NATIVE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6997, 21 April 1884, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

t [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. According to the latest accounts from various districts, native affairs are progressing quiotly, but very favourably. The difficulty of dealing with Tawhiao personally and the Waikato generally is still unsolved. 1 hear that the Native Minister asked one prominent chief the other day what the natives wished the Government to do for Tawhiao ; whether, for instance, they should make him President. of the Native Committees under the Act passed not long since. The reply was, "No; he has not ability enough." The next question was, "Would you like na to, make him a judge, having jurisdiction in all native criminal cases, including capital offences ?" The reply was earnestly in the negative, "That would liever do." "Well, then," it was asked, " would you like him to be judge in minor cases—such aB petty larceny ?" The reply was, "Oh, no; not competent." Lastly, it was asked, "Would you like him to be invested with the power of adjudicating on all native land disputes, of settling all native land cases, and of determining titles." ! The eager reply was, "Oh, yes, that would do exactly ; that is jiut what we should like."; But thon it turned out 'that these chiefs had practically no.landed interest of their own, but had been assiduously endeavouring for years to obtain a footing amongst the Ngatimaniapotos, and had been practising various little dodges to acquire such footing as to give, under Maori usage, a sort of title by virtue' of continued while it further leaked out that Tawhiao was all in favour of this plan, which would provide handsomely for him too, but it would by no means suit the Ngatimaniapotos, who are "the real landed proprietors, and whose leading'chiefs now go heartily witb the Government toward the opening up of the country.