmg-qf tjtterMeeting^ -y~ r'" "^ A^XAS'fIUA, Thursday: * We have all been agreeably disappointed in the change— though as yet but very uncertain— in; the ? weather,- the jay pur j i able state of't'he morning offering 1 every facility- to our. .good^host^and -his fol? lowers to open their korero campaign ; and I am Happy to say they took advantage of the weather and kept their word, though .not to such an evtent as indicated by the king in his few extempore remarks of yesterday. To-day was the day of formal welcome among the tribes, and with the exception of a few wamtas or songs of welcome, very lit.tle of importance transpired. The - significance of this ceremony lay almost entirely in the fact that it indicated the commencement of business, arid this knowledge' is to us unfortunate pakehas very welcome indeed. About 10 o'clock in the morning all the natives seemed to be on the move, and all shaping their course in the one direction. The flat opposite Tawhiao's whare, to the south of the big rununga house, was chosen as the martic for the day, and here the various tribes began to assemble. The tribes principally represented were the Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiapa and the Ngatirangitane. The former presented a very civilised appearance, and were undoubtedly a well-dressed and in-telligent-looking lot of men. All squatted down in a ring m the usual Maori custom. Te Whete Patoto, a chief of the .Ngatiraukawa, with another chief of the king's own people, advanced to the .centre of the marae carrying a white flag, upon which was fixed an oil portrait ot Tawhiao and the words "King Tawhiao" insciibed underneath. This they planted in the ground, Tawhiao advancing and taking his seat underneath it. A somewhat lengthy cry was then indulged in, after winch Tawhiao retired and took his seat among his own chiefs. Among these were Kewi, William Barton, Te Ngakau, and several other men of rank and influence of the native race. After the lapse of a few minutes, Hauhauau, one of the leading chiefs of the Ngatiinaniapoto, addressed the assembly. Having welcomed them in the usual way, he invited them to listen to the true words they would hear, not from him, but from thoscainongthem, (meaning Tawhiao and the other chiefs of influence.) Rewi followed and after singing a waiata of welcome invited all to join the, ,Kmg. Kiharoa Te Moroati, a chief of the Ngatiraukawa, ro&e and thanked the king party for the welcome which had been extended them. Major Te Wheoro follow ed by singing a song of welcome, all the natives joining in the chorus. As they had all met together to talk he would ask them to speak their minds to each other and not conceal their sentiments. Kereopa, a Foxtou chief, said they had come there to listen, and to speak, and to compare their views as to their policy for the future. Pukukohatu, a chief of the Ngatimanhpoto, dwelt on the mai ked decrease of the Maori race, and the paucity of their numbers when compared with the Europeans, Therewas but one law for us all, from the east, west, north or south. They had assembled there together to talk and to hear the words of the chiefs of the people. The chiefs would speak, and those assembled should speak and give expression to their thoughts. The people would be saved by what they would hear that day (meaning during the meeting). He would not let them go back in their views nor in their alliance. The meeting then being held would be the end of what they had got to say. Their policy of the future would then be enunciated, and their views fully and filially expressed. This was the day of redemption. Karanama To Kapuai, a chief of the Ngatiraukawa, said he had something which he intended calling the king, and his party to account for. What did it signify if they were great chiefs V they were also chiefs. He would ask them when speaking not to conceal their thoughts, but express them Openly. What he had got to say to them they would not be able to refute. What signified the man who spoke last ? he may consider himself a great chief, but they [the Ngatiraukawas) were great chiefs also. The Waikato chiefs were merely resting on Rewi and himself. He had nothing to blame the other tribes for. It was only theWaikatos. — Rewi answered with a\\ aiata. He concluded by saying that what he had heard made him very much ashamed. — Whoani Pitilii, a Manawatu chief, said that a few years ago they were nothing but slaves. They had arrived at Whatiwhatihoe to hear what they had got to say, having answered their invitation by coining. — Tawhiao then spoke. He asked all to listen to the words he was about to address to them. All the chiefs were all dead and gone, find they only were left. But Karanama was still alive. He then invited all his fathers, grandfathers, and uncles to come and see him. He had listened to the words of Karanama, and would ask him now that he had come there, what he had come for. (Tawhiao then started a song in which the people joined. ) Before sitting down he said he did not pretend to be a great chief, but still he was there to welcome them.

