WAIKATO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5563, 27 January 1879, Page 2

WAIKATO.

(FRO3I OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The results of Ministerial visits to Waikato and to Waitara have not been so successful as reporters have been induced to suppose ; but the greatest humiliation was reserved for the Native Minister on his last excursion to these parts to meet Rewi. There was not a reporter with the official patty this time, and the telegrams sent to the papers, although less untruthful than usual, are still misleading, because they suppress facts. At the Puniu meeting there were not more than from thirty to forty natives present, the only people of any consequence being Rewi himself, Hitiri, Harry Simmuns, Rewiti Waikato, Tana, and Hote Tamihana. Rewi in his opening speech explained that though he was on such friendly tt rms with Mr. Sheehan, he had not in any way forfeited his independence or made any concessions whatever. Using a favorite figure of speech, he said “ his Wairua, (spirit) was still in bis own keeping,” and that he was working for the general good and hoped to succeed. He then went over the same ground in reference to his “ line ” and the Ngatiraukawa lands that he travelled over at Taupo when he met Dr. Pollen there, and he peremptorily forbade the sale or attempted sale of any of these lands, adding that it Ngatiraukawa persisted in their present course of taking money on these lands be might be tempted to sell the whole on his own account and keep the proceeds for his own benefit. Te Puke, the guardian of Otautahanga, would not attend the meeting, so Rewi and the party went to see him at Mr. Kay’s. Te Puke called upon Rewi to give an account of what bad just taken place at the meeting with the Native Minister at Puniu. Rewi answered, “ Nothing new has been said ; you have heard it all before.” To Puke then said, “I am satisfied.” After that there was the address from the settlers, and Rewi’a reply, which is fairly reported in the Herald. It was remarkable that on all the occasions Rewi took care to impress upon the bearers that he had not come by Mr. Sheehan’s invitation, but simply because it pleased himself to do so. Upon leaving Kihikihi it was arranged that Rewi should go across country to Kopua to the meeting called by Manuhiri, Tukorehu, and Tupotaohi, and that Mr. Sheehan was to go by way of Alexandra ; this apparently with consent of the Kopua party. Arrived at Alexandra, the Native Minister was detained there by some business, when a messenger arrived from Tupotahi with a letter telling him that he (Mr. Sheehan) must not come further than Alexandra, and that “when they wanted him he would be sent for.”

This letter was forwarded to Eewi, who came to Alexandra, and after some discussion calmly advised Mr. Sheehan to give up the idea of going to Kopua this time. The “ weather” you see is not yet fine enough for travelling in the King’s country. The report that the natives who are disputing with Mr. Walker about the Pohuo block interviewed the Native Minister at Kihikihi and Alexandra is untrue ; ho was visited at Alexandra only by Ahincue, Pikia, Tapihana, and old H.ikiaha; no one came down from Kopua. From the best information I can gather, and it may bo relied on, Kewi’s scheme appears to be at present to have Tawhiao recognised as a King within his own territory, and making laws for the government of both races within his boundaries ; that the King is to have sole control of all lands within the boundaries, and also sole control over the people. The boundaries of the kingdom are from Paraninihi (White Cliff-) to the source of the Mimi and Tongaporutu rivers, on to the junction of Ohura and Wanganui, embracingTaupo down toTokoroa and to Manga’s, andWi Tamihana’s “line” across the Waikato at Pukekura; thence to Pirongia and on to the sea at Aotoa. This boundary will include a good deal of land occupied by pakehas. The cases of those pakehas will bo investigated; when the land has been honestly acquired the holder will not be molested, but be must become a subject of Tawhiao; where the land has been tahaed (stolen), the pakeha will be ejected. Eewi himself will go round this boundary to define it, and will then invite the Government to send surveyors and cut the lines. Settlers need not bo alarmed, bo says, should the surveyor draw bis chain across their fields. When all this is settled the Governor may open negotiations with Tawhiao about railways.and road-, and his consent must be given before any of these works are attempted ; to talk about such things now, Eewi says, is folly. He complains that he has been maligned by his own countrymen, and has not been working for the Government at all, but for Tawhiao. He appears to believe that this scheme of his will be accomplished ; meanwhile he is having a really good time of it, as the Yankees say, and has grown fat. The King’s country, then, will not be opened at present, and even if the first sod of the railway to Taranaki were now to be turned at To Awamutu, the Puniu Eiver would be found to be impassable. I fear that not only is the King’s country sealed, but a lot of other country will also now be sealed. The operation of the Native Lands Court with respect to any block would bo suspended at Eewi’s request, “At last,” this is what we are come to! Tho Native Minister has promised to spend a lot of money up here on roads and bridges; but as I see he does the same everywhere the funds may be found to be exhausted before our turn comes. I hope to be able to send a report of the proceedings of the meeting at Kopua soon.