NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2867, 3 October 1866, Page 4

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Ok Monday last we stated that a large meeting of natives had been held at the Thames, and we have since received some further particular! of the proceedings. Although our information is derived almost entirely from natives, we have no hesitation, in asserting its correctness Thompson was present, with a number of Waikato chiefs ; Te Hira was tho leading chief present of that seotion of the Thames natives who are believed to have warlike tendencies j and the inland tribea were mostly represented, even to the Urewera. None of the Ngatimaniapotos attended the meeting. Thompson and Te Hira ad* dressed the meeting at length, strongly urging peaoe and quietness at the best policy at the present tim« for the Maoris. Natives from the Firth of Thames, who left before the meeting was held, reported that the Widkatos had sent to the Upper Thames to ascertain how many men and guna could be mustered there ; but, whether that was the oase or not, the more reoent and authentio intelligence as to the meeting is quite reassuring. Nothing of importance, so far as we can learn, has occurred at Tauranga since the stoppage of the survey there, which we reported some days ago. The arrangement «s to' the land surrendered was unfortunately left by the Government in an unsatisfactory state, and the nativesappear to have been under the impression that the Wairoa was not to be crossed j hence the stoppage of the surveyors when they passed that river. Te Hira, who held forth in such a peaceful strain at the Thames, is said to have urged the Pirirakau and others to put a stop to the survey beyond the Wairoa, on the ground that the Government had no right to that land. If the natives are in the right, let the survey beyond the Wairoa be put an end to by all means. From Waikato, we l«arn that the exodus of the friendly natives who have been located within our settlements still continues to the districts beyond our line. Some of the natives of Lower Waikato, who are in town, say that tbis is a sign of war, and that the Government should supply them with more guns j but upon any pretext they are ready to make such a request. Of course, any statement as to the future, even by those best acquainted with native affairs, oan be little better than a mere guess ; we will therefore abstain from speculating. In conclusion, we may advert to a rumour that prevailed in town yesterday, to the effeot that such was the nature of the intelligence that had reached the Government, that the further embarkation of troops was to be stopped. We believe tbis rumour is entirely without foundation, and that not the slightest change has been made in the arrangements already entered into.