Native Affairs.

Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 4 (Supplement)

Native Affairs.

W^NGANur, March 26. — An important meeting of Natives was held at Aramoho, near Wanganui, to-c\ay, at which the Native Minister was present. There was a large attendance of Natives, amongst whom were many of the most influential chiefs, including Renata Kawepo, Topia, Turoa, Wipere, M.H.R. and Puke Te Ao, M.H.R. The meeting was held at the invitation of Major Kemp (Keepa Rangiwhono) to consider the Native Lands Disposition Bill, for which purpose the Native Minister had been invited. Dur'ng the last week the Natives have been discussing tho measure, and have made certain amendments, which are -to be dealt with to-morrow. Major Kemp opened proceedings by thanking the Minister for going about amongst the Natives iuid attending the meeting, and pointed out that imong&t tho difficulties the Natives had in considering the bill was that they did not know whether it applied to lands leased to Europeans over which Natives' title was not extinguished, luuls in the hands of tho Public Trustee, or hinds Crown-granted. The Chairman of the Wnwjanui Natives Committee followed, and lion li'jpihii, Renato Kawepo (Tawhiao's chief advisor), and other chiefs also gave their views. L'uroa read a long letter from England .staling the resit' t of the petition to tho House of Commons, and giving a debate, in which Mr Gladstone and Lord Randolph Churchill took part, as to the right of the Imperial Parliament to intcrftne in New Zealand matters. Wi Pere and Puke To Ao (M.H R's.) also addressed tho meeting. The Hon. Mr Ballance tfi»fiiioU tho speakers for their kind reuiuks '-uu\ for tho welcome he had received. Ho ji^r.'td to change the title of Hip. bill to •"f'lie N.iliw Lands Administration Hill." He hail no doubt of the bill Ij^cre'isi} Lw if the N.itMVb v. ere unanimous, as the will <>ii|>.)->;(ton w,»- from tiio^o whose pursuits would he slopped. Aft'-r lus.eh, Minn! di.-cu-i.-.ion took place on the duty on Native land? and Blue Kibbonism, and

the meeting adjourned till to-morrow, 1 when M< B.illance will give his opinion on certain amend' ments handed to him in writing.

New Plymouth, March 26.— 1n the District Court Te Whiti was summoned for t debt of £135, due to John Ftitt, store keeper, Opunake. Te Whiti did not appear, and judgment was given for the amount claimed. The evidence given in the ease shows that Te Whifci evidently means to defy the law, as he has sufficient money to pay tho debt, but refused point blank to do so. Some important development is looked for when the warrant (A distress is served against him.