VISIT OF THE NATIVE MINISTER TO WAIKATO. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1962, 3 February 1885, Page 2

VISIT OF THE NATIVE MINISTER TO WAIKATO. [BY TELE GRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Ai.kwndhv, Monday Night. Mb Baixanck, accompanied by Mr Lewis, Under-Sccretary, and Mr Butler, arrived lieie to-night. On arrival they were mot by Wahamn and a number of other native dignit-ines, including Alexander McDonald, white chief of the Ngatikauvvhata. Wajiumi and his party waited on Mr Ballance in Ins •dtting ro >m at Finch's hotel, when the usual compliments wero exchanged. Mr Ballance said he was very glad to meet him hero in his own district and among lih own people. He had arranged to proceed to Kihikihi to-morrow, w hero he proposed meeting the nati\es and talking over tlie object 1" of his mission to them. Walhinui, who acted as spokesman f«r Ins pirty, extended the usual welcome and accepted the Nativo Minister's invitation to meet him at Kihikihi to-morrow, and (as Tawhiao once figuratively put it) to look into each others eyes where they might discern tho darkness or tho lightness, as the case might bo, of each other's hearts. Nothing was said from which the business of the morrow could be inferred. Thr principal topics will doubtless be tho land and the railway survey, sub-division and sale, the two latter being points of pro-eminent delicacy. The natives are all now supposed to be almost willing to concede anything, but to-inorrow'i proce-d-injM will, I am afraid, bring forvvaid (ioihbthing in the way of a new inter-tribal entanglement, which has not been anticipated. Tawhiao is at Whatiwbatihoe, and did not come to pay his compliments to Mr liryce's snece-sor. I undi-i^tmd that Tawhiao is somewhit ji-al<m> of W.ihnnni's populiritv and signiHcmce, and that whatever arrangements may be arrived .it, Taw lnao and his two satellites, Kowi and Wnhinui, will bo found pulling in different boats Te Wheoro come with the party from Mercer to day, looking the \ory essence of native respectability. There was nothing in the way of a public demonstration on Mr Ballanee'sai rival. Though a larg.' nitive ]io]iul.ition is living ivcro^s the water, only about half-a-do/.en cimo over to see the Minister. The Otorohanga nu'etinf? ha-s been knocked on the head, and if the natives will commence business to-moriow without tin- usual procrastination, Mr Ballane.'may get back to Auckland on Wednesday evening, or Tlmr-day at the latent.