THE OPENING OF THE KING COUNTRY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3868, 10 December 1883, Page 4

THE OPENING OF THE KING COUNTRY.

(N.Z. Herald.) In our yesterday's impression we gave a tele-ram respecting the mccitng at_ winch the Kingites had accepted Mr Biycc's proposals for tho survey of the country. We now add somo particulars from our Te Awamutu correspondent of this important affair: — The proceedings wero opened by John Ormsby (a half-caste) reading a document to the natives, setting forth the reasons of the chiefs for agreeing to Mr Bryco's proposals. AVhen copies of the new Laud Act were circulated among the natives they hold a meeting at Kuiti to consider its provisions. At this meeting various tribes were represented, and, being satisfied with tho A ot, they were now prepared to agree to Mr Brveo's proposals, re surveying aud adjudication of the land. Mr Grace then road the application for survey, and read out the boundaries which tho natives propose to have, also the names of thirty chiefs which were inserted in the body of the document, and who represent four tribes, namely, Ngatiiuaniupoto, Ngatinuikawa, Ngatituwharotoa, aud Ngatihikairo. The hind proposed for survey includes the whole of what is known as the King Country. The line begins opposite Mr Tola's farm, on tho opposite side of tho Puniu River, from thereto Taupo, on to tho AVanganui River, from thence to Paraniuihi, on the AVest Coast, about thirty miles north of Waitara, on to Kawhia, from Kawhia to the mouth of the Puniu River, and back to AVaikiria, tho starting point. Afc the foot of the document were the signatures of Rewi, Hitiri Te Pairata, Taonui, and Hopa Teßaiigiaunini. Wahamii signed after the mooting was over. Those five make the application m the name, and in behalf of, the thirty already mentioned and the tribes enumerated, aud authorise the Government to proceed with tho survey. Mr Bryce then addressed the natives as follows:—AVhen you appointed a native committee you doubtless had in view the Native Committee's Act, AVhen I return to Auckland 1 will take steps to have a committee apiwinted. You have taken proper stops in this matter. All the Court requires is such a plan as will satisfy them of the locality of tho boundaries. I will send a surveyor to survey the boundaries ; but it is necessary to fix trig stations first. I suppose now this business is fi.nished._ I will therefore say a few words of compliment and farewell. I entirely approve of the maimer in which this business has been conducted. There has been no concealment; there has been a. full discussion ; and thero has not bceti too much delay. I think this meeting has been most satisfactory, and hope it will so continue to the end. 1 shall havo to be elsewhere next week, and part of tho week following in Auckland. I will then return to Waikato if possible, and then go into any business with you. I will now bid you farewell, and express my approbation of the manner in which the business has been conducted. Tho meeting then broke up. During his stay in Kihikihi, Mr Bryce and party put up at Wilkinson's Star Hotel. _ Mr W. H. Grace, who has a great deal of influence with Rewi and IhcMaiiinpotos, assisted very materially in bringing the natives to a'proper understanding of Mr Bryco's proposals, and used every means in his power to bring them to terms. At their private meetings, "be comb.'.tted their arguments, and explained Lo them tho benelits which would accrue to them by the opening of tho country. His arguments wore so conclusive that the natives could not fail to agree with him as to tho desirability of coming to terms without delay. It is extremely satisfactory to know that bugbear, the native difficulty, is at an end. This is entirely owing to the policy adopted by Mr Bryce. Ho took a firm stand with the Maoris from the first. Convinced at last of tho honesty of his intentions to them, they gave their adhesion to alibis proposals. This has been tho most successful meeting he has ever had with them. As a proof of the truth of this statement, I may mention that the native who congratulated Mr Bryce and AVahanui (mentioned in my report of Friday's meeting) is Aporo, tho chief who destroyed the printing press hero many years ago, and who, up to the present, lias beon a most determined obstructionist. The natives, longaecustomodto a vacillating policy—a policy which played with them, and treated thorn as spoiled children-— were at first inclined to dislike Mr Bryce, but finding at last that ho had iio'dosire to defraud or injure them, but, on .tho contrary, has a sincere desiro to benefit them, they'now regard him with respect and esteem, and look upon him as a benefactor of the race. They have a wholesome dread of laudsharks and speculators; their experience of the past has taught them that lesson. They sou the folly of parting with tho whole of "their property, arid are now determined to be more careful in the future. But should thoy exhibit a disposition to dispose by sale of more land than is desirable tho Government will step in and insist on sufficient reserves being kept for their maintenance. If tho greater portion of the land is sold wo will soon have a race of paupers on our hands, and a more mischievous class it would be difficult to find.