GREAT MAORI MEETING AT TOLOGA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1131, 25 September 1880, Page 2

GREAT MAORI MEETING AT TOLOGA.

Tee s.s., Rosina returned at 10 o'clock to-day with the party of excursionists who went to Tologa,'Jto witness the dedication of the tohare runanga to Te Kani a Takiran. Over 500 natives were assembled there, section? of every liapi from Wairoa to Hick's Bay, with the exception only of the Waerenga-a-hika Natives, being present. The whole of the first day was occupied with the preliminary proceedings, such as the preparatien of the food, reception of visitors, no3e-rubbing, liaTcas, and a general arrangement of the programme for the two succeeding days. Our reporter arrived on the scene on Thursday forenoon in the heyday of the festivities, but from want of space in our present issue, and a desire to do ample justice to the proceedings, by a full description of the aights and impressions of the occasion, the extended report will be held over for Monday. There is no doubt that in the Maori mind great significance is attached to thi» meeting. It is a departure from previous concerted plans, and a complete change in front, as far as we can observe, from a disinterested point of view. The various interests of different tribes are seen to be opposed, and where one has reposed its whole confidence in the policy recently inaugurated with" referenqe to lands in the East Ooast, others, it is evident from the tone prevailing in the speeches by influential chiefs are decidedly averse to it. New proposals for the guidance of the Maoriea in the future, relative to the most burning question, and one j which is ever uppermost in their mind, that is, the salejof lands, were submitted for the approval of the oolleoted tribes. If reiteration of an idea can be taken as evidence of the earneatnesa of the speakers, then the Maories are sufficiently in earnest, for the refrain of all the speeches at the meeting was "puretia te whenua" — "hold to the land." What was said will be given as fully • as we possibly can, for the benefit of the European and Maori. We may say that the Maories are exceedingiy anxious that every publicity should be given, to their transactions, and fox that purpose they have consented to give an English translation of the resolutions moved by Henare Potae, and the after discussions, which were taken down by Mr. A. Jury, who a.cted as secr-etary of the meeting. . : .

The incidents by the way, a description of the scenery and oouutry, a visit to Cook's Cove, &c. , will alao be given.