NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 6863, 29 March 1886, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

An important meeting of Natives was held at Aramoho, near Wanganui, on Friday, at which the Native Minister was present. There was a large attendance of Natives, amongst whom were many of the most influential chiefs, including Renata Kawepo, Topia, Turoa, Wi Pero, M.H.R., and Puke Tc Ao, M.H.R. The meeting was held at the invitation of Major Kemp (Keepa Rangiwhono) to consider the Native Lands Disposition Bill, for which purpose the Native Minister had been invited. During the last week the Natives have been discussing the measure, and have made certain amendments which are to be dealt with to-day. Major Kemp opened proceedings by thanking the Minister for going about amongst the Natives and attending the meeting, and pointed out that amongst the difficulties the Natives had in considering the Bill was that they did not know whether it applied to lands leased to Europeans over which the Native title wa3 not extinguished, lands in the hands of the Public Trustee, or lands Crown-granted. ' The Chairman of the Wanganui Natives Committee followed, and referred to the representative character of the meeting. A speaker from the Ngatitoa tribe and a chief named Hanita referred to the fact that this was the second meeting of the kiud, and they tended to do good. Hanita said that whereas Tawhaio and Te Whiti had formerly gone in opposite directions, they were now coming to think in Mr Ballance's way. The Natives, therefore, wished him to continue as Native Minister. He and several other speakers wished the Native Land Courts to be discontinued pending settlement of the Bill. He considered a Native Committe competent to deal with the whole matter.

Robert Ransfield compared the present policy favorably with that of other Native Ministers, and was glad to think that the disaffected Natives were now induced to appeal to Parliament—the proper place to discuss the laws.

Hori Ropiha (Tawhaio's chief adviser) endorsed Major Kemp's remarks as to the difficulties. He considered that the Land Courts could cease, ortherc should be only o; • Court for the whole Island. He was pleased with the principles of the Bill, because it enabled Native people to conduct their own affairs. He referred to the necessity of stopping public-houses on Native land 3. The Natives should have the management of prospectors on Native lands. Lands purchased by stealth should be returned. Arms and ammunition should havo free sale amongst the Natives, if satisfaction be given that these points would go to enable them to seek redress.

Renate Kawepo (Tawhaio's cbief adviser) aaid that time would toll what effect these meetings would have on the Native mind. He believed himself that they would do good. Operihama, a local chief, .asked that thp Native assessors shonld sit with the presiding magistrates when the Natives were interested in eases before the Court.

Reponi pointed out that as the Land Courts were still sitting and the Land Commissioner purchasing there would apparently be no land left when the Bill became law. Ho therefore counselled stopping both. Takorangi, Mete King!, and Topia Turoa also addressed the meeting. The latter read a long letter from England stating the results of the petition in tho House of Commons, and giving the debate there between Lord Randolph Churchill and Mr Gladatone. The Secretary for the Colonies had eaid that the Imperial Parliament had no right to interfere in New Zealand waters, from which Lord Churchill dissented. The latter also thought the Protection Society should do something, but Mr Gladstone considered the question one for the New Zealand Parliament only, and asked Lord Churchill if he wanted to take tiie management of Native affairs out of the New Zealand Government's hand, to which tho latter replied that they should assist the New Zealand Government.

Wi Pore, M.H.R., explained that the Bill would not affect the lands mentioned by Major Kemp, and stated the reasons why the Natives wished the Land Courts stopped for a time.

Puke te Ao, M.H.R., alleged that the Courts could stop till the Bill passed, and referred to what ho considered an injustice done to one tribe by the Taupo Land Court.

Tuke Toe considered that the Native Committee should first decide whether land should go through the Courts. The Native Minister addressed the meeting, first thanking them for their kind remarks and welcome. lie said his opinion was that the previous policies were intended to degrade the chiefs ; but he recognised tlie chiefs as leaders of the people and their protectors. His object in travelling about was to ascertain the opiniona of the Native people, believing this could be better done than by correspondence. While anxious to secure the unity of the people, ho was quite aware that there would be dissensions, just as there were amongst Europeans.. But so long as they tvere agreed on the main principles it did not matter. As to the Churchill-Gladstone discussion, he asked why tho former had not learned to carry out the policy he suggested when he had the responsibility of office, and stated that neither the Imperial nor other Governments would be allowed to interfere in Native matters here. He adversely criticised the aims and objects of the Protection Society, and alluded to the prospectus of the new Society formed of bishops, clergymen, and philoMaoris, which was to go into partnership with the Natives and make large profits from their lands. He could not believe that 10 per cent, of the members acted with philanthropic motives. Hori Ropiha had now come to acknowledge that there could only be one Government in New Zealand ; and he had been glad to receive from him the hand of fellowship to promote unity to the races. After thanking the Native members for the assistance rendered last session, ho said that he was willing to change the title of the Bill to the "Native Lands Administration Bill." He would do away with charges for survey, leaving the latter to be decided by the Commissioner and the Native Committees. After referring to the necessity for temperance amongst Natives, and also to the fact that Natives had the present control of gold projecting, the Minister (stated that he agreed to placinf assessors on the Resident Magistrate's" Bench when Natives were concerned. As to arms and ammunition, he believed the time would soon ton:,) when, in all but the back districts, reatn.ihon- could be removed. As to the possibility <•[ the Bill becoming law, he had ncfloubs of it, if

the Natives Were unanimous. The only opposition was from those whose pursuits would be stopped. Mr Ballance referred to the works completed or being carried on since the Rinona meeting, a3 there promised, and concluded by ex preying the hope that the time was fast approaching when Tawhaio anil Tc Wliiti would sec the uselessness of isolation. After lunch some further discussion took place on the Native lands duty (which Mr Ballance said was not so severe as the property tax) and Blue Ribbonism, after which the meeting adjourned till to-day, when Mr Ballance will give his opinion on certain amendments to the Hill handed him in writing.

In the District Court at New Plymouth Te Whiti was summoned for a debt of L 135, duo to John Stitt, storekeeper, Opunake. Te Whiti did not appear, and judgment was given for the amount claimed. The evidence given in the case shows that Te Whiti evidently means to defy tho law, as he has sullicient money to pay the debt, but refused point blank to do so. Some important development is looked for when the warrant of distress is servod against him.