THE KOPUA MEETING.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4291, 1 May 1879, Page 2

THE KOPUA MEETING.

[Press Special Wlre.7 ALEXANDRA, April Bft The assembly o£ Natives is now complete The Lower Waikatos, whottmired on Bttnasj* but had an accident through the capiiaiDgw a canoe and drowning of a youngster,, reacmffi Kopua thie morning. They wf re re«jSiT«t|F shouts of welcome and v war dance: (, The JSTgapuhis remain here waiting for eir a. β-rey and hie tail, of which they fona»a important part. A few of thew p«OF visited the king before. 3?heir ancestors know the Waikatoe to their cost after their eecond attack at Euatakatea, where they were effectually routed, and only; half a W*** returned to tell the tale. On the first .«s«* they were armed, and Waikato? were soft f.l on : the eecond the latter were them. The meeting of these tribee will posseHs a peculiar interest, '.-«»■ form a feature of the great meeting, » r takes place. -" • v , The King still stand* on his dignify, a™ Sir George Grey will hare to knuckle ttfflp* if he is to meet Tawhiao, because the «» declines to comply with the request ™™j"! will eend a special invitation to Sir <J«s?f Grey. He considers that einco .Hikww*these meetings have assumed an. imw»WM» whick they did not then posaew, and sale invitations have not been sank l&>. Premier considers he ehould be sohoriOrfS, but Tawhiao replies that this is only »H J a ° journmett o£ the •first meeting,,«Jid no otßff invitatione aro neoeetary to $ie (JovernffiSisf' He is firm on this point, notw&n&tefl<tog * letter written to Bewi on board the and receiyed yesterday, urgiog that SirvWF wiU be in Waikato on Thursday on oftff buraees, and, if invited, wiU bo glad to J » Tawhiao. Bewi's reply, sent the same "w said no invitation was needtad one sent by himeelf. Your spf^,^f ; pondent, interviewing Tawhiao on the subjeot of the, which Sir G-. Grey requires, was efto«. »" letter »nd the reply, and assured jthw Grey need not eipect more. If *• ? Tt f* does not come the Uatives amongst themselvo* co long as t' l6 "'!!;!.' which iff enormous in quantity bnt w»' .quality, la»tt. An engine and carnage.* in waiting to bring Sir George on fvf% arrival of the Minemoa at Aucldena, J invitation had been to hand, when me iw* seat on arrival would have been u» n< «"Kr4 These ia no doubt that Eewi'e Tersiffn*"f accepted, namely, that the meatiEg vi» tiauation of the Hiiurangi one,, R™ to Tawhiao has been mustering aU J" 8 ™£ yft anticipation of the Premier's presenea w,.. C7erxaetteif< . * ! • ■'* 1, revio There aro a number of Europeans nete

Wl access to Kopua, with the **!Sa ß pf the Bays! qoartsn, which a» by the king's fighting men, rifles, pouches, &c, but in the •STof our first parent*. They muster m eTtod form fours to words of command, SU dressed, put through tiieir facings, and fa off to head a procession to supply the *?»«t with food. The number was tome TSf^jo l U» quantity of food carried was enorfzL Tawhiao headed his fighting men with f'Sried feathers, and Bewi was one of the generals in coaamand. Tbe bugle sounds shots are fired at intervals during the day, *~i jjj, whole place at head-quarters presents IJfgp a martial aspect, ft an obstructive ventures beyond the aukati he v f*-S* ordered off. A few pakeha spectators too near the body guard when being , this morning, and were pushed back j poke of a sword held by s> Maoti:;

