THE NATIVE MINISTER IN WAIKATO. VISIT TO ALEXANDRA. [From Our Special Reporter.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1963, 5 February 1885, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER IN WAIKATO. VISIT TO ALEXANDRA. [From Our Special Reporter.]

Wahanui Ai.bxandka, Tuesday. This morning the Native Mimistcr visited W.ih.unii at his now house, where a number of natives weiv assembled. Mi B.vlLmce h.wl a conversation with a few of the parties, but nothing of public interest was touched upon. Wsihanui's house is a peculiar structure, something hko hiin.iclf in fact— very substantially built. It has got a peculiar police-station expression, and evidently would be mom serviceable as a lock-np than the suburban residence of a Maori chief. All the posts about the verandahs are like piles, tho wainscotting of the rooms though vory durable is cjrtainly not very ornamental, and tho g»»i cral surroundings of tho place would almost lead one to believe that the leviathan chief was doing a little Napoleonic confinement at the expense of the Government. There is no furniture excepting that peculiar to tho aboriginal state. During his visit Wahanui tried to impress upon Air Ballance the uselessness of the Government gjving him a horse without a siiddlo and biidle wherewith to rido him. He thought the garden might be dug up and fenced in nicely, a buggy Klied and stable erected, a little furniture provided, together with sundry other little necjssaries. Mr Ballanco thought that tho Government having done so much, it was but right to expect that the many friends and relations of his host might well do the remainder. Personally, Wahnnui wants very little. I hardly knew him when I met him last night. Arrayed iji an easy fitting frock coat, his portly limbs esconsed in a pair of fashionably cut pants, bell-topper, and boots which to all appearances pinched very muchly, he approached the company with the fervent protestation that ho was a " prue reobin," but would nevertheless join us in a glass of Finch's best .sherry. That this chief, who some eight months ago prevented Tawhiao from accepting a substantial Government pension, and other perquisites from Mr Bryce, together with tho residue of Crown Lands in Waikato for Tawhiao'b follmvcis, is, himself, at the present time enjoying a good fat subsidy from Government ius well as a free house, there can be very little doubt ; and it is therefore not to lie wondeiod at, th.it just now Tawhiao and he should be on somewhat uncertain terms. Certainly, Wahanui improved the occasion of his roy.il master's trip to England.

Tawhiao. Shoi tly after Mr B ill.uiee's arrival last night Tawhiao sent a mesienger to tell him he would like to .sue him at Whatiwhatihoc. Mr 15.ill.uico coiuteously replied th.vt he would be very happy to see Tawhi.io, but he must conic to Alexandra, as he had appointed to meet a number i,l natives on the following afternoon at Kihikihi. He would wait at Alexandra till 12 o'clock in ordei to gne him an oppuituuity (jf seeing Iniu. Mr Butler went out to see the monarch this morning and ai ranged that Mr Btiilance should return to Alevandiaon Thursday after the Kihikihi meeting and visit him .it Whnttwimtihoe when matteii concerning both i, ices might be discussed.

Affairs at Kawhia. The Native Minister w.is waited upon this morning by two chiefs from Kauhi.i, Hone te Our <ukl another relative to tho requirements of th.it distiict. As they wished to got bick to Kawhia nmned iiitely they asked that lie should hear them before the Kihikilii meeting. Tins Mr 13.ill.mcc readily conceded. Respecting the Kawhia road they pointed out that as it was being constructed at piemjnt, the formation being only si* feet wide, it would be practically useless for anything bnl horse traffic. With comparatively little additional expense the road could be made available for drays and buggies, and they asked that the formation should be made as broad as it was at the Alexandia. ond where it was about 10 feet. Mr Ballauce promised that he would see that their request was complied with. Tho ne\t matter which they wished to lay before him was the necessity of a Resident Magistrate for Kjiwhi.i. Tho want of such an office w.ismuch felt, and they honed the Minister would favourably consider tho subject. They thought that Major Tuke, who was universally respected by both European-* and Maoris, might be selected . for the office. Mr B.tllnnco promised that a Resident Magistiato would be nude. The novt subject they had to bring before the Government was one which had been talked of for some time, tho appointment of a medical ofheor fOlf 01 tho distiict. There was a big population nf both races about Kawhia now, and in case of illness or accident there was no medical attendant convenient. This was a great haidship, and they thought the (lovornment Hhotild make the iteces.su y provision until the plnce wan able to support a medical man without outside assistance. Mr B.illance leplied that the appointment of a doctor would bo made if it could be shown th it there was biiffieient to supplement the Government grant for such a pin pose. Aftortheuiu.il gieetings the deputation, evidently well pleased with their success, retired.

