OPENING OF KAWIHIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1653, 8 February 1883, Page 2

OPENING OF KA WIHIA.

I » Ai a quarter-past 6 p.m., on the 2nd iiist., the Stella, with Mr Bryce on board, entered Kawhia pharbour. Mr E,olleston7 Mmistep of ' Lands, as well as Mr Lewis, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, and Mr Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor, a,cco»npanigcl him. tjoii of&n^ c^nse/jrtienM v&s ij&adfeilM the ' natives. A few Maori *women"aBP the steamer came up the harbour offered friendly greetings to the Native Minister. This was just what I anticipated, as the Maoris are^viSMtlP xtf^pmwn that they -\villf &n*s )punisn Mivßryceuor the insult which they consider he was the means of being offered to King Tawhiao on his southernjtouij. . Shortly after ,tbe steamer droppea artcnor,! MrlßVycc and Mr Rolleston, Minister of Lands, accompanied by several persons came ashore, and took possession of the Government property. It is now twenty years since the restrictions were placed on this harbour by the natives, and those restrictions may now be fairly said to have been removed (and will never again be renewed by the Maoris/ ( It. is 'considered by some that the action of the Native j^linister in coming to open the harbour has been far from judicious, knowing as lie should the .treacherous, qharacter of the natives. They 'ate evidently pacifically inclined at the present time, and it is to be hoped that they will continue so, but former behaviour on their part when situated in almost like circumstances, should teach us caution. But very few natives are now in Kawhia. Mr F. Edgecumbe ,is-no\yjbusily. employed .surveying- the * iiew' township,, the 'sile of which is to ( J>e on the property purchased by the "Government from Mr Charlton. Messrs Bryce ,and Rolleston haid a visit to Aotea on the sth, in the conip 1 ahy !df /Mi} 1 W.\ Dtfiican/to see inhere a ferry might be established over the ■Aotea harbour. They " both expressed themselves very much! pl&ispcl With tlje appearance of' the country they travelled, over, and the general look' !of both harjbours. Capt. Jfairchild and Mr Seed, secretary of, the .Marine Department, have been busily employed laying'buoys in 'Kawhia harbour. The Governnientparty intend to^le'dv'c atari 'early, date tf or Alcxjandra by way,, of Hikuraiigi, Before I close th'is'shorfc ii'otice v I must agahl'rejiterate the statement that, although the ■ natives aie apparently pacific, it is still far ifiom wise to halve Mr I'dgecnmbe there to proceed with ' the surveying of the .township without some protection. Not one of the natives who have been in the ; habit of offering objection to the present 1 action of the Goyjernnient lmve as yefoput in an appeaianee, [which mayTbe^akfmjfiis evidence that there al*e 'amoiT|js!b^Jlierii who are at the present" time very'nulch dissatisfied, i While Mr Bryce, is r in Ktuvhia: they have 'such fear ; of; him /that 1 they' will say^aiothiug, but when he , leaves it is just probable that they may gaiu courage aiid offer some iilsiilt (I do i not say violence) to the strangers. However, let us hope for the welfare of all parties no such difficulty may arise, and that the present action of the Government may mark, the (commencement pi, a ; new era of prosperity for Kawhia and the surrounding, country.— (Ovyn Correspondent.') ' - ' ' '