WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1553, 20 December 1866, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

(FROM..OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 17th December, The great event of the past week is 'the■'satisfactory.termination' of the Manawatu meeting;- everything having been arranged on Thursday last, on which day Dr Featherston drove into Wanganui for the money, which had. been deposited; in one of the Banks there for sale keeping until its apportionment had been settled. The Independent publishes a very correct account of the meeting, but written evidently, by one who takes a somewhat rose-colored, view of Dr Featherston'3 proceedings. My own letters" supply me with many details which make me fear that I' should paint, in a still more roseate "hue, were I to go over the same ground in any other than the most cursory manner. When the meeting commenced, on-lookers not accustomed to such scenes regarded the prospect of an amicable conclusion with, dismay. The first thing that took place here, as on so many other occasions, was the giving vent to speeches of a most; taunting and insulting description. "Who are you ?—interlopers, slaves. Who arc we ?—the rightful owners of the soil." A; long speech in this strain, generally con-' cludiDg with, "Now I bave'had my say, I shall be happy to listen to you ,• 1} and the man who for the ■ last hour has been frothing at the mouth, slapping his thigh, and quivering his spear in defiant rage, calmly squats down to tlie solace of his pipe as gently as any sucking dove. This kind of thing wears itself out in a few days, and then the real business begins. The first topic for decision was, how much is each of the three principal tribes to receive. The chiefs had been talking this over for weeks, "but had, I understand, come to no exact conclusion. However, Governor Ilunia (not Governor Hernia, as the Independent reports) demanded L 22,000 for his own (Ngatiapa) and the Rangitane tribe, leaving only L3OOO for the Ngatiraukawa. Hunia is what is called apofcato chief, sprung from nothing by sheer force of Bounce, and it was known that he would try it oq, to the utmost, and he certainly did. On the Ngatiraukawa scouting the L3OOO left for them, it was eventually decided to leave the apportionment to Dr Featherston, who adjudged L 15,000 to the Ngatiapa and Raugitane, and LIO,OOO to the Ngati.rau.kawa. Great was Hunia's rage. ■ A large concession had been made in holding the meeting in the neighborhood of his pah, and lie now tore down the flags, and with most insulting speeches, ordered his guests—all the other tribeshome again. The Upper Wanganui, who only expect a small present, did go; but the lower Wanganui not only refused to listen to him, but disowned him. Next day, finding his bounce unsuccessful in turning Dr Featherston, who had retired threatening to declare the meeting at an end in forty-eight hours, Hunia invited the Doctor and the natives back again -and when he was told that he must restore the colors, his pride fell sufficiently low to enable him to do it. Then came quiet talk about the reserves, none being stipulated for, but left to Dr Featherston to give as he thought fit,- about the payment of the arrears of stockholders' rents; to whom it was to be paid and sundry other equally important matters, which it was not well to leave open.Representatives have been appointed to receive the money, each of the principal tribes paying the claims of some of the subsidiary tribes, most of -whom, however, ' expect to receive only a complimentary' present. But is Parakaia's claim settled? is the one question that is principally asked. In reply, I may say, that the Ngatiraukawa (Parakaia's tribe) undertake to -satisfy the dissentients out of the large amount they have received. But if Parakaia still refuses, what then ? I ca'a't say -what then; but of this lam sure, that Parakai'Vs claim (if it is well founde/tj wil

be liberally dealt with, and satisfactorily also. The story of the 154 dissentients is mainly a trumped up one, many of those who swore to an affidavit the other day that they were resident owners, being only the Dick, Tom and Harry, who can always he found to sign anything, and more especially if it is a matter that don't concern them. The Manawatu i dispute is ended, and the Colony has as much reason to rejoice over its successful termination as the Province has. You will not give credit to the bodies of armed Hauhaus prowling about. That and similar stories are the invention of the enemy, who how see all chance of the land being thrown open to indiscriminate purchase for ever gone. The Governor is atKawau; Mr.Fitzherbert is ou a visit to Canterbury; Mr Richmond is at Taranaki; Mr Hall has just returned from examining the telegraph line between Picton and Christchurchjand Major Richardson is with you—so that Mr Stafford has been the sole official Minister in charge. I often crave your indulgence on English mail day, and I must do so again now.