gMQfers were this morning kindly treated jtvory kit of potatoes and preserved fish, jLfw dried eel*, which few with ordinary *p> iSgltfeonld etomaeh. Some pakeha Maoris feaihelr duty, for form's sake, to tackle it, 5 d«ir visages soon told they were martyrs ErLtjgastte, and the yelping dogs itotmd for the feast. iaclade a few representatives 01 ** who have a keen eye for land, Si tie balk are persons who are here through communication has been received by agents heie, Messrs Grace and S^Sterner, BM., «b<mt -the attitude; has asiumed, inclnding'alstf a reply fcgsßeiri. *i- : '■-' ■ -,-,. , Offtgi tsatters are being discnssed, pretotieamval of Sir aeorge Grey. " B^/ ... .... 'Eaxhb. -; ; 33a SttiTS meeting is still delayed, conse--ngg on Tawhiao's' dedinnjg to issue the Zgfajjiaa. Bawi's communication does fir to have the desired effe'efc, wme rather wordy messages passed. ifegatber, the position has been a haraeeing , id*as Imng contrary, to our*/ ihe delay is unimportant to them. The gad «o»e of Paul Tohaei* , * txeople, Ss»y be #sid. Sir G. Grey's Jw, -grfifflffwbo havetheir trip to th»'JKingTT at the expense of the country, are ,jj2 jtAlexaudr*;awaiting advroes from headdiitribntioa -«f' the food took place jjHi grest cewimony to-day, the Natives Wgaisg impstifnt. sod hangiy, notwithgasdisr the liberal supplies provided to each EatfM' The food wsi distributed in iwrrtsteio orfer to save time. bjjjdj I «e_pj^ orme d with all pomp sn3 A Maori cemrnisiary general inpiksof edibles, and when the J inm» epeechifying was gone through- t ■'...■■ It b fesred ftat.il. Sir Grey awaits imitation things will be delayed too loBg.: The yremier will most probably* proceed from Hamilton to Alexandra to await to visit Xopoa. ~< ■. : 9LVSHO fTSU SOT TO IJTV7TB VIJtISTKitB. AUOB3»AHD, April 80. BwiaW oommunicated to-day with-Paora fsktm, Uj»"frieindly chief, who is working tirf in _8S G: Grey's interest. Tawhiao ie3csl*s that he wiil send no invitation, and isSsaiat that Sir G. Grey has broken, faith. wtiMmin regard to fchinzs promised at last ©i?raMi aeetinj, roads having been nude eifflH* nis oontent, and the land promised, lags earfehe west bank of the Waipa Biver jarißfbeea pot np f or sals. , gBMfiOBS DBTSBMCTB TO OO PKUIVITMUB^ ,3 Sr €Feerge Grey, Mr Steenan, smd -party ■ HI Wailsfo at S o'clock in a special train. remain to-night at Ngarnawahia, and p-m to Hamilton by ordinary train'- toSKBTOwnjominij. Taming the first, sod of gg Hamilton railway is expected to occupy feet hours. The party will then return to Sgsrcawahis, where a steamer will be ready' to tale them m> %ho Weipa river i»'Alexandra. S» party, .will be met by Tβ Wheoro, with fcer «Eoej, and taken on to the place of **$§~-: - .--.v __ ■ ..■''■',; :}' L "Tfe)M OtTB OWir OOBBBSi'bHDKKT.J 1 .'• v ALEX ANDB A, April W. Yeor correspondent slept at VSint*c«»'s. among the Hgatihaua Kingites, close'to BhM&o's hoose. To-day he interviewed Jeahiri and other leading chiefs. They all SBxar that there is no necessity for a special Bjgstisn to Sir G. Grey, as it was arranged fegaiely at Hikurangi that the present meeta|tedd be made for him. Rswi expressed jM&aaxiety ss to Sir G. Grey's arrivsl. Hossi end others statephafe the £|sM"wi!l' not concent to iheraflweyto Unpjb', but Tawhiao may permit its eonAaatß at a future time, himself retaining tumeagaatnt and profits. iwlßao wQI not consent to receive a ■Say from the Government. He may come b£ra at Ngarcawahia or Wikari, where Bit Sterge Grey's meeting will be held, on this & of the boundary. fawhiao issued a proclamation last night, inhibiting Europeans from coming over W Hsawai to Tomotomoki, where your satreipoEdeKt cow is. Sir G. Grey is expected ke to-morrow, and a house has been prejl?e§ for him and Mr Sheehan. Eie Natire3 are encamped on an extensive twe and aj half miles west of Kokepuke M,stthe backof Pirongia Plain, surrounded lj kw Mils. The Waikatos are sstenti. The ffgatiamanipoto are encamped vam\o the Waipa river. UcSsanncle and Major Jacison were here 6 the morning was spent in preparing led. ; A. larger aumber of were slaughtee),U&g barbarously knocked on the head ■R&oes and placed writhing on fires. Great nterof cattle a?e on the fiat ready for I Bewi to-day presented four koto? grog to Major Jackson, hut Tawhiao ssadiprockxadon against grog. About axe here. kgmi many Tangia are taiing place for &•£«&& who were killed in the last war. M Twhko's gendarmes are dressed in «4si# } with painted faces, and well armed, atetiywita double barrelled guns. Plenty is wasted. The chief soldiers ■i firemsn's helmeta and sceriet waistinforms mc that the Waikatos fit Sgatimtaiopotos are in perfect accord as %Q>e programme to be presented to the SH&$. The total at tbe meeting is not Wjtaeeeed three thousand. To-day Tβ **«»Y people presented forty boxes of •**»^j»- ? tbe Waikatos and SgatimanioJJVtefenelion of the trunk railway to g>W&asj be matter of years. At present «t;«fire» will not consent to it. Great |Pj*»~ »31 be brought to bear against ■Wmo to prevent his accepting a salary ** %TemsaeEts, which they think would ha independence, and practically *«® iaia tabserrisnt to the Government. W.fSeds- of the Government here state ** fi»jbrenk railway to Taranaki is not SpW-sj-a tins qua twn of the success of *?*a* eeeticg. 3w JBigitae «c anxious about the truSi ®JI*B« tiat the land near Harapipi, 2*e'tiijitD, hw been sold. Manuhiri S* »*u dktinctly promised to be restored jj* D. and that Sir Donald a salary, which was refused. Use land at Harapipi was only sad not alienated. Any opposition j •**«ytke*etilars at the present juncture ; **~*|e*emgoa of tbia land migtt compli- ! j*«r Messrs Yon Stnrmer, 8.M., and They were met by Bewi, who to see the house prepared for l£%ey »nd Mr Sheehan. fe *£" Jacke <? n » *to etood by, asked Eewi fieTeßuadah and state whether of Sir G. preposab, and ~31306 k* intended to propose. jg?WpH«d—l have told you before that , *? , liere - I h«B nothing to say |&*[sentoak Mr Bot> by the hand and