NEWS FROM THE KING COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Issue 6568, 5 December 1882, Page 6

NEWS FROM THE KING COUNTRY.

[FROM OCR OWN COXRRErtroSDEST. I

Alexandra, Monday. Since the Whatiwhatihoe meeting native news has been comparatively at a standstill. Mr. Bryce's sudden and abrupt departure (as the natives considered it) caused the most intense dissatisfaction generally, while Tiiwliiao himself considered he I:;ul receded a personal insult, in the Native Minister having omitted the usual courtesy of handshaking previous to his taking his leave. It was some few days before the natives could realise the fact that Mr. Bryee did not mean to return .'.gain. Several meetings were held by Tawiiiao to consider the matter, but U'ahanui held aloof, and nothing was done. Ha l Tawhiao obtained the consent of the .\".iti:ii.-uiiapoto there is no doubt the native liiTiijulty would now have been a thing of the past, and the Government proposals accepted in their entirety. Tawhiao left for Kawhia, leaving Major To U'heoro, M.H.H., to act for him with the Government in his absence.

Ju.lgc Feutou's mission to Whatiwhatihoe caused some consi .lei able discussion before the na' ives could disassociate him from being Mr. Bryce's representative. As i have already informed you, some -5 natives have gone down in company with Mr. I'entonand Mr. KdiCUiube to see what lauds remain in the hi.uds of the Government on which th?v can be located 1 observe that $ome are of opinion that these natives will accept the lands offered them, but I am credibly informed that for the present at least they have no intention of doing so; but having seen them, they will report to Tawhiao, leaving it to his decision, which, if he still remains under the domination of Waharnii and the Ngatimaniapoto, will not advance matters much.

Wahanui has gone to Te Kuiti, where a meeting was to be held yesterday (the result of which I have not yet learned), to consider the letter sent him by the Native Minister. I have heard that the receipt of it by no means gave him satisfaction, aud that the missive was treated with great indignity. 'The natives at Whatiwhatihoe are all busy cleaning' their crops of potatoes, of which they have a great breadth planted. Rain is much wanted to maturo them, the weather having been exceptionally hot and dry lately. Food also is very scarce indeed amongst them. I notice in last week's Weekly News, the author of the excellent sketch, " Uli the Borders of the King Country," has fallen into .111 error ill referring to the murder of the .'ate Mr. Todd, surveyor, in stating that "after the crime had been committed the murderer cut out Todd's heart, and carried it in triumph into the King Country." That was not so. That statement refers to Sullivan, who was shot near Cambridge. Todd, after bting warned to leave, was shot through the heart, death being instantaneous, while sitting in his tent. His body was untouched. One of a party of six committed tiie crime, the leader of whom is said to be Nukuwhenua. A half-caste named Noble was severely wounded at the same time. 1 was one of the party who went up I'irongia and brought Mr. Todd's body iuto Alexandra.