ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2719, 14 December 1889, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

Native Meeting. — There were only some three hundred natives assembled at the Taraiwi meeting. The Maniopoto people did not generally attend as the promoters of the meeting, lnid fondly anticipated they would. Neither Taonui nor Wahanui were present. Keen Kaihau and Te Tuhi and Toka from Whatiwhatihoi, represented Tawhiao. The Kai was the principal feature of the meeting, which was served up in pakeha style, under a large calico building, with tables, tablecloths, plates, knives and forks, and fine floral decorations on the tables and walls. Some CO people sat down at once, and the tables were cleared and freshly sat five times. The cooking was excellent, and the fare consisted of meats, tarts, and pudding. A chinaman had been engaged as cook, and heevidently knewhis business. Waiters were in attendance, and everyone's wants were well looked after. Not the least amusing part of the business was to see the extraordinary manner, a majority of the visitors handled their knives and forks, every one appeared to have a way of their own, but stuck to their work manfully and womanly with the strictest decorum, Kerei Kaihau read the proposal:: of Tawhiao, the same as attributed to him at Maungakawa, proposing building a meeting house at Maungakawa—to cease attending land courts—or attend pakcha police courts ; as already published, both Tuhi and Toka spoke in support of them. Hauhauru said he did not believe the proposals originated with Tawhiao, ho thought it was Hoti Tamihana, they came from, and he did not intend to pay any attention to anything originating from that quarter. Altogether the meeting was a failure to the kingites. A tin dish was there to receive subscriptions for the king, some £12 Os lid was thrown into it, and after being couiited over, was given to Te Tuhi and Kaihau, to be forwarded to his Majesty.