WAIKATO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 365, 8 February 1879, Page 8

WAIKATO.

(prom a correspondent.) The recent visit of the Native Minister was in all respects a most unsatisfactory one to him, considering how he blew his trumpet at the great banquet at New Plymouth. At that time he and his friend Rewi were to proceed from Puniu to make a flying survey for the railway, via Te Kuiti, to Mokau and Taranaki." The Ngatimaniapoto chiefs on hearing this warned Rewi not to take him there if he had any regard to the personal safety of his pakeha. Sheehan came up with a large staff, including Major Kemp and some Arawa chiefs, whom he had promised to introduce to Tawhiao and the principal Kingite rangatiras ; so his disgust must have been great on finding they were not allowed to proceed. However, they had a great spree at Puniu, and made all the capital they could by exhibiting their one great card—Rewi—at Kihikihi. The Native Minister here made another mistake. On hearing of the contemplated native meeting at Kbpua, called by Natimaniapoto, he determined to be present, and on the Thursday some fourteen horses were provided to carry the party from Alexandra to Kopua. It was arranged that Rewi should proceed through his own country, and Sheehan and party via Alexandra. As Rewi said he would not attend without Sheehan, a meeting was held by the Kingites, and Manuhiri finally overruled those who°objected to his presence by having a letter sent to Rewi by Tukorehu telling him " they did not want to see his pakeha until Tawhiao's meeting in March next, as they at present had no business with him, but if Rewi would not come without him he might bring him.'' On receipt of this a council was held, and it was determined that the Native Minister could not proceed without loss of dignity, Sheehan remarking to Rewi that he had caused him to be "killed" by coming here. Rewi rather hotly replied, that Sheehan had killed himself, as he (Rewi) never asked him to come or to go anywhere but to his own settlement at Puniu. However, as nothing could be done, Sheehan made an inglorious retreat at 4 o'clock in the morning. The late meeting, although not talked much about, was a most significant one, some of the chiefs present holding as high rank and mana as Rewi in the tribe, which they now allow him to use on account of his seniority. There is little doubt that the present Government have not succeeded in winning the confidence the native race, as so many confidently believed they would do; but on the contrary, from their broken promises and trickery, no Government for years past were ever looked upon so distrustfully as the present is. A general opinion is now being expressed that the Government have not got Rewi so entirely in their hands as they try to induce the country to believe. Rewi himself denies that he has pledged himself in any way to Ministers, unless certain conditions he has submitted to tbem are fulfilled. He also says that he is working entirely for Tawhiao's interests, and on his behalf ; but what these terms are he for the present declines to make public. It is now generally reported that the deputations who have come up at times to visit Manuhiri, have been for the purposes of securing the old man's influence on the side of the Government, and that some very tempting offers have been made him, as yet without effect.

(prom our own correspondent.) A Maori is naturally talkative, and if you wait and listen, all that you desire to hear and to know will be told you. Late developments are very curious. Rewi wishes Tawhiao to be King, but he also proposes that he himself should play Mayor of the Palace to the royal puppet. To a question who is to make the laws and carry on the Government in the new kingdom, put to him by an inquisitive pakeha, Rewi is reported to have replied, 1 will make the'laws as long as I live, and may the Almighty spare me long for that purpose. After me the laws will be made by whomsoever I appoint for that work." This new side of the question was presented to the Government at the late meeting at Puniu and Kihikihi. The Native Minister said, " You and I will arrange it." There is, you see to be another " Parliament of us two.' Did 1 mention in my last that Pikia and Tapihana were the only Waikato natives that visited Mr. Sheehan at Alexandra. They say, 1 am told, that the Minister's speech to them # was a regular tangi ; if he was only let remain in office long enough they would see whati a.lot or good he would do. They were assured that he had never said a word to Rewi or to anyone else about railways, roads, or land ; he had a vivid recollection of all that Tawhiao had said about these matters at Hikurangi, and he was careful not to give offence to Tawhiao. 1 apihana told my informant that they knew the honorable gentleman was lying, and, he added, we know that he is going straight from here to the Thames to bounce Tukukino about the road through the Komata. Rewi's -line" is the north boundary of that tract of country which he handed over to Potatau when the King was got up, and of which he is guardian. The point of departure from the Waipa is near the at Alexandra, thence to Te Awamutu, taking in all

that township, through Rangiaohia and over the hills to the Waikato, taking, in part of the Horahora block. Our laws are not to run in this territory, and negotiations about roads, &c, must be as between independent powers. " You and I," says Rewi, " will talk to each other across the boundary." The titles of the disputed blocks Pukekura, Pohue, Maungatautari, Tirau, Hinuera, Te Paeroa, Waipa, &c, are all to be re-opened, so that the true owners may have an opportunity of proving their rights. When I say all these are to be investigated I mean only such of them as are outside the line. A simple method.will be taken in dealing with " stolen land" within the boundary. Rewi has gone to Taupo to meet Ngatiraukaua and settle matters with them. During the last six months " important negotiations" have been pending about a pension for Manuhiri ; £IOO per annum was the amount first named, and the bidding rose to £SOO, but the old man stoutly refused to be knocked down even at that price. Money flows in a pretty strong and deep stream, but it is badly managed. It was a great blunder of Sir George Grey to show his great love for Tawhiao by offering the King a salary of £SOO a year—just equal to that which Major Te Wheoro, a chief of the second rank receives for doing Government work at Alexandra.' The money of course belonged to Sir George's constituents at the Thames, and to the injured infants of Canterbury, and he was, therefore, economical; but I think he will have to rise considerable before he can do business with the King. Other important negotiations are getting into an jawful tangle, all because won't go straight and tell the truth. As Rewi is impracticable, another movement in force must now be made upon the King, and a great effort is on for the March meeting. Tu Tawhiao, the King's son, was urgently pressed to take advantage of his father's absence at Kawhia, and to go to Auckland to meet Mr. Sheehan andbe led abouttown; but the "weather" would not permit. He nearly consented to accept £3OO worth of shares in the steamer Hannah Mokau, but has not closed—quite. The New Zealand Herald has been threatening to tell its Mamma about some " traitors" up in°these parts who have been prejudicing the native mind against the Government; but the natives are extremely wide awake, and they see and know without prompting that the present Government, tricky and false, does not deserve their confidence or seek anything but its own glorification at their expense. I dare not tell you half what I have heard said on this subject by the natives; I should like to believe, if I could, that it was not all tika.