THE WAIKATO.

Otago Witness, Issue 919, 10 July 1869, Page 16

THE WAIKATO.

J ", (Southern Cross,, June 2lst). / l ', , • The, chief Rewi has left Tokangamutu with 70 of his followers arid gone to T,ap4pa, near Patetera, in order to meet Hakaraia. The precise object of Rewire j journey is riot definitely Iknown, though, it ■is certainly of a peaceful character. Some of the NTgatimaniapotos have stated that Rewi intends to meet Hakaraia and some of the Arawas with the object of endear vouringto bring about a general meeting of the natives. If he should be success' ful, it is said to be 1 his intention to invite Rauparaha to use his infl eno > to induce the Kupapa chiefs to assemble at some place in the Upper Waikato, but ho will be expected to come through by way of Taupo, , and not via Waikato. "While this : is the story told by some of, the Ngatimaniapotos, others say also that Rewi has gone away in disgust at the unsuccessful result of the negotiations to induce the natives to meet the Prince or the Governor. We should be inclined to-" believe that there is a great deal of truth about both stories, judging from the source whence they come. It is said that Manuhiri's (Tamati Ngapora'o) influence has sensibly decreased since his meeting with Mr Firth. Manuhiri is blamed by the whole of the Ngatimaniapotos for his extreme obstinacy, and they charge him with having foiled the attempts to bring about a meeting at Ngaruawahia., .Rewi's tribe were, it appears, from first to last anxious to meet the Prince, but their desires - were thwarted by Manuhiri's interference. Thare appears to be great disorganisation amongst the Waikatos, who have lost that respect for the authority of the chiefs whioh they formerly maintained. The Ngatimaniapotos, on the other hand, are united and obedient to their leaders, and it is said that Retri's influence .is rapidly increasing. Though disinclined to break down any of those barriers which, a' present isolate th* two races south of Auckland, Rewi seems to be sincerely desirous of peace j and determined to use his influence to the utmost to keep the existing disturbances from spreading into the territory of the Ngatimaniapoto. On a recent occasion, when it was reported that the Uriweras were pushing through by way of Tapuhararu, Rewi sent a message to the King natives there, ordering them to resist the passage cf the Uriweras, even by force of arms if necessary. Rewi'B words on a recent occasion, were. "1 have been the cause of these evils ; I was the first to commence ihein ; I will now be the first to end them."

The propositions made by Mr Firth are still under consideration, and the Ngatimaniapotos Almost to a man approve of them. Our informant, who is perhaps better able to judge of the feeling of the King natives than any other man in the colony, says it is not at all improbable that Mr Firth will be invited up to Tokangamutu to another discussion with the King natives, and that, should Rewi be successful, the meeting will be numerously attended. It may, however, take some time to make the necessary arrangements, and those who understand anything of native matters will well understand this.

A siory has somehow got afloat amongst the King natives, which the Government would do well to explain away as soon as possible. They have heard that the Governor, in his speech on opening the Assembly, stated that a large army was to be raised, and a turn of money obtained, for the purpose of bringing all the Maoris under subjeotion to our laws, and of confiscating territory in all parU of the island.

Te Puru, the sacred pisr, some parti* culaw of whoso history we gave some time ago, has gone the way of all poakas — he has been killed and salted into bacon. This interesting animal was too thiokly tapued to be killed on the other side the confiscated line, and it would have been considered absolute sacrilege to harm a bristle of his extremely obese body. The Prtkohas at .Alexandra had no such compunctions, and Puru'* size and condition were in themselves sufficient to seal his fate. His death, it is said, will have the effect of opening the aukati for the outlet of pigs, and it may thereforo be regarded as a kind of sacrifice.

Tawhiao has gone to Kawhift on a visit.

The prospect of the abolition of the aukati appoani to bo every day more promising. Tho King natives Are becoming vory short of European clothing and other necessaries, mid those who were formerly well providod with money are now suffering from (mpeouniosity. Some of the principal chiefs, who but for the aukfttis would bo worth hundred! o! pounds, an now pen nil om, and even Tawhioo himself U extremely short of funds, the stoppage of trade with the Europeans; having had a Tory exhaustive efftot upon the Royal Exohequer. Tho Ngfttlmaniapoto* are complaining of the lßoonveni«noi of the ankatli, and them www to b© good grouni for hoping that

"gradually* as the shoe, pinches. more and, mdre,,,the aukatisjwillberiremovedi ■; ■* U> /, i '■ In its issue of the 24th June, ,the same same journal says :— rßy / way, of,, Cam' bridge, we are in receipt of most, gra+ify-' ing intelligence. It will be remembered that in our issue of Monday last we stated that Rewi had left Tokangamutu with 70 'followers, in order to .meet Hakafraia at Tepapa, to arrange the 'preliminaries of a sterieral' meeting of the King natives and the Arawjs. We then stated; that, the object of the proposed mee'ing was believed to be of a peaceful character, and ithe facts, which came to our, knowledge .yesterday, prove that our view of the matter, was a correct one. ■ , ■',-, . • t The real object of Rewi's journey is to endeavour t6 bring about a meeting of the Arawa, Ngatimaniapotoi "arid Ngatiraukaws tribes, which is expected to take place on the 28th of this month at Whata. ;Rewi has' recently taken, a tour the whole pt the Arawa .country to' en-, deavbur, to, induce the chiefs to atte id the proposed meeting, and it is understood that he has been, very successful. , One of ;tbe points to be discussed at the meeting Would be the, best way of Hermintttitfg the feuds at present' existing ; between the' Arkwas 1 and other tribes. Rewi ha* expressed his determination to use all the means in his power to, prevent the spread of the war into the Ngatimaniapoto country. He has very recently gone towards Tepapa to meet Hakaraia, who has returned from his visit to the Taupo country. . ' Another most gratifying piece of intelligence 1 is that the Ngatiraukawa tribe, living beyond 'Cambridge; have' given n'CK" lice to the Europeans that the aukatis' are removed, and that the whole country is opened. We understand, on good authority, that within the last few days a number of chiefs of this tribe have invited the Europeans to visit the country between Cambridge and Napier, the communication between thoße places being now perfectly open.