ALEXANDRA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 696, 15 May 1879, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

May 12. At 8 o'clock, the King's bugle was heard, summoning his faitbful followevs together. At daybreak, Te Kooti chanted prayers for the good guidance of their deliberations, and he twice repeated the ceremony last night. There was very little sleep in the camp. All through the night, dancing and singing were kept up, and hide and seek of a peculiar character rendered sleep almost impossible. At 9 o'clock, Wahanui had been on the ground twenty minutes, and word was brought that we were required. I left immediately, and arrived urst upon the scene. On my arrival, at the scene of action, full 2,000 were preseat. To-day, there were no women, as usual. They sat in a close column, about 100 in length, and 20 in depth, backed by the guard, armed. At 9.45 Sir George Grey and party arrived upon the scene. Tawhiao was not present. :

Rewi addressed the meeting as follows ; I did hot understand that my protection of this remnant of Waikato would involve me. I only wanted to shelter my child, Tawhiao. He was upheld by us who gave him land and rested our faith on him. Now, where are they? When I found they were gone, that was the reason I went also. Now, I anl going to see what I can do. I am looking after my own rights, because it has been said the Europeans have been buying land. Others are making roads. What lam doing is in my own heart. Here is the reason I hold Grey on my right — seeking in the first place for my child, that I might have an understanding, but not like the King movement — that is why I say I hold Grey in my right hand. I want that this party landless be made right. If you (Grey) will right this, you will be my salvation. This was my word to you at Waitara. The first thing God made was man. Now, I stand up looking for my right. Fulfil my wish, and have a fair understanding.

Atereha attempted to speak, but was kept down by cries of " A dog." Rewi leaned upon his spear from Grey.

The Premier then walked out into the centre, and addressed the asseemblage as follows . — I want to Bay a few words to you. It is getting dark. I knew Potatau many years ; I knew all his children, and all his friends. Between Potatau and myself there was no word of difference. If I had remained in Auckland, I believe there never would have been a word of dispute between the Waikatos and myself. I look upon Tawhiao as my own child. Now, any conversations that have passed between Rewi and myself have passed openly, in presence of .many people. There was only one thing bound Rewi and myself together, and that was loye for all people of this island, and Tawhiao and all his people. We determined to work for their good as two old men. We determained to devote the rest of our lives for the good of all the people of .New Zealand. But some wicked persons have arisen and spread false reports about Rewi and myself. They meet people in corners of houses, and represent Rewi as in some way influnced by myself or the government. These are untruths. No word has ever passed between us of that kind. I came here full of regard for him still. I never listened to any evil word to poison my my mind against him. If any man had come to me and said an evil word against Tawhiao, I would not have listened to him. I would have ordered him out of my house. I came here this time hoping %o have settled him and his people in comfort and it was with delight that I heard him say that there should be no more fighting in this island. When I heard him say that, I thought he was a son worthy of his father, Potatau. I must go to-night, because it is late ; but I am here anxious to do everything fair, and right to Tawhiao, and for the good of his people ; but those persons who told him to claim the whole island and talk in the way he did the other day, are not his friends as I and Manga are. They are enemies of

him and his people, and enemies of thei fellow-countrymen the Europeans. If they are Europeans who did it, then they are enemies to their country. If natives who do these things, let all good men unite in attempting to secure the lasting peace and happiness of both natives and Europeans of the island ; when a man rises like Rewi and struggles to do good for his fellow-countrymen, let any man be ashamed to utter such words as I have heard spoken about him this day. The truth is Tawhiao is surrounded by some people who avail themselves of the present state of things to sell and let lands and get money for their lands, and yet they prevent all their fellow-countrymen from, doing the same. Now good-night to you. That is all I have to say to night. Sir George Grey here retired slowly from the ground, and while leaving. Te Ngakau immediately got up and said : Do you want me to answer to-morrow morning ? Wait, Wait. I want to answer that my word is this : The best way to answer is at once and not wait until 10 o'clock to-morrow. This is all I have to say. •

The Ministerial party were now fast moving off. Te Ngakau : Well, I cannot answer now because Sir George Grey is going. Thejatest canards here are that a well known Auckland barrister has been appointed Attorney-General to Tawhiao, and that a pushing bank manager has secured Tawhiao's account. The natives here have, a song which was formerly sung by the tohungas (priests) as a kind of charm in hunting the moa. This proves indisputably that the moa existed in this part of their land. Some Europeans yesterday proposed to make the assent of the Katepuke Mountain, but were requested to refrain from the attempt, as there are many tapued places on the mountain. Formerly, when a European proposed to ascend the mountain in order to erect a trig station, Purukutu was put on guard with orders to kill any pakeha going up. Some Europeans have, it is said, interviewed Rewi, in the hope of inducing him to adhere to the Maori King, but were completely unsuccessful.

Tawhiao desired to continue the discussion yesterday ; but Sir George Grey declined to do business on Sunday. The discussion re-opens at ten o'clock to-day. The weather is fine.

. It is stated that after Rewi's defection Tawhiao cannot muster more than 400 male adults. Rewi carries with him the Ngatiraukawa, in which tribe he is a larger land owner than amongst the Ngatimaniapoto's. It is stated on good authority that Rewi intends obtaining Government surveys, for the purpose of cutting up lands to lease to Europeans. Possibly there my be some complications from Rewi, wishing to obtain the boundaries of his land intact, which he handed over to Potatu with other tribes.