THE POROTI NATIVE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9342, 19 April 1889, Page 5

THE POROTI NATIVE MEETING.

[by TELEGRAPH.—OWN correspondent.] Wiiangarei, Thursday. A meeting of some of the principal natives in the North was held at Poroti yesterday. Sir F. Whitaker, Mr. J. Clendon, R.M., and Mr. P. S. Brown, County Chairman, were present. The object of the meeting was supposed to be a discussion of the land question. Pom are Kingi opened the. discussion by telling the visitors that he was glad to see them, but there was really nothing for them to do. Tho disputed land had been placed in the hands of a committee of twelve Maoris, who were competent to deal with it. Maihi Kawiti said that when the dispute threatened to become serious, applications had been made to the Government to interfere in the matter. It was now too late to talk about it. Taurau Kukupa followed in the same strain. He said the Ngapuhi would take care of the land. Matiu Tk Aranui and Hori Rewi made some condemnatory remarks about the Government not interfering until a number of people were killed. Eru Nehua wished to know what the intentions of the Government were, and asked jocularly would they take Paurau prisoner ? Sir F. Wiiitakkr said it was not the intention of the Government to punish anyone, but if any dispute of the kind arose in future, it would be firmly dealt with. Replying to various remarks of the native speakers, he said no section of natives would be allowed to prevent other natives from getting their lands surveyed and pub through the Court. Svdnky Taiwhanga then read a number of papers about a disturbance at Mangamuku. They wore supposed to be written by various chiefs, but no signatures were attached. He also wished to revive the dog tax question. Sir F. Whitaker was rather rough on Sydney, telling him that he appeared to represent no one only himself. He declined to enter into the dog tax question ; it had already been discussed at Waitangi and Orakei. Sydney Taiwhanga expressed his intention of agitating on until he died. This concluded the meeting, and everything remains as it was before.