Mr Ballance at Alexandra. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL REPORTER.] ALEXANDRA, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2079, 3 November 1885, Page 3

Mr Ballance at Alexandra. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL REPORTER.] ALEXANDRA, Monday.

yi\ liallance amved hoti 1 fioni Hamilton toda\, and nut up at Finch's hotel. Wahautu was tlie only gentleman of coiibequencu who came to welcome the Mnmtoi on his juiiv.il. He looked tho vciy essence ]>f lespettabibty, having di^caidid the tune hoiiouu'd hhawl, and indicating oy his nushei like apjicaiaiico that refoiin had entcicd hugely into the native dtess, if not into their niaiiueis and customs. Mi P.illanco asked him to dinner. Taulnao had been in the settloniontduiiiigtlie uioin mif, but as .Mi Uallanco did not anno until about two houis after he was expectetl, the motiiicli thought his dignity was being tampiupd vvitl), and rutitined to Whativvh.itihoe about 1 o'clock. Tv Tawhiao wa > hinging atoiind in tho viciintv, evidently comtniK «t lepinnand fiom his fathei for compiomisiug the dignity of tho com t, but thioujjh soino uufoittinate oveiMght he was not asked to diuuci, .md is now slightly "on tho spree" m consequence. Seveial gentlemen of both iaccs waili<l upon tho Minister during tho afternoon, but their business w.is mainly of .i quisiprivate character, and need not bo detailed lioie. The progisiniuio for tho ne^t few days is of i\a unceitain natuic, and it would bo hard to antioqnto it with anj degree of certainty. The tfold piotpectin^ <iuchtion is tho great tumble which oncenih both races and tho Government alike, and tinder thi-. head something of interest it likely to traiwpirp. Tho natives expect Mi Ballanc; will go out to Wli itivvhatihoo to .soo T.ivvhi.m, but tins h« will not do unless Taw hi.io and hi-, juity specially in viti'hun. The nttivos are now gatheied at Te Kuiti to tho number of about 500 oi COO, eude ivoiiimg to discuss niatk'r-> ainonj,' thoniselvos, but at> yet they have Miccoeded in having dono nothing. They p\pect Mr Ballanco to go out and tAopa.it in then delibpiations, but this he is not likely to do. Ho will be here all day to-monovv to loceive deputation-, whensoveial matteis of local uiteiost will b> biou^ht uiiilor his notice, notably tho budge, piospoctinf; in the King Country, etc., etc. He will piohably Msit Ki'ukiht <>u Wednesday, ir ttnning'heio onThursdaj. It is expected that wliPii the natives at To Kuiti loam to men row that it is not his intention to visit them there, they will come in on Wednesday evening, leaving tho follow ing day to a public meeting foi tho discussion of the gold questionnndpevei.il othei subjects of inteict. There is a stuking divcisity of opinion as to what com -io tho native^ aro likely to take in the mattci. Tavvhiao, whoso influence is very local and e\tioinely hunted, will, I believe,- adhere to his old policy of "I will and I won't;" but though Ins opposition would cause a little annoyance, it is not likely to prove of a seiious nature. In point of fact, the nttivos who are mainly concerned care little for what he say- and if Mr Ballance, who t-eems to bo well in their confidence, Koes the propei way to w -ik, he cannot fail to succeed in having tho country opened for gold-seeking enterprise. Tavvhiao, I undei-tand, lian gono into a new lino to lcsuscitate his declining nunu. Not having sufficient genius himself he has engaged a piophot, who is at present making .i tour of the .settlements in tho inteuor for the purposo of tallying the lukewarm adherents of royalty. Sonic in cline to think ho is making headway, but only among tho women, who aio naid to be attrncted by his good looks and not by his prophetic lore. The kinjj paity arc just now making a lot out of hail Derby's last letter, tho contents of which they incline to exagpeiatc. Mr (Jorst, the philantlnopic man who wept bitterly on T.iivlim.)'-, dcpaittue finui England, is expected to nrnve in the colony early, for the purpose of looiganising tho falling onipiic of tho Kin<r, and this htory is giving them a little hope. Mr Lewis, the Undcr-Socretary of the Native Department, arrived by today's tram fiom Auckland. Mr Ballance, on tho representation of some of the natives, his agieed to give a giant ot i'iOO tow aids the Kiiwlna road, and has also promised to considoi a pioposal to establish a native school at Te Ivopna.