MEETINGS OF THE KINGITES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3886, 30 March 1877, Page 2

MEETINGS OF THE KINGITES.

The correspondent of the Auckland morning paper gives the following rather amusing account of the late great native meeting at Hikurahgi :— There were about 800 adult natives present. The meeting •was not a political one,, but entirely confined to their religious affairs. . Tawhiao is desirous that all the Eingites should come and settle in the neighborhood of Hikurangi, and form a large town there after the manner of Europeans. The Ngatipuhiawe people, with the amiable Tapihiina and Pikia, formed a large procession round the camp,. Tawhiao's wife of that tribe, with her child, being seated in. the 'centre, with a large tin dish on a mat, in great state. Tapihana and Pikia I made great speeches, to the effect that all | the tribes should give their contributions to support the dignity of their king, as they had done when Potatau was first elected, „ At the . conclusion of their speeches, each walked up, men, women, and children, and deposited their coin in the dish. The money was afterwards counted up; and found to amount to the sum of £11 10s. The' idea was received with great laughter and derision, especially when the total amount was made known. The Ngatimaniapoto wanted to know what was to be done with the money, as Tawhiao had no stores there to spend it in. They wanted to know why Tapihana, Pikia and Co. had not brought flour or food of some kind or other to help the commissariat department of the meeting? A scramble was just about to ensue for the contents of the dish, when Mrs Tawhiao No. 3, promptly gathered it up, announcing her intention of appropriating it to her own benefit. The murderer of Morgan, although not brought forward prominently, was frequently the topic of discussion, and the general opinion seemed to be that if he was hung, it would serve him right ; — not for committing the murder, but because he was caught. By-the-by, I observe that you, with all the other papers, in mentioning the murderer, designate him "Te Patui." This is not correct, his name is ' ' Pati. " I mention this so that it maybe publicly known, as I have heard I of instances of guilty pergoua escaping

punishment on less grounds, known as a " flaw in the indictment." Te Pati's father and mother are both residing at Hikurangi, and were quite resigned to their son's fate, believing that he had been executed. On being informed he was still alive, they wondered ! why the "pakehas* kept him so long if ~t they meant to kill him* What was the