THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT KAWHIA. Mr Butler Meets the Natives.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1752, 27 September 1883, Page 2

THE NATIVE OUTRAGE AT KAWHIA. Mr Butler Meets the Natives.

Acs soon as it came to the knowledge of the natives that Mi Bryce had been communicated with in regard to their action in the destruction of the beacons, and their determination to sink tho buoys, a meeting of the chiefs was at once convened with the object of settling their course of conduct, -if it so happened that the Native Minister should como to Kawhia. The meeting was held at Torea, and was attended by a large number of influential chiefs. Great care was, however, taken that none of the business ttanbacted at it should reach the eanr of ]3mop3an&. I'Yoin what we have been | able to gather from wme of the nati\ es, it is evident that they are anything but disposed to psimit the Government to proceed with their work in reference _to tho buoying of the harbour and opening of the country round about without giving them some trouble, and the action of Tihirahi and Tv to Ao is not generally condemned by Ihein. Some of them were astonished that the Government should have done what they have already done without first consulting them. That is all the information that can be afforded in reference to what transpired at the meeting. On the mommg of the 25th hist., the s.s. Hiuemoa with Mr Butler, who came to represent Mr Bryce, and Major Campbell on board, arrived, About 10 a.m. Tihirahi and beveial other chiefs waited on Mr Butler. Tehirahi, who appeared to be anything but ashamed or afraid of the consequences which follow the conduct he had pursued, explained to Mr Butler that he did not wish to hide the fact that he was one of the principal aggressors in the late outrages, and would wish it to be understood that, as an emissary of Tawhiao, he had a perfect right to do what he had done. He may have been wrong, and if the other chiefs thought so he would be willing to submit to their decision. That was all he had to say. None of the other chiefs or Maoris present spoke once, either for or against him. Mr Butler waited a considerable time to allow them an oppoifcunity of doing so. Not one of them, however, appeared to have any such intention. Mr Butler then explained to them that they had done very wrong m destroying tho beacons, and that they had rendered thomselvoo liable to be anested and hnpiisoned. He might tell them that he came theie as> the agent of the Native Minister, who w.xa \eiy angry at what they had done. He would expect that they would re-eiect the beacons at once, otherwise they would be put up by the Government, and tho Native Minister would take such means as would pi event them from being able to pull them down again. That was all he had to say m regard to the beacon?. He saw that they had had the good sense to abstain from following out their determination to sink the buoys, and he trusted they would not do such foolish things, as Mr Bryce would not allow of their continuance. That is all he had to say to them. Tihirahi said he quite understood him. He still maintained that the beacons had no right to be erected, and lie would not consent that he or any other Maori should assist in their re-erection. However, he would bee what Tawhiao had to say in the matter ; for his own pait he would not at present consent to do bo. Mr Butler said ho would give him a few days to think over the matter, and in the meantime he, w< \iM see Mr Bryce, and tell him what had been said on the matter that day. Nothing more remaining to bo done, the Hmemoa left the same e\ ening for Wellington, whoie it will soon be decided what will be the fmther action of the Government; but whatever it is, we may rely that it will be both prompt ( and decisive.