GRANTING A LICENSE IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3110, 21 June 1892, Page 2

GRANTING A LICENSE IN THE KING COUNTRY.

A WEH-ATTHNOEI) meeting was held in the Tβ Awamutu Public Hall on Friday evening last, in order to give the residents of To AwHinutu and surrounding districts an opportunity of expressing their views regarding the action of the Government in revoking the law prohibiting tho sale of intoxicating liquors in the King Country, The Rev. Mr McDonald, the nowly-ap-pointed Presbyterian minister, was voted to the chair, and read the proclamation, and afterwards called upon the Rev. Mr Gittos, the head of the Wasleynn Maori Mission, »o explain matters.—Mr Gittos, in a powerful speech setting forth the evils a public-house at Otorohanga would produce, dwelt upon the injustice of revoking the law at the instance of two chiefs and some thirty of their people, while the law had been brought into operation at the request of fourteen hundred Maoris.—Mr Gittos' speech was frequently applauded, and with considerable enthusiasm the following resolutions were carried :—(1) That this meeting learns with deep regret that the Government has revoked the law enacted in ISBI prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor*) in the King Country, and would point out the injustice of such action towards the large majority of those native who had nothing to do with the petition, signed by two chiefs and about thirty of their people, and trust that the Government will re-consider their action and rescind the late proclamation ; (2) that this meeting is fully satisfied that the present temperance hotel affords all the accommodation that is necessary tor Maoris or Europeans in that district, and would entor a strong prote«t against any license being granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in a purely Maori district, and this meeting would ask the Rev. Mr Gittos to present this resolution, and, in the interests of the Maoris, state his views on the matter at the Liceusing Court to be held on June 29th.

(BI TELEQHAPH.—PHKBS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. A large deputation embracing M.H.Rs., clergyman, city councillors, and tamperance'advocates'waited nn the Premier this morning and asked that the proclamation of the liueiisiner district at Otorohanga be withdrawn. One spaaker alleged that it was illogal. Mr Ballanee pointed out that the district had been proclaimed at the request of the natives, including Wahsnui, Taonni, and there would bo a large Huropesn population there who had to bo conitdered. He suggested that the deputation should influence the Maoris to withdraw #>• request themselves. He promised to bong the matter before the Cabinet for discussion.

The deputation who interviewed the Premier upon the question of proclaiming the licensing district in King Country, included Messrs Fisher, Duthie, McLean, Dr. Newman, M.H.R.s, Revs. Patterson, Mltott, Lewis, Walker, Allan and a number of others including a young Maori named Poutawara in the Native Department who spnke earnestly against the granting of the license. The deputation urged fchat the proclamation be revoked before July Ist as no license could be issued befnro then. The Premier said it now appeared the natives who had applied for the proclamation had changed their minds. There appoared good reason at the time for granting it, but an officer would be sent up tn ask the leading chiefs why they altered their views, and Cabinet would then reconsider the whole question.