THE MAORI DEMONSTRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 128, 31 May 1901, Page 2

THE MAORI DEMONSTRATION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A correspondent signing hj m , self W. S. Aicken refers rather slight* ingly to a letter by Mr M. .!. Gannon on the proposed aquatic display at the coming of the Royal party. Now, I <j 0 hot know Mr Gannon personally, but this I do know, having been assured by majiy natives, that he is an authority on matters Maori, nncl I should say from the style of his letter, that he is just about as up-to-date as W. S. Aicken, inasmuch as he grasps the position, which your correspondent fails to do.

If Mr Aicken will trouble to ask any. one interested in native affairs, he will find that it, is not fear of increasing Ma-hut a 's man a that raises a difficulty •but the fact that if the Waikatos come to Auckland it is by Mahuta's consent. He will only give that consent on conditions thai, he is officially acknowledged as the chief. Now, if we comply with those conditions the antikingites refuso to take p:irt in the Rotorua display. And I think that even Mr Aicken will agree that it is too late in the day to run the risk of the Rotorua celebrations resulting in a fiasco, And I am assured by Mr Parata and others who know, that there is no doubt whatever that such would be the case.' so great is the jealousy amongst the Maoris themselves.

I am sure that we are all of one mind that a reception such as Mr Aicken speaks of would be excellent, but if the gathering at Rotorua is to be successful, while the present nnti-Mahuta spirit exists amongst the Maoris, it appears to bfl beyond the range of praaticability.—l am, etc.,

HUBERT W. BELLHOUSE,