THE KAWAKAWA HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4489, 3 April 1876, Page 3

THE KAWAKAWA HALL.

MEETING OF MAORIS AND EURO- •-,:.. - PEANS. -■■" As .stated iu a telegram recently received from the Bay of Islands, and published in these columns, the new hall at Kawakawa was opened on.the 27th ultimo. Its opening was celebrated with great rejoicings throughout the district. The day was observed as a general holiday,-and the dinner, which was served -up in true European style, was attended by over 300.'persons—more than 200 of them being Maoris. Marsh Brown Kawiti, a son of the celebrated chief Kawiti, who fought against the Europeans in Heke's war, presided at the dinner table, and as soon as dinner was concluded, proposed "The Health of Her Majesty tho Queen, and the Royal Family." In doing so, he said that Queen Victoria was the ackuow-

ledged sovereign of the country, and that there was no other Queen. This toast was

received with the same approbation as ;is accorded to it by the colonists generally.— The President next proposed "The Health of His Excellency the Governor, and the responsible Ministers, - coupled with the name of Sir D. McLean."—Mr. Williams, one of the managers of the Kawakawa mine, proposed " The Native Chiefs of the District," with whom he had been on friendly terms during his residence there.—The toast was replied to by W. KateDe, the Maori ex-

member for the district. In his speech he expressed great pleasure in meeting both native and European friends in the hall, and said that much credit was due to Marsh Brown, who, had been principally concerned in building the hall for the benefit of the district.—Mr. Civil Commissioner Kemp, who had been requested to attend the meeting, proposed. " The Ladies of the District, coupled with the name of Mrs. Tautari."— The toasts" haying been concluded, the hall was cleared, and • dancing was commenced and kept up with the same style and enjoyment as in fashionable European assemblies. •. i. On the following day, a public meeting was held' in the Hall, to which the principal chiefs had been specially invited by Marsh Brown Kawiti. A very large and beautiful "Union Jack" floated over the building, and the Maoris assombled were large and patriotic. Among the chiefs present ; were— Abraham -Taonui, W. Katene, Wi Kaire, Mongonui, Taurou, Wi Tete, Rev. M. Taupaki, W., Pomare, and several others. Dr. Agassiz was also a-visitor.

■ Marsh Brown opened the proceedings, by stating the objects in view in building the Hall. He was anxious to explain that although the building of these large whares by,native tribes in other districts'was associated with some political event, it was not so in this case. . .The Hall had been built to meet a want which was now being felt very much. Bo felt it was desirable, if possible, to copy the example of Europeans in their public meetings. It was his desire specially that out of the more intelligent of the young men of rank should _be selected a number, who should be invited occasionally to meet in public assembly, for the jrarpose 0 f ,jj s . cussing their political and social and local interests, with a view to mature their thoughts, and then to transmit them through the European and Maori members for the district, for, the time being, to Parliament. He therefore wished them to understand that he had. no personal motive in view, but that the Hall had been built to meet this want, and also as a place of relation and amusement, for charitable purposes, and also for holding official courts in, which would be done free of charge, excepting under peculiar circumstances. Having said so much, he would now leave the assembly to turn the suggestions over in their own minds, and desired that this might be the beginning of the meetings'which should take place regularly hereafter.

A number of chiefs spoke on the occasion. They all approved of the statement which had been made by Marsh Brown Kawiti. They wanted a place in which to find out hidden things, and to come as near l as possible to the minds and mode of thinking of Europeans. They admitted that the matter of being under one law was now no question'atlall, but thought there was muclr of the English law which remained still in the dark.

- Mr. E. M. • "Williams, Resident Magistrate of the district, delivered a speech very suitable to the occasion. He said that, althongh in the administration of the law -there were many difficulties, and all parties could not be equally pleased, he hoped; by following the example of more able men, and by the exercise of a little forbearance on all sides, they would be able to realise that the law was intended to bo admir ; ste;-ed.' impartially and beneficially to both races. He was glad to he able, to say that, in his magisterial duties, he had been able to overcome some difficulties, and, with the assistance of the native assessors, he hoped to be able to reconcile the minds of the natives to any points of difference which they seem to feel to the English form of the administration of justice. Mr. Commissioner Kemp, at the request of several chiefs, addressed the meeting. Ho said he had greatly enjoyed the ceremonies with which the building was opened, and very: much approved of the objects kept in view by those who had interested themselves for the benefit of their'countrymen. He had been one of the early pioneers of the district, and felt-a great interest in the place. The' extinguishment of the native title over a portion of the district, and the discovery of coal had been of great importance, and had given them European comforts, buildings, steam flour mills, churches, and schools. Their prosperity would be much advanced by the extension of the railway to deep water, where vessels of large tonnage might load coal. This work would be accomplished before long, and would increase their trade and wealth. He' remembered when Mr. Barstow, the Resident Magistrate at Auckland, and himself had' assisted in turning the first sod of the coal mine, and he felt greatly interested in their prosperity. He advised the natives to send their children to school, and to learn the English language, as by that means they wonld best become/acquainted with English laws, customs, and modes of thought. meeting was a very successful one, but great disappointment was felt at the absence of the chief Tautaii, who was unable to be present in consequence of serious illness. ' -■:■ '.-.:■■