Constabulary Quarters. Before leaving Alexandra the Native Minister and p.uty, accompanied by Colonel Lynn and Captain Cupel, paid a vi-.it of inspection to the constabulary redoubt. The nt 3i» were all out on the Kawhia road, and the quarter* word consequently debited. X very thing was in good c nidition, and the place looked exceptionally clean and tidy. Mr B illance to>lc a view of the .surrounding country, the position offering every advantage for this purpose.

Municipal Matters. A deputation consisting of tli9 membsr.s <>f the town board waited upon the Nativo Minister respecting -50x01.11 matters of ioeil interest. Their represent itions weio f.iiily successful; pcihaps moie so than was o\pocted. Tlioy hecurud a promise that the Government would contribute half the cost of ropahing that ghastly structure the Alexandra bridge., over which the energetic deputation insisted upon trotting tho honourable visitor, by way of more fully impressing him with tho possibility of an immediate calamity. Mr Hill took advantage of the occasion to impress upon Mr B.illanco the necessity of appointing a few Justices of the l'eaeo foi tho disti ict, and Mr Aubin e\ en went ho fur as to offer his services in nominating a few suitable candidates for tho li.niDiir ; but Mi B.Ulanoo thought it . likely that the CJovevmnent \;'<n\h\ prof^i- ' rosorving that privilege hi themselves. In discussing tlio niattur of a bridge over tho Puniu nt Alexandra, Mr Ballance asked tho opinion of tho deputation as to the comparative importance of tho Alexandra, T« Awauiutii, and Kihikiin townships. Now here was a question for a Cabinet Minister to ask a deputation of Alexandra citizens ! What reply could he o\poct ? Of course, he got the only reply po-,siblo iltidor the qir(jiiin»t<MH:eH, that for growing pnwpoi-itV i>J)d f»t\)ro gnuiumrcltil import: ance, Ale\n.ndi<a Ktood ju'ecimiiienc in W»ikat», and that ao far as To -Vwainutn and Kihikihi weie concornod. these |>I.irc4 wore simply remarkable for their striking insignificance. "Tho railway" remarked one gentleman, " will kill all these little places, tvliereaj. Alexandra with its river other facilities of communication will not bo affected i» th,e leasj;," Tho fervour and patriotism of the deputation (|i)))l-|tloss won tho concession of tho honourable gentleman, who must have left well improved with the fact that Alexandra would never come to giiof through a want of self ostccin:

The Bfotiyg Minister at Kihikilji. HiijiK|i|i, 'i'lioscjay. On hw arri\al hero tlie Natho Minister was received by a l.irfje number of natives iv waiting. A number of European* had pathoied from many parts of the country, almost everyone of whom seomed to have "biirtine^ of an important naturo" with Ihe l|oad of thp Native OhHce, Ta Biirroiinde4 by }\h tioonle weie lyino on a plot ()f giouiul in front qf the Star Hotel, and whou Hv liallance (who h.a<l beet} takun in (ihai'go by Major Jaok»ioi)). arjivqd they at once advnnoud in tho iiuual fashion to greet him. Mr Ballanco was then introduced to aeveial of the leading natives, and a few Kuiopean gentlemen were also presented. In the afternoon he was drtvon out to Ornkau by Major .lacknon, and [il(i(Wn round tlie distiict. Moshis Lewis and Wilkinson also acc<}in|)anjqd the MVpy,

The Trunk Railway. Tins 18 a subject which T expect will occupy a considerable amount of attention at to-morrow's meeting. Mr Ikllnneo will, I vtiderstntid oxj/lniti hin intoutiou on the matter, inako ooitain j'ecjnfißta ftbouj; land nloiiff the line, and no doubt will touch •lightly on hit settlement scheme, The

