Native Affairs.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 4 March 1882, Page 18

Native Affairs.

s •; Auckland, .February 23rd, ■ Mr Bryce arrived at Te Awamutu yesterday afternoon, and was driven to r.Kihikihi, where, Hej was 'entertained by, Rewi.'' .After pinner a | * conference" eventuated,''in ) whicti'' lMr\!BrycS, " pointed out that 'the' country was too sm'alHo'r ' the existence of more than one .sovereign'- t power, with one law. Rewij in reply, stated ho would never attempt to interfere with the lands which are gonej but he wanted a district bounded byPirongia, Kokepuku, Punui, Tongariro, and the White .Cliffs reserved for the Natives.-. He ' (Rewi) had tried the waiting course in the pastj and had\ listened $to this ajtid that^anji j/' and now he * was going to "be guicfecl 'by' his own counsel. With' Reference to certain lands disputed, ,jhe said that if he had his own way" in tfie matter, and had not Tawhiao to contrql him, he (Rewi) would have settled the matter long a'go'.^He'* 1} had advised Tawhiao not tp'listen'^o the'bp-^ •' posers of occupation, but 'to^alloW"Europeanss " to'occupy the land. The trouble had been',caused by friendly Natives selling the-land'"'. improperly. Mr Bryce recommended Rewi to have the title investigated by the Native, Land' p Court. Rewi replied that he had made.up his „ mind to go before ,the Land Court. Mr Bryce ;. expressed pleasure at Rewi's determination^ and assured him positively that none of 'ttie Maoris would be compelled to part with their land, He advised Rewi not to • sell, but to lease his lands.

Later. : " The Premier had an interview with Rewi at Hamilton, Mr Bryce introducing Rewi, who _ said to the Premier : " Some little time ago you were as another Pakeha to me ; now you are my friend. I agree with Mr Bryce that the time has come when friendship and confidence should be established between the Maori and the Pakeha. -The difficulty will be between the land of the Maori and the money of the Pakeha."' ' The Premier said In'repjy'jtha't the Government and Mr Bryce would help and advise Rewi as to, what was best for the interest of himself and his people. He was glad to see' Rewi again. They then shook hands 1 and -' parted. . ■ , ■ • , ; Cambridge, February 27th 1 . ;.. . A large meeting.' was, 'held 'here, to-day •••'/, for the purpose of presenting an; address, to the Premier, and affording the Natives an opportunity of bringing several matters under his notice. There was a very large attendance of Natives and Europeans. Major Mair , and another gentleman interpreted the substance of the address, which was that the" Natives congratulated the Premier on his arrival, and thanked him for his visit,; the Maoris • • thoroughly approved of the Thermal Springs Act of last session, and expected it would be the means of providing a living for themselves and their children. Other complimentary remarks to Parliament wound up with,,. " God Save the Queen." % ' L ' '^ v The Premier replied in terms which elicited , strong marks of approval from both Maoris 1 ' and Europeans. He thanked the Natives for their cordial welcome, and reminded thorn „ there could only be one Sovereign for the peo- • pie of this country— namely, the Queen, whose" desire it was to promote the welfare and happiness of both races. There was a Parliament to enact laws, and in this Parliament there were Native representatives. The duty of Ministers was to carry out the laws which Parliament made. He expressed pleasure at the Natives' approval of the Thermal Springs Act. Springs possessing such wonderful and valu - able properties should be .available for all classes of people. He was certain gi ■< c 't numbers of persons would go there from all parts of the world, and it was right that the Maoris should receive a considerable share of the rental. At auotion full value would bY S realised. Letting' at an annual r entail, vytiujd/ '\

be better for the Natives than a downright sale. The springs would also attract a large European population, which would enhance the value of the rest of the land. Pie would lay'their address before Parliament. He then asked the leading chiefs to explain their grie- ' vancos to him. Several important matters are 1 being 1 discussed. ■ Ohinemutu, February 28th. The Maoris continued addressing the Premier for two hours, and delayed his departure ' for Rotomahana considerably. All the matters were of considerable importance to the district and the residents, though not of general public interest. They specially urged the prosecution of the road from Cambridge, and the Premier promised to have the road completed before winter. A question about the licensing law was also raised, against the prohibition to supply Maoris They urged their belief that there • was but one law for themselves and the Europeans. They also wanted a school established • to teach their boys European trades. _ lhe Premier promised consideration ot their reqU|ir'john O'tthanassy is here, and a large I number of other visitors. J The Government land sale on the 7th is likely to prove a great success. Election Petitions. Chbistchobch, February 23rd. THE STANMORE CASE. The witness Scott was before the Court today, and the Judges announced that they 8 hould report him to the Speaker of the House of Representatives as guilty of a corrupt ipractice. Counsel applied for a certificate of indemnity under the clause of the Act providing that " a witness who answers all Questions when he is required by the Election Court' to .answer, shall be entitled to receive a certificate of indemnity, stating that such , witness has so answered," The certificate was granted. THE LYTTELTON CASE. Judgment wasgiven in the Lyttelton petition • ' case this morning by their Honors Justices Johnston and Williams, as follows :— His Honor Justice Johnston: It was now the duty of the Court to give judgment in this . case. The Court reserved the judgment on account of its having to hear another case elsewhere which had to be decided on similar grounds, and the Court was therefore .anxious to hear the law points of the case arguedthere. There was no doubt whatever on the point raised<with regard to the voting by aliens who were on the roll, as the language of the Act was most expressive, stating that when the ' roll was made up according to the, Act it was conclusive and final. It stated distinctly, that those persons appearing on the roll were the persons entitled to vote, 1 and no others. Looking, therefore, at that language 'of 'the Act,' and the arguments adduced from the case of Stowe v. Jolliffe so largely quoted, the Court had no doubt but that all parties were bound to go by the roll as it existed. The Court therefore considered that the petitioner had not 'succeeded in proving the points cpn- ' tamed in his petition, and that the respondent was entitled to judgment. The laws were made by. the people of New Zealand, and therefore must be carried out in their integrity. "' The judgment of the Court ,was that the 1 j respondent, 'Mr Harry Allwright, was duly ' • elected to 'the seat for Lyttelton. Mr Holmes rose to ask the Court as to the

question of costs. 1 ' ' • ' • "Mr Justice' Johnston, said there could , be; no " question as to the matter of costs— costs would go with the judgment. !