THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1882.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6566, 2 December 1882, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1882.

«. Wk publisli in another column the letter sent by the Native Minister to Wa.lin.nui, al:out which a good deal lias been said, and which forms the second step in the negotiations of Mr. Bryce with the Kingites. Before referring to the contents of the letter we may state that it was sent on to Wahanui, who had left Whatiwhatihoo for Mokau, and that the messenger reached him before he had gone far on his way. On receiving it, Wahanui at once turned back to consult Tawhiao. That chief had. however, left Whatiwhatiheo for Kawhia, and Wahanui had to follow him. A conference took place, but what resolution was come to we have not hoard. It will be seen that Mr. Bryce, at the conclusion of the letter, states his wish that its contents should bo communicated to the people. So far as we can. hear, however, this has not been done, and none of the King natives know anything of the contents of the letter. The document is not a lengthy one, and does not go

>ver very much ground. It simply I lakes one step. It points out how the A-iniiesty Act cannot be made use of so long as the ELingites maintain an Authority outside the law, and states some of the reasons which make it impossible that matters can be allowed to continue as they have been doing between the Kingites and the Government. The Native Minister invites Wahanui to a meeting, at which the arrangements which are inevitable should be discussed. But as Wahanui has not replied to the letter, and has not complied with the request to make it public, he evidently does not intend to accord such a meeting. He has treated Mr. Bryce's appeal with contempt, and therefore the Native Minister is bound, fi the earliest moment, to take the next step. What that may be remains to be seen.