native-, fiom all account? .ue pivpirod foi liiin, and may open bis cv«'< with m>ui3 strikingly modest loqmst. Wahanui. I .i.n tohl tliinks ho is "ha\ing" the Native Minister, but if I am lvit mistikon the Native Minister is "hi.inff ' the wholo of them all round. Mr J'all.ince has h.ul ni itters made easy for him by tho aably' v deplornacy of Mr Wilknw».i, Native Agent fur Waikato, who fur ,i long timo p.ist ha-> boon industriously en^iircd licking matters into shape for tho fin.il coup, lint to return to the railway, thcio hah been aMiit of t.icit muloist iiuini'.' ainonpf tho native^, that befoio the (Jovfinini'iit slmuld proceed with tlie jonstructimi ot tho line, anotht'i native meeting should bolield, Micli an that i-. called by Mr Biyco whii-h sanctioned the sin voy. and that alone. To-day's meeting will thorefoie dual finally with the subject. Tho survey of tho line is now tfoint* on about 70 mile-* from here, and anothoi survey party has b> mi despatched to Te Maranni. a place soin? 20 tnilrs further. It is tho intention of bho (ro\ eminent to let the construction contracts through the King country aa much as possible to natives. The two miles between To Aw.v'mutu and the Puniu bridge will be done by Europeans.

Deputations at KilrikiW. [by Ti:r.r.(:it\PH.] Kihikihi, Wednesday Night. A deputation of settlers waited on Mr B.illance at Te Awamutu yesterday re the Puniu bridge. They presented » numerously feigned petition, and adduced strong arguments in favour of Pai sons' bite. Mr Balliinco replied that he would not make any promise in the matter until lie had been to Kihikihi and heard both Hides of the question. This morning, Messrs Farrell, Grace and Ellis, as a deputation, waited upon Mr B.ill;uicu on the sanio .subject, but in repect to the Kihikihi site. The deputation went largely into the history of the subject, adducing strong evidence in favour of the Puniu oeing bridged at Kihikihi. Mr Rochfort supported the representation* of the deputation, to all appearaucss convincing the Minister in favour of the Kihikihi site. Respecting tho Kihikibi-T.iup^ rond, the deputation asked to have this load completed by c >n->tabnlary lab >ur. Mr B.vllance thought the cmnty council bhould assist, lint they had declined. Personally they could nvikc no pr.nnis v , but hi) loiw as the constabulary was in the diiti ict they would bj employed ro.id nuiking. The Mibjact of town endowments w.w next tonclied up.ni. Pic piomised to see tli.it tlio tun acre re>erve in this t.m n of Kihikilii gr.mted to Alexandra should be vcited in the Kihikihi Town B wrd.

