PAKEHA AND MAORI.

Evening Star, Issue 11895, 25 May 1903, Page 2

PAKEHA AND MAORI.

END OF THE KING MOVEMENT: [Special to the Star,] ' AUCKLAND, May 24. The meeting suggested by the Premier between the Ngatimaniopoto and the Waikato adjacent tribes took place at the Harbor Board Buildings on Saturday, there being no room in the Government Buildings large enough to hold those assembled. There was a general consensus of opinion that the action of the Government m calling Mahuta to the Executive and the Legislative Council was the solution of the longstanding land difficulty, and the longcherished hopes of the loyal natives that the estrangement should cease has been consummated, and the essentials to progress are now brought to a practical issue. It was urged by tho Hon. Mr Oatroll and Mahuta that the first thing to be done now was to get the land into the hands of the Maori Councils for settlement. It was further urged that technical schools should be provided to teach the natives trades, and that full inquiry should be made as to how to best provide for those natives w r ho are now landless—whose lands were confiscated, or had been lost owing to the troubles of the past. It was specially contended that a central hospital should be established for Maoris and the training of Maori doctors, the principal cost of such hospital to be maintained by the well-to-do Maoris. Mahuta made a very manly speech, declaring he was satisfied as to the general purposes of the Government, and he called upon his people to support him in the positions which he now occupied. He asked his people to give tangible effect in every possible way to the proposals of the Government by bringing their land under the Councils, and conforming to the law in all respects. The various tribes represented by the several speakers expressed themselves in entire agreement with everything that had taken place, stating that difficulties were breached over, prejudices buried, and animosities relegated to oblivion. The speakers dwelt on the fact that where large areas of Maori land existed a new day had dawned for both races. As a proof of the sincerity of the Waikatos and Ngatimaniopoto in respect to dealing with native lands under the Councils, it was suggested that Mahuta’s brother, Tewherowhero, should join the Ngatimaniopoto by going on the Land Council. This means that on the one Council both parties will be united—that is, Ngatimaniopotos and the Waikatos—and half a million acres of land which these two tribes hold in the King Country will be placed in the hands of the Council to be thrown open for settlement. In consequence of this there is general rejoicings at Kawhia and the surrounding district. It is anticipated that 120,000 acres will be dealt with almost immediately by the Maori Land Council. This will be of immense advantage to the European settlers, producing increased population, better roads, and other conveniences.