THE ORAKEI NATIVE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5394, 1 March 1879, Page 5

THE ORAKEI NATIVE MEETING.

Cue native meeting convened by Paul of 3rakei still drags its weary length along. The meeting was attended yesterday by a arge number of Europeans, male and female. The number of natives was not so large as at °rmer meetings, but those who couM divert iheir minds from tfee attractions of the racng and game 3 which were in existence— jnder and over, lotteries, &c.—attended the jiecting. The chief Paul presided, and formally opened the proceedings. The principal subject of debate in the forenoon was the Treaty of Waitangi and its bearing on the natives, but other subjects were also introluced. Paraono Ngawake bad a very strong >bjection to the existing game laws, and related his grievances. He thought it wrong that natives should be compelled to iake out a licence to kill those destructive birds, pheasants, on their own lands. He related an incident which came within his own knowledge. Paraone has a :avourite cat. One day he was watching a pheasant with the intention of shooting it, jut he saw his cat after that bird, and determined to let it have a chauce at the bird. The cat caught the pheasant, and the pbeajant caught the cat, and the latter rose into the air with the animal and let him drop 3everal feet. The man had his gun cocked, but dared not fire at the pheasant for fear of killing hie cat, and bo both escaped. He strongly objected to having to Bit up night ind day to prevent those birds from destroying his crops, and thought it a matter :or the consideration of the meeting. The afternoon meeting was more largely attended. The chief Paul, who occupied the chair, read a translation into Maori the telegram received from Sir George 3-rey and the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, which we have already published. When first read it had not been discussed. Paul said be now read it so that thoy might know ts contents, and asked for an expression of opinion on it. There was plenty of work in the matter of this telegram to occupy them for the day, and he did not think they would get through their work on Monday or Tuesday. He suggested that tfcey should iiscuss some of the questions in the telegram that day. Calling upon the meeting to listen attentively, he then read a printed jopy of the telegram. There were loud expressions of applause, and at the request of bhe meeting, he read it a second time.—A discussion, generally of a commendatory character, then ensued, and the meeting siosud in the evening.—lt is understood that the prorogation of this Parliament will take place oil Weduesday □ext. but not before. Mr. H. T. Kemp, Uivil Commissioner, with Mr. Brown, native interpreter, are in attendance, and to them we have to express our indebtedness for their courtesy. The chief Paul is endeavouring, as far aa possible, to conduet the proceedings in Parliamentary fashion, but he finds it a most difficult task. A Maori withagrievance or a hobby is as bad as a European in the 3ame position. He is irrepressible, and 3uch was found to be the case yesterday, for when the meeting -wished to discuss the bearings of the Treaty :>f Waitangi, a distingaißhed visitor and orator started on the game laws, and sould not be put off. Numbers of the natives imused themselves in other ways than listening to the speeches. There were some horse races on the beach, and the gamblers' tables ifforded attraction for a few, but the chief I resort appeared to be the card tables, for Maoriß are infatuated gamblers, I