THE NATIVE MINISTER AT ALEXANDRA. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1610, 28 October 1882, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER AT ALEXANDRA. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Meeting with Tawhiao. AtjUXAndha, Last Night. Mu Bryck arrived by the oidinaiy train at Te Aw amutu to-day, accompanied by Mr Wiluin&on, Native Agent, and Mr Butlei, piivatc sccretaiy, and proceeded to Alexandia in the Government waggon. Immediately after arrival he proceeded to the ies>idenee of Capt. Oascoigne, where about thiity chiefs, among whom were TiiAv hisio and sons, Te Ngakau, Te Wolere, Fikea, Tv Tata, Whitiora, Kuiipa, Haupokeha, and Honana, had a&sembled to meet him. There was no demonstration of enthusiasm whatever on the part of the natives, which, as they weie not on their own territory, could not be expected, Tawhiao and his followers ■weie gathered in fiont of Capt. Gascoigne's house, and Mr Bryce having come on the verandah, accompanied by Messrs Butler and Wilkinson, after the l.ip&e of a few minutes the usual salutations were exchanged. Tawhiao first spoke and said: "At last you have come to sco my people. I am hois to repiesent them. I bid you welcome. To-morrow you can come and meet me at Whatiwhatihoe." Mr Brjce then baid he was glad to meet him (Tawhiao). They would pioceed together over the bridge to-morrow, and if~Ta\vhido should choose to meet him there they would dme over. Tawhuo, having again haul they would meet to-moriow, -withdrew with In*tollo\vei.s, having pic&ented Air Bryc witii a few Maoii mats, and returned to Whatiwhatihoe. During the above conversation both kept some distance apait, Tawhiao leaning on the veiandahpost. Almost all the natives present weie Waikatos, few Ngatimaniapotos, il any, put in an appearance.

The Native Programme. It is not known wuat form the ceremony of opening the biidtfe will take to-morrow ; indeed, with tlip. exception of providing some h«i, on the pait oi the natives, no preparations have been made. It is expected that Mr Bryce will duvc to the bridge iv the rooming, but will not bo accompanied by Tawhiao, who, I hear, intendb to adopt the following course : Ho w ill assoinDie his followers on the Whatiw h.itihoe bide of the biidge, and when Mr Bryce approaches, the iibiial greeting, such as wa\ing .shawls, Sec, and probably an occasional mdivi lual haln will be gone fcluough. Being on then- own land, and, theretoie, ttoigttta w/ienuu, it ia customary tor the natives to welcome. Tawhiao is expected to draw a line on the ground, and ask Mr Biyce to come up to the m«uk, when he will say what he has got to say. Ptobablyas T.iwhiio never in \ itod Mr Bryce to see him— hia message to him only asking when he was coming— lie w ill require Air liryee to speak fiiat. He lia& ahcady expressed himself as. dcsiious of coming to :in amicable understanding with Mr Bryce. Te Ngakau, it is baid.dideavomud to prevent f.iwhiao aomiiig to meet Mr Biyce at Alexandra, ami by sonic is buspected of ' playing a double game.