ALEXANDRA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3530, 31 October 1882, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

October 31

The meeting between Mr Bryce and the natives was resumed yesterday afternoon at Whatiwhatihoe. Tbe attendance of natives was in all respects similar to that of the previous day. Rewi was present on this occasion, and likewise a fair sprinkling of Europeans. The weather was fine, and the gathering strikingly picturesque. After a brief parley, in which the usual oracular demonstrations were indulged, and in which Mr Bryce sustained his part to tolerably good advantage, the latter said that having shown them it would be impossible to go back upon the offers made by Sir Donald M'Lean and Sir George Grey, to which allusion bad been made, he would proceed to tell them what the Government were prepared to do. He would speak to them in a general way, as when they came to consider details these would have to be adjusted with the chiefs, and not in public meeting. He stood there as a Minister of the Queen, and as such he had to tell them the land was not large enough for the exercise of separate and independent authorities. Their chiefs might have authority in their tribes and still remain great chiefs, but the sovereignty of the Queen would have to prevail from end to end of the colony. In that he included the Queen's laws. As a rule those laws

were good, but here and there they might happen to be bad. In the latter case wbat bad to be done was to get them amended, but in no case could they be resisted. Referring to their land, he would say to them, as had been said to tbe Maori in other parts of New Zealand, that one tribe after another was dispossessing itself of the land. In some cases that might be right enough, but in others it was very wrong. That latter was the evil he wished to assist them to avoid. To achieve that object certain lands should be set aside as a permaneut inheritance for their children. As regarded the remainder of the land, it should be dealt with for the benefit of the present owners. It should be brought into useful occupation which would be beneficial to all concerned, both Maoris and Europeans. If leased for occupation, the rents would remain for their use as long as necessary. If sold, as no doubt a portion of it would be, a considerable proportion of the proceeds might be invested as an income for the native owners. All that might be done in a right or in a wrong way, and he invited them to cooperate with him in getting it done properly. The Government had no particular desire to enter upon land purchases, and they would merely enter upon such purchases as could be shown to be to the benefit of both Maoris and Europeans. These matters, however, could be more effectually dealt with in private negotiation with the chiefs themselves. It was vain for them to talk about all the land transactions, sales, leases, &c, being stopped. If Sir Donald M'Lean could be, or Sir George Grey were, present they would no doubt have told them the same thing. As regarded Tawhiao himself, the Government were prepared to deal with him as a great chief. The Government did not forget that he had been elected by many tribes to be their leader. What he (Mr Bryce) would say to Tawhiao now was, " Let us all be reasonable arid settle this matter." He would ask theNgatimaniapotos to remember that the Waikatos bad been asked by them to join in the disputes which had brought such great difficulty upon the Waikatos, and that therefore these people had claims upon them. He would leave them to reflect upon what be had said. After a while he would return and renew the discussion with them. In conclusion he professed his strong attachment for them, and assured them that he was a man of his word, and as such he meant what he said.

There was no meeting to-day, this being the Maori Sunday. The Waikatos sent Mr Bryce a letter stating that they had made up their minds as to what they want, and asking for another interview. Mr Moss and his companions have turned up all right, after being lost for twenty-eight hours.