THE NATIVE MEETING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3315, 14 May 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE MEETING.

! (BI OUR OWN BEPOBTEB.) 1 Q Kom, (via Alexandra), Tuesday, To Ngakau: It had been said that there will be no wrong if I uphold' Grey, but which way shall Icome ? Petera Pukuahia: Thore is a road ■opoii.fpr you;, you will take no harm by coming. 7 here will be no wrong on eitlior side. Te Ngakau: I want a way that will make people one, but where is that way ? I may come under Grey. I want some security if I come over, that any arrange* monts made between us will be upheld continuously by the future Government, You don't state conditions but say coma over, but I say where is my wrong? Show me that way. Petera Pukuahia : ' You need not demand such hard conditions; I will not disouss your domand for the confiscation of lands, This is the road for you. I supposo yon desire firm understanding, but you must commence with details and then proceod to general conditions. You accuse Europeans of stealing land whioh they purchased fairly; but you should ask Groy to your house and discuss matters. Wahanui: I said nothing to separato us. I only placed my words betweon. I said put the sword in its sheath. That was meant to apply to all New Zealand... Who divided us from our father Groy. You all know tho fault, but you are afraid to state it. You know the Europeans themselves are divided. jPetere Pukauhia denied the accusation. His support to Government was not due to bribory. Te Ngakau: I don't understand dearly your words. You accuse me of talking sideways. We have cleared up one point, now let us proceed and show that my heart may be clear. Mongonui: You • say. there is a post with Ngapuhi, but.which is which. Te Ngakau: Here is your rope on my neck. Mongonui: I understand you now; perhaps you understand better that Patatau is dead* Make that olear whioh referred to tribal disputes true. Te flgakau: Is it you that put the rope round my neck. Mongonui: Yes. Te Ngakau: Which. Mongonui referred to the former war between tbe Ngapuhi, who gave a woman for a peacemaking. Te Neakau; I don't know that the rope has been removed, because the woman mentioned is still alive. What is my wrong? Hone Moho (Ngapuhi): You severed the rope that bound us together (referring to the separation of Waikatos and Ngapuhis, after their intermarriage through Toha, after Tonga's war). You did not wait until we had done evil. The rope was cut before the King movement by your rejeotion of our proposals made by our chiefs. Tauro (Ngatihawa): Tho rope has not been severed. You refer to the severance of the rope that bound us to the Europeans. Tamata Waka wanted to come here to fight the Waikatos, but Grey said he had a strong arm to defend himself. A Ngapuhi said that both sides were wrangling, but if they continued doing so he would leave to-morrow. Te Ngakau: I coincide with you. I did not expect to see this; I only ask my wrong. You accuse me of this and that, but you do not make any definite accusation (the supposed subject of Te Ngakau in continually demanding his fault was to elioit such an answer as would absolve him and. leave an opening for him to demand the restoration of his lands confiscated.) Meta Kingi's son, through Wanganui: There is very little land left under Tawhiao now through the deflection of tribes. To Ngakau: Who made our land and people small ? Question repeated. Meta Kingi: My version is that three quarters of the land have been sold and taken. Te Ngakau: I don't refer to that, but who made them small? We will now go to food, A ohief on the Government side: Wo 1 have no food. To Ngakau: Why don't you bring it ? ; Jtteply: Am I your servant? Discussion was adjourned at one o'clock for dinner. Ngakau is evidently trying I to draw Grey out. He probably wants < better terms than were offered at Hiku< 1 rangi, whioh Grey says he is still pre- 1 pared to carry out. The Kingites are getting short of food, and this cause will , probably determine the game of patience ' whioh is now being played between the , Government and Tawhiao'B party. ALEXiNDBA, Tuesday, 8 p.m. Tiao, a Ngapuhi chief from Whangarei, said Tawhiao commenced on the first day ! by claiming from the North to the South. I am looking at this diotate, ( Maka te Whanga asked the speakers 1 to address the meeting from the centre. A Pori: Leave the words of Whanui ( and Te Ngakau, and let us begin afresh. 1 Whiti Potatau: So say we. On this ! we must be opponents of Whanui, Te Ngakau, and a Hapene, 1 KaihauTe Ngakau said: As to what 1 has been said about claiming from North 1 to South, I want to know my right and 1

my wrong. Truhourou: I do not understand Tawhiao'a claims. He is only talking, of a summer's day; now that winter has come let the things of the past be ended. Tawhiao says this is a new year. Where is the proof that the old things have been buried and mourned over. Let us have something new. Where is the de« light and gladness as to your words about winter and summer ? The Almighty has given you signs of that which shows the difference in summer and winter. (The general tenor of the speech was expressive of dissappointment. He said at one stage of his remarks that he expected to see wonders, but had seen nothing. Whitiora said: I have one word to say. Tawhiao is still standing, but I do not see that we are also standing. Some of us fall one way