Presentation to Tawhiao. The people of the Ngatiraukawa tribe then made a presentation of native mats of various patterns and colours to Tawhiao, which they piled at the foot of the flag-pole. These were received by one of Tawhiao's wives, who carried them into the king's whare. A shower of rain then dispersed the gathering. Tawhiao was very liberal in the distribution of the mats presented him by the Ngatiraukawa people, presenting several to some of his European friends. Evening. A number,, of Europeans visited thesettlement in the afternoon, among whom were Major and Mrs Wilson, Mr F. A. Whitaker, M.H.B, Mr Dufaur, of Auckland, Mr E. B. Walker, Captain Owen, Mr Searancke, Mr G. Edgecumbe, , and several others. There was nothing, however, done, but the weather being more favourable than usual - a number of th,e young people enjoyed themselves with athletic sports. If, to-morrow is fine Tawhiao will, without fail, , deliver his great speech.; > I was informed by some of the king natives to-day that Tawhiao when issuing his irivitation to the Europeans did not mean that they should assemble' at Whatiwhatilioe on the 'first of May. He only" intended to summon the natives for that day, knowing that they had to come considerable distances, and that .their means of conveyance were very slow, thus necessitating an early start.' The Europeans he intended telegraphing to whenever 'tlie 'meethig J was_ akmt- tb c begin, knowing that theyccbulcl come at a day's notice. Therefore he did not, according to this statement, mean* that they shoiila be r 'delayed F here a (fortnight. 4 This fin--formatibii/it strikes tniV-h&s leaked out at a very inopportune''timer:tf tV ' m i /"ii

k She Pqlipe and,siyjj|}rpff f Tra|&cl ' j > Jundng* .come- tothe knowledge of the; police aup^Qfities Kere/,t6at Jly/grog?selluig M^as being* car-^ ried on among-the^ natiyes ,to.-no-incon-;. : siderable v extent^ [Sergt^rMcGo^eßh* in'; cdm^ariys' { with!j Gdnsta^le4Gfillj%6f iTjt'

cover tbJFspurce Hp^? 88 * 0 "!] tioa they'proceeded t^a the' native settle ] ment at WhatiwhatiMe this afternoon on an exploring expectation. Seeing no drjnken.uess.-in the settlement, they load/ Jio raigjgpn any suspected quarters, aua.bding satisfied that no mischief was being done through the sale of liquor, illicit or otherwise, they proceeded across the tiver homewards. When coming ' from the bank of the river in the direction of Alexandra, they perceived a light -spring- cart being driven by a-man namedClotworthy in the direction of the river. On seeing the two |C|o|/ ? worthy started the horse" at a very suspicious, pacs, .and ,i3ergt._ JVlcGjov^n^an^. Constable Gillies jWentoff m,pui;suit. Clotworthy turned towards the batik of the river, still urging the horse onward, and on reaching the top of the bank, r took a box oui of the cart and ran' towards the river, at the same' time concealing the box in the fern. Neither of the officers slacked their- pace until .tlifiy" ca*me up with their object, whom' they' accused f of having concealed or dot\e away with his burden.' Clotworthy in strong terms denied the accusation intimating that sly grog traffic w.as as far from his mind as the'constables were mistaken with their victim. ' They however, set to work in searching the fern, Mr Clotworthy dissuading them from any such foolish pu'rsuitj but, notwithstanding his remonstrances r they . discovered a small box concealed in the' fern, 'containing six bottles of unadulterated rum. This they seized and conveyed to town, where it was examined. Qther cases we hear are pending, and no doubt, Sergt. McGovern will^iscov.er the true aourceof the evil.