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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6150, 3 August 1881, Page 4

"We are quite sure the people of Auckland will be willing to avail themselves of the opportunity which the approach of Tawhiao offers for emphasising the reconciliation between the two races, which he evidently means. As everybody knows, the interests of New Zealand, especially of this Northern portion of the colony, have suffered from the undefined but evil influence of what was called the "Native Difficulty." The raising of our loans has either been impeded,.or they have been obtained on worse rterras, by the unknown quantity involved in the native question. Rival Emigration Agents have, by referring to the unknown but posssible dangers of the so-called native difficulty, diverted many valuable immigrants from our shores. When it is considered that this state of things has been in operation for orer seventeen years, it is .easy to understand how difficult it is to attract capital and labour, men and money, in the face of such statements. A good opportunity has now arisen for giving- an effectual quietus to such allegations, and the removal of any such difficulty that would deter either men or money from coming among us, which might be fairly expected' when we consider the ! circumstances of • the Home country.' If a committee be. not already appointed it ought to be at once, and funds should be raised as soon as the movements of Tawhiao and his friends are ascertained, so that preparations might be made to" give him a hearty welcome. We do , not want too much to be made of Tawhiao's visit,.but there- is a wide difference between that way of doing the thing and treating ; him with indifference altogether.; We think it ■is very ad visable that not' only should Tawhiao and his principal chiefs visit ; the city, but that his followers—somewhere about :400 be invited '■ to accompanj' him. An expenditure of £30. a-day would coyer the necessary outlay; supposing . tho natives to be fed as they would prefer to be fed—that is to say, living intents/with'supplies of meat and. potatoes to be furnished to them. On the day of their entrance into the town the Mayor might be asked to invite the citizens to * keep it as a public holiday. If the natives, headed by the King and his chiefs, were to walk in procession from Mechanics' Bay by way of the Windmill by Queen-street, and returning to Mechanics' Bay by Custom-house-street, the citizens would have a good opportunity of seeing these men who have made such a noise, in" this country. The natives themselves would have an opportunity of seeing the thousands of Europeans who would greet them face to face, and would probably see nothing but welcome and kindly sympathy in these faces. We hope that those who are in the habit of taking the lead in such matters will act without delay. It will be observed from our telegrams that Tawhiao. and his people arrived at Mercer yesterday afternoon.