Meeting with the NativesMr Ihllance mot tlio natives .again this afternoon in tho Public Hall, when there was a large attendance. Wahanui was tho fiiit spoikcr. He spoke at sonvi length, refci 1 ing to tlie subjects ab mt which he was scut to Wellington. John Orinsby, chairman of the Native Committee, followed with a very able sppech. He referred (1) to the Native L uids Com t, to winch he said the natives objected ; (2) tho rating in connection with the roads and railways; (3) that ettw power should 1)3 Riven to tho Native Committees, and (3) that it should not be optional for persons to bung matters before the committee, buttli.it it should be compulsory ; (.">) that lands should be adjudicated in favour of hapus, and not of individuals ; (0) that a committee should be appointed for each lupu, and (7) that a burd, to be appointed by the committee, should conduct all mattert, in connection with thfi selling <>f "r leasing of lands, and tint the Government and pi l vote Europeans should have nothing to do with it; also (8), that no prospecting for q >ld or other inineials should bj allowed to take place at tho present tune, and not till things were more settled ; (!)) th.it the number of Maori meinbeis in tho House should be increased, aiitl tli.it when any impm tint legislation connected with tho native race was proposed it sli"uld be referred t ) the native* themselves before the act bocawo l.ivy ; (10) that the boundaiies of the district in which the s,:do of liquor is piolithited be extended, so as to inulud) coitiin p.uts omitted in the proclamation, and that the piohibition should lie .stringently enforced. Orm-by may bn considered as tho mouthpiece of tho Native party. Other speaker-, followed, including T.io:mi, all of whom spoke in tlia sama strain. After several chiefs had spoken Mr B ilUncc said : I have listened cue fully to tho speeches tli it have bsen in idi? lieie to-day. I heard Wahanui narrate what ho had done in Wellington. Most of the questions discu.ssed hero to-day were discussed between us when he was in Wellington during tho session. Ho his referred to tho erection of a trig station. The erection of trig stations, as tho native people are aware, has nothing whatever to do with the title of the land. Th»y are erected to enable tho land to be surveyed, and tho titles to bo made out when the time has come for that purpose. Most of tho subject*! that concern tho native people were alluded to from time to time between us. When a bill was brought forward to deal with the native lands on cither side of the railway, it was referred to Wah iimi for his opinion. With some parts of that bill ho agreed, and with other paits ho disagreed. Ho made a speech at the bar of the House, in wh'ch he referred to the parts of the bill which he described as the tooth of the bill, and asked that the tooth .should ba drawn. Wo listened to his advice and we agreed to withdraw those parts which h« considered objectionable until tho native people had time to consider the whole question. The (Joy eminent thought that timo should be given for deliberation, and that this question should be discussed amongst tno natives themselves before we proceeded finally to legislation. Tho bill finally pisspd in it-? present form, and deals with 4J millions of acres of land, going lip to To Awamutn, and going down as far as Waiiganui, The objeot of this aot is to prevont ptjvato dealings in tli.it land, to prevent private parties frour Suing behind the actual owners, and acquiring tho tointory in order to enrich themselves fiom tho contemplated approach of tho railway. The position is this: That Und cannot be to.uoh.ed by piivato individuals, or until the native people thomsolvos desire that it should be dealt with. I bstonod with great pleasure to the clear speech that was made by Mr Ornishy, also to those made by others, and I shall deal with Mr Ornwby'a speech point by point, for it seems to have dealt with the whole question. Ho has referred t<> two things which he says are attended with so' io amount of danger to tjho people, tu., the Liud Court and the roa(}s ( With so,n)o of his. views I slightly dUagi'ea, If I tuicleihtand him aright, he wishes that tho native committees now qniHtitutod should deal internally with the native title, tn the exclusion of tho Native Land Court, The Native Land Court is sup posed to bo an independent tribunal that will deoldo fnii'ly between tlio oouflirfcing parties. It nviy bo that sometimes the Native Land Cinuts will make mistakes. lam not prepared to state that tho court is immaculate ; but let mo attic, la the native committee immaculate? Might it not also mal^ errors ? Might it nut be partial in its decision*, ai»d f.ijl to <V> justice 1 Might not tho majority of tho eommlttqe be entirely on one side, and might not that majority favour the people of its own tribe to tho injmy of tho people of the other triboa? I am not disparaging at the present time a native committee, but I am pointing out that no institution is altogether perfect. All roqniro to be hedged in with .suttjoleijt .safeguards. JJow, w.lth regjard tq the action of the Native Laud Court m the country, which has been taken under this act. I would say tin's : It is not m.y desire to force the Native Land Court upon the people, bu| if tho people askfor th.c Native Land Court why should it lie infused. ? Tljoi} (|i|ly a «l|ort time since ujost of tho important chiefs and people and landowners signed a petition that tho Native Land Court might sit and adjudicate upon their title. Ido not know whether they are still of the same mind, but, suppose they are of the samo mind, why should not h,a,ve a qourfc ? This is a lqatter entirely for themselves. N<>w let ino say ona word with ujgard to the action of private persons in the Native Land Court. X have given, iiistrnqfjionii that When. oi\o application i« ii|.id,o for a Hui'voy a onpy should be sent to the chairman of tho native committee, as well as copies to the piincipal chiefs, so that all may know what is going on. lam now considering whether some legislation could not be had to prevont tho abuses, which had occurred through natives whq l|avo very Httlu claim to tljo laud talcing action to set the couit in motiqn. I agree very largely with the remarks of Mr Oimsby upon this point, nnd I hope that jioxt B03»ion we shall be nble to take such measures as will prevent abuses from ocenrui£ again. -N ow w^ u faffard to roa.ds and railways, I suppose that the natives arc governed by the same ieelmgs, and the

