The Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 1860. MEETING AT THE PA WHAKAAIRO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 164, 10 November 1860, Page 4

The Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 1860. MEETING AT THE PA WHAKAAIRO.

On Thursday, the 7th instant, a Maori meeting was held at Te Pa Whakaairo. This was called by nearly all the Native chiefs of Ahuriri; and to it, by letter, His Honor the Superintendent, with Messrs. Alexander, Colenso, and G. S. Cooper, were specially invited. The day being very fine, several other Europeans attended; with whom the two chiefs Te Hapuku and Hori Niania also came. About noon, the chief Renata (who acted as mouth-piece for all) opened the business of the day in a long speech — in which he labored hard to set forth the grieved state of their hearts at the continuance of the war at Taranaki — the bad and illegal conduct of the Governor — that the Superintendent and all •influential Europeans of ALuriri should join them in a sweeping vote of censure on the Governor — the unkindness of the Queen — the dislike which they had at any of the troops now stationed here. going to Taranaki — the hardship they endured in not being permitted to buy powder and arms — the regard they had for their Maori king — their desire to go to Taranaki to fight— their belief as to what would take place here (at Ahuriri) on their return from the war — their opinion that peace should be made with W. Kingi — that the troops now on their way from England should ca.ll at Ahuriri, and, together with the natives of this place, proceed to Taranaki to make peace— and that all their now expressed desires and statements should be printed and published. Having at length finished, he called on His .Honor to. answer him. The Superintendent, replied that he had better hear them alt first. After some little, time it was found that Reriata had said all— excepting what further" they might have to add as a rider to His Honor's reply. : . •

It being now considerably past noon, it was proposed to dine first -(as it was known ttiat the dinner was ready), which, proposal was. willingly agreed to. Ample justice having been done to a very excellent plain dinner—of geese, pork,

cray-fish, and sausage rolls, ale, beer, gin-ger-beer, milk, and tea, — the meeting was resumed ; when His Honor replied to Renata's long catalogue ; and that just as., a British subject and Superintendent of a New Zealand Province should do. Renata, however, was not satisfied, so he began again. Te Moananui, Karaitiana, and others of less note, also spoke : more briefly yet much more strongly than Renata had done. Te Moananui, in particular, stating (in the plainest unmistakeable words) that they, had cast off all allegiance to both Governor and Queen, never never more to be resumed. Messrs. Alexander, Colenso. and G. S., Cooper, also addressed the natives. Mr. Colenso however soon " shut up," as his plain-dealing was anything but relished. Mr. Alexander fared much better through his advising them to memorialise the Grand Runanga — or Par- . Jiament of Great Britain — and the Q.ueen, •which pleased them.

The meeting, which was in the open air, did not break up till the sun had sunk behind the western hills ; and the rapid approach of night caused a cessation of speechifying. With the Europeans Te Hapuku and Hori returned to Napier ; they took no active part in the meeting ; and although this -was the first visit of Te Hapuku to Tareha's pah since the fatal war of 1857, none of the usual Maori manifestations were made. During the meeting two letters, -written from Waikato in the last month, were produced and read —one of them stating what a number of the Waikatos had gone to Taranaki ; — the other (from the Maori king) intimating that he should go among his - subjects and on his lands wheresoever his presence should be required— Ahuriri included. A chart of the seat of war at Taranaki was also shewn. The natives behaved exceedingly well and kind to their European visitors — even to the immediate taking from them their horses, tethering them out, and fetching and saddling them when wanted. The number of the natives present was not above 200 ; a few of whom had come from Te Waipukurau, Te Aute, Eparaima, and Waimarama. Of course, the words of the few speakers were most disloyal ; but it was believed (by those who were .competent to judge; that not a few of their expressions were not their own, but taught or borrowed. The most sad feature was that of their misapplying Scripture, and speaking of themselves as the Church ! But just so they said when they attacked and killed their own relatives in their war against Hapuku. As at the former meeting so now — Mr. Colenso translated His Honor's reply, and Mr. Grindell the words of the natives. At their pressing request, they were promised that their speeches should be printed on their furnishing the same ; when, it is to be hoped, His Honor's reply will also be printed. — Communicated.

We learn by the arrival of the White Swan that the General Assembly was prorogued oh Monday last at 2 p.m., and dissolved the same afternoon. It is to meet again in April — probably in Wellington. — Waikato was in a very excited state, and alarms were of every day occurrence in Auckland. Some of the out-settlers had come to town, and the Governor had issued a proclamation with the view of quieting their fears. — We have intelligence from Taranaki a few days' later tßan appears in our columns, but the substance of it is the arrival of the Waikatos and their expressed determination to maraud and plunder in the open country instead of fortifying themselves in pahs.