WANGANUI.

Press, Volume I, Issue 21, 12 October 1861, Page 4

WANGANUI.

from the Wangamn Chronicle, Septembei' 10. The Natives.—There was n meeting in the beginning of the mouth at Kanihinihi, 20 miles lip the river, which, was attended by at least 800 natives, men, women, and children, belong-ng to Wangauui and Rangitiku Several Waikatos. * ere present, and also some of the Waitotara natives, A new church has been erected there lately, which was formally opened on the Sunday by the Rev. Taylor, at whose request the chief Pchi interdicted all political discussion on that day, and appointed policemen, who were relieved every two hours, to see that this request was carried into effect. On the Monday, the natives, having assembled to discuss the various questions to be raised, requested Mr. Taylor to open the meeting, which he at first declined to do, but the honour being pressed on Uim, he addressed them to the following effect:. and it

was pleasant to find, that the strain of advice which is attributed to some of the Church missionaries, is by no means universally indulged in by them. He hoped that nothing would occur to disturb the harmony subsisting between the two races. The Europeans had conferred great benefits on the Maoris. He had observed a wonderful change in the natives since he came to the country. Formerly the Maori wag smeared over with red ochre and oil, and carried the ahituati i (a saw made of sharks teeth used as a knife) to cut up human bodies for food ; but now these and other practices had been given up ; they had acquired useful knowledge of various kinds, were able to cultivate the ground, and clothed themselves in European garments. Not only themselves, but also their country was changed. The- fern was replaced by grass and the land was filled with animals which served as food — the cow, the sheep, and the pig, which their ancestors knew not. Europeans were dwelling among them, not as enemies, bat as teachers, and friends, and their own future prosperity was bound upwith thatofthePakeha. He was sorry to see the efforts some were making to destroy the unity of the two races, to exclude, if possible, their European brethren from the land, which waa far more extensive than they required for themselves, as they could not cultivate it. If they sold their land to the Europeans, that which they retained would be of far more value than the whole of what they at preeent had, and their own comfort would be greatly promoted, as was evident from the superiority of those who had parted with a portion of their land, who bad horses, cattle, and cultivated ground to a much greater extent than others. He hoped that their good sense and Christian feeling would influence them in their deliberations. Whatever points of difference might exist, he hoped now that their old friend Sir George Grey was coming, such differences might with his assistance be easily t settled, and he trusted that they would give him a cordial welcome. Then they proceeded to discuss questions of boundary among themselves, and between them and the Government. These were amicably arranged, A discussion next arose as to the letting and selling of their lands to Europeans, and it was resolved that each chief should have liberty to do with his land as his tribe might see 6fc. These were the principal matters under consideration. There was no mention made of the King movement, and it is evident that so far as the disposal of their land is concerned they have no intention of being under his control This was all the more unmistakably evidenced, that some of those present were King natives, and expected to be able to have the King flag raised and an oven cooked for him, as a sign of their being on his side; but the quiet and skilful manner in which the business was opened and conducted by Heme Nape, chief of the principal pah of the Ngatiruafca, who spoke at first in such a manner as to lead to the belief that he was in favour of the King—prevented his adherents from having an opportunity of recommending their opinions.