>„iino views a* the Europeans upon this point, vu. , that nothing is more desirable than to hue loads nnd railways through their 1 ui'l in oid'T to givo their land a value. Tiii'V nni^t know that there are large blocks uf liiud in tin-, cimitry which have roally no \.ilue .it all, l)oc<vi-.'j tliern are no load* on.nhv.iy-. tbiou n 'h tli'jin, and if thpy had to sjll thw laud at t!ie present moment they w mldlnot iccoive moie than tlnve or four shilling* .vi aero, whereas if railways or riM'ls WvU'u in wh through it it w.mld sell foi .is muiy ]) Hinds an ajio. Jiut 1 have k> ii nod fi mii tho speeches that weie inado ti-cliyl>y the more responsible speiker>, that ii<> d'nu objucti to roids and i ail ways. What thoy do object to is that the land should bo iatyd on account of thpso roads and railway-. I object to this liitin-j Act as much m Mr Orinsby or any othjr nitive present. I think it is uu fair to r ito land tint is not in the condition of being used. The Govenmi'Mit h ive tho power of proclaiming native lands subject to the Rating Act, and of couwe they may abstain from piocl.iiming land under the Act. Ido not think any of this land aloncc the line of tho railway, or along tho roads loading up to tho railway, should 1)3 proclaimed under the Act. When the land has been leased or s ild, then the timo will have come for putting on rates, and I infer that no nativn will ohjpcfc to pay r.itei when the land has lucii leased and is being culthated, for the rates are put on for the benefit of the roads, and toads cannot bo made without them, [t should b> borne in mind the m iney is not 10-,t. It goes into tho roads and the loads give a value to the land. But, as I have said, that only applies in my opinion to land which has beeir'&old, leased or is in actual cultivation, and there fom there is no danger to be apprehended that tho land referred to will be -brought under the Hating Act. Now? with regaid to the fiowera of native' committee?, I am inclined to believe that the native committees may render great service in administering tho la ws among the native pc >ple v I desire, therefore, toeucourattbthem hi every possible way, and I propose next session to bring in an amending bill to the Committees Act, giving to the committees power to adjudicate on cases up to a certain amount among their own people. At the present time they have this power, but they can only n«e it when the parties agree to submit then case to the committee. But what I propose is to give the committee tho same power as a court. 1 think it is also desirable to give Mipui some revenue, if they de-m-o it", and I am considering the c\pediency of handing over to them tho collection of tho dog tax, for instancj. I think also that the chairman should b3 paid a small sum for attending to the duties that may coni3 iipm the committee. Then we propose to give them laigor powers on preparing casas foi tin Native Land Court, s> that all cases will c mitt before the native committee in the first instance, and then go on to the Native Land Comt, winch will finally deil with tho matter. With regard to the vesting of the title in hapus, histsid of individuals, I have a few words to say. There are great abuses that hive arisju from ve,ting tlu lands in a limited number of owners to the exclusion of others. In some cases those in whom thp land has been vested as trustees have exercised the rights of owners, instead of tiustess, and those not included in tho grant have been wronged. I propose to bring all in. When the Land Court has found out the owners to a certain block of land, we prop iso that thine owners should meet together and elect a committee of, say, seven members, who should have the right of managingth.it particular block for the interest of all the owners. We propose that when they wish to lease their land for instance, that they should coitie to a b >ml c insisting of thiee members, .md that board should put in motion the machinery in order to have tha land surveyed, cut up and leased. It is proposed that the Government should advance the moiuy for tho surveys, and that this money .s'lould be iopaid out of the r^nts. Now, in order that this board should bo thoroughly represented, we propose that there should bs one commissioner, appointed by the Government, the chahman of tho district native committee should bs another unuiber, and that another should bo perhaps elect-jd by the natives, theuisjlves, but wo ha\e not yet decided how this third sh ill be appointed. Now I agrjj th it all largo questions of legislation affecting the native people should ba circulated amongst them bjforo bains introduced. It is my iutention to circulate the bill amongst tl)p Native Committees t and amongst -th« piincipal chiefs and laW owners of the Island. The 1) lards will have the power of conducting all sales of land and all leases, but they will have no power of doing so unless the committee of the particular block is willing. Tho fullest power, thorefoie, will bo given to the paoplo themselves through their local committees, and no reason will ba allowed to pi omit or precipitate tho action of the committees. With regard to tho question of prospecting, Mr Oniisby seemed to imply that the Government had given permission to prospectors. If any prospector has said so he has alleged what is not true. The Government has given no permission to any prospector since my interview with Wahanui. If any prospect.ir says so in the future, let him produce the writing authorising him. In proof of this, it is but a short time since a notico appeared in the Gazette, stating that no permission be given to any prospector to prospect, unless he first had the consent of the native owners and tin Native Minister. The Native Minister has the power of delegating his authority to sonu other pjrson. When I was on tha Wanganui river I delegated my authority iiV; that district to the chairman of 'tho"M|apjL i i committee, and I havo no objection to delegate my authority likewise to the chairmui of this committee to give pjrmission, or not,- to prospect, but I decline mysjlf to give any permission to any prospector to g ) upon land, the owners of which are not known. Now, with regard to the number df natives members in the House, I listened Vith groa,t attention to the st iteinciit of Mr Orinsby on this point, X took up tho same question last session and discussed it in the house, pointing out that the native people had not thoir fair and just share of representation, bat we differed with regard to tho population it was one in 5000. Now it is one in about (iOOO then again, a difference of opinion qxih^s with rogard < to the number of the native people. You will find it in Hansard that I stated in tho. House last session that thero were 40,000 Maoris in New Zealand, and I stated that on the basis of the last census returns. Mr Bryce got up nijd $aid that there were not morn than 30,500. J This would reduce the number of in timbers, according to the basis that he stated, to perhaps five or six. I don't agree with Air Orinsby that tho native people should lose thetr right of yotjng foy lihiwipean member*. That is a privl'oge which they enjoy when they own land in their own right, affd I hold that it is only right that they should enjoy the same privileges as Europeans. I may pay further, with regard to the number of nioinbors, that I advocated last session that the number should bo increased, and I shall still advocate it. I shall propose that thoy shall have the same number of members in propoition to population as the Europeans, With regard to the Hocusing district, there has been sumo misunderstanding or mistake in the matter. As an earnest nf our intention and our legatd for |he native people, wo acceded, to that petition and actod upon it. Wo took in a tract of country which poifectly astonished e\ cry person that saw the proclamation. The Government received a strong remonstrance against the proclamation from persons living at Kawhia, but it is now said th,at \ye have excluded some portion of tho district tvom iho proclamation. I was not aware that we had done no, and I cannot yet realise the fact, but I will look further into the matter, and if wo find thn,t there is a portion where there is no European population that ought to h.avp, boei\ taken in, I shall take immediate Qtepi tq h,ave it remedied. Reference has been made to companies coining |n and purchasing land. I think that no stronger pi oof could have been given of the intention of tho Government to keep oqmpanies out. There is not; a. company in the colony at the present time that is not violently opposed, to the GQVominont on account of ;ts action in regard to Native Lands. With, regard the restrictions \\pon N;ative Lands that aro passed thjrough. the court, there is Hcarcely a day on which Europoans have not Qoine to me and asked that restriationH should be lifted in ord.er that the lands might pasa out of the hands of the native owners, and I have not in a single case lifted tho restinctiou, although in some cases where the action was commenced by my predeqeasora I ljave been compelled in good faith to cairy it out. That ought to be \a earnest of my inteiu tiohs and of my action with regai-d to the protection of native land. Witn regard to the Government purchasing laitd from the natives, I am now anxious that tho, C>qvoi>u> niont «h°«W purchase laud. The Government had advanced large sums of ntonoy <m lands that we under proclamation, and will

hj sitiificd if they can get that money luck. The bill that we intend to mtioduce will piovont the necessity of tlu Government .ic^iniing lands, the princijxil object of the Government being" to pot the land and country settled, and if the natives will do that themselves by lea-oil? their lands tlu Government will assist them and not otherwise interfere. I think [have now gone o\er seriatim |innst of the questions which Invo been rained by Mi Orrnsby. If I have left any point obiciue, upon it being pointed out, 1 am tuwly to explain it. I have bjcn as full in my explanations jw possible, and have kept nothing hick with regard to the intentions of tlu Go\ eminent, and I hope I have made it cloar to all your minds. Mr Orimby again addressed the meeting at considerable length, touching upon certain features in Mr 13 ill.mce's aaareai. Mr B.illance replied, but simply dealt at further length with the points leferred to in Ins addrevj. In reply to Mr J.uii'js Thomson, who deprecated any distinction made between thi chief-, and tho inferior people, Mr Ballance said that he had said nothing to provoke jealousies between the chiefs md the infeuor pjople as thpy were called. Hn pointed out that the Government ' sought to m ike no such distinction. None hurt been m ule in the past, and there was no piob.ibility of any bjing made in the future. It was the last speaker, and not himself tint had nude the distinction. At the clo*e of the meeting, the natives said theio were other m itters of impoitance they wished to bring before Mr B.illance, and urgently requested that he should meet them ag.iin to-morrow moruing. Mi Bjl lance replied that he had accepted an invitation to maet tho natives at Whatiwliatihoe to morrow, but a<i they had other matters of importance to talk over he would postpone his departure to the afternoon and m n et them in tho morning. The Native Minister will meet Tawhiao and nativei! at Whatiwhatihoc to-morrow afternoon, and proceeds to Cambridge on Friday morning, meeting a deputation at Ohaupo.