NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1108, 10 December 1869, Page 2

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

We are indebted for the main facts embodied in the following to the courtesy of the General Government agent : — WEST COAST. Mr. Fox, during his recent visit up the Wanganui river, attended two meetings, at the request of Topia; Mete Kingi, and other chiefs, on the Upper Wanganui river. One was held at Banana, and attended by 250 j natives, the other at Ohinemutu, Pepi's j place, where 400 were present. All the great chiefs (both King and friendly) on the river were there, except Mamuka, who lives higher up, is old, and takes no part in public affairs. The meetings were very satisfactory and orderly, and the speechifying confined to the leading chiefs. The leading subjects discussed were briefly as follows: — Ist. Mr. Fox was told that the Government had conquered all Tongariro, i.e., all the country about Taupo and Upper Wanganui. What were we going to do with it? — Mxv Fox replied that that land belonged mainly to Hare Tauteki, to Wirihana, to the children of Hori Kingi and Topia. Why should Government take the land of its friends and allies ? Not one acre would be taken ; all would remain to those who owned it before. As regarded the little piece belonging to Heu Heu, that chief had acted foolishly ; he had been caught in the snares of Te Kooti, but he had returned to us, and was now at Auckland, where he would see the Governor and Mr. M'Lean. They would perhaps talk about his land, so he would say nothing about it. Perhaps when Mr. M'Lean came to see them he would say-— Give me some land at Taupo, or sell me a piece for the pakeha. If he did, it would be for them to choose. 2nd. The next point was the Ngaraurau. The Waitotara tribe, which fought on Titokowaru's side, but have since been fighting for us against Te Kooti, and are now living with friendly natives on the Wanganui river, what did Government mean to do with them ?—Mr. Fox replied that their offence was great. Thoy had sold all that land to Governor Browne, and Mr. M'Lean and the white men were living in peace upon it when Titokowaru came to fight with the pakeha. They joined him. They ought to have helped the pakeha, or come away to Wanganui river, and been neutral. Very great was their wrong doing. But they had since been fighting bravely for us against Te Kooti at Taupo. This, in part, atoned for their offence. They would not be punished ; but they must not go back to Waitotara ; they must remain in charge of the friendly natives on the Wanganui river, and grow food for themselves and children. Mr. Fox then gave an account of what we were doing towards restoring the Europeans to Patea and Waitotara, and told them of the telegraph wire, roads, &c. They entirely assented, and said tbey perfectly concurred in tbe propriety of Ngaraurau not going back there. 3rd. The next point raised was the Pakakoe, Tauroa's people, who have been sent prisoners to Otago. Let these people come back to us. We will keep them on this river, and make them soldiers for the Queen, as we have made the Ngaraurau. This request was chiefly pressed by the friendlies. Mr. Fox replied that Tauroa's offence was great. He also was living peaceably with the pakeha, each on his own land, when Titokowaru came. He had gone to see the Government at Wellington, and sworn to be faithful ; then he had joined Titokowaru in his evil work. It was right that an example should be made to deter other tribes. He referred to the scapegoat among the Israelites, and said Tauroa's tribe must be made to bear their own punishment, and be a warning to others ; but, unlike the goat, if they behaved well, by-and-bye they might be brought back and placed, like the Ngaraurau, among the Wanganui people, They said this was just (tikana), and that they were quite satisfied. 4th. Kaimnnawa, Topia asserting claims to this country. He had no wish to prevent the pakeha exploring or getting gold, but he was the owner of that mountain, with others, and must be consulted. Mr. Fox said these questions about land would have to wait till ' Mr. M'Lean came. He was learned iv Maori, tikanga (customs), and could talk to them with his own mouth. In the meantime, he (Mr. F.) would watch the work of tbe pakeha, and see tbat no wrpng was done. Mr. Fox then took advantage of this

i|^emijjgk;an4 said, VHp^;i?^ytt»!?|p^(^^ > |$t to?Ka!mariawa P " Hare Tautoki iftta^i rf JEsS_n fly there like a \M*P -Hfiii _*ok replied that we would prefer going by the road, and we were nowlookihg for one near Wanganui. "That is right, biifc cpme.here also^yi-uske 'a- 'rbtfd*fr%lli'_€ f^E^pfiha best:" was the rediyo^Tdt>ia|;ittlso^^w(?lie had no dbjection ..to Wss,7and wo«Wselp to make them,' Mt he°mlis!i J b¥conl^t^d if they were m bis It is Unnecessary to say that this is a new feature am^ng King or late King natives. •• Topis pledges himself to take Te Kooti, if he is anywhere in his country,' dead or alive. If he cannot find him he will go. straight on to Waikato, endeavour to find out wbere<be is, and then follow him up. As soon as he^basfound out his whereabout-," he will send for Kiemp, and they together will .take him^/* |'i;j|j;' '" 'Mr. Fox had rifles ahd ammunition with birh. Th^es6 he handed over to Topia, whfd tobki' them as the Queen's guns, and as the seal of friendship between us. He was evidently greatly impressed — nay, affected-^-by t^is mar^ of confidence, and, after all that passed; there cannot be a doubt of the smcerityof Tdpia'a professions.' Mr. Fox, in the arms, said it was bis own life and the life of the pakeha that he placed in his hands. The people took up a large Queen's flag which had floated . over Mr, ;Fox*s canoe, and erected it in the middle of Pehi's pa. Tiat flag had never waved there before, certainly riot 'since the ? King's war^egan. No other flag was shown during tfie^eeting, nor any symbol of the Kihgllpipy» There was.no karakia or Hau Hatx^lwgs. The King was'spoken of very dispar<igingly by leading men in their address tO: each other, and the general, tone y was that ( . ths movement was dropped. Topia used almosb the very words which Wi Tako when hey came in in 1864—-" The King work might have had a good result, but it has been badly managed..: Let tHatgass" Another of high rank said publicly— "_The King is a fool (kuware), but he has had wise councillors about, him. It was only his name that was of weight. -They looked eagerly for Mr. M'Lean's visit, who, Mr. Fox told them, he hoped would visit them in a month, and decide many matted |vHich he did not desire thon'to.t<4k,'a]^out.;'^*'^ Topia desired'that wbjifc ;^ the meeting should be made known as soon as possible, : and that a full account should be published in Maori - and . circulated throughout the island. ThisrMr. Foxsajd should be done ; and thus ended a meeting the success of which, as evidencing 'the sincerity ofthe Wanganui river natives for peace, cannot be exaggeratedy-It must,J>e borne in mind that these people have been amongst the main supporters of the King" movement, the aukati, and other attempts at Maori nationality, and that they ,now abandon all these things and express their desire for peace — for roads and telegraphs, as well as undertaking to assist us iv our operations' against Te Kooti and other breakers of the peace, a TbeypresenkGovernment is indeed changing, our; relations with the native people, and what has been already effected must speedily lead- to ; "tWe restoration of that public confidence, which but a few weeks since was shattered and % om P. .J .... 'Jx'J'JJ After Mr. Fox's return to Wanganui, a letter. came from Topini, who .Jives nti^te extreme head of the river/addressed to t_'e tribes nearer Wanganui, to the effect that Te Kooti had begun to plunder his, settlements and kill his cattle, ai well Ads Jfco threaten the lives of himself and people. This exceedingly exasperated the' .more powerful tribes, and , tbey ; ; at;^n'fce, under Kemp and Topia, started in quest of Te Kooti, pursuant to the arrangement made with Mr. Fox. They were at Banana on Wednesday, and were then about 500 strong. " '-•■' ' i,; •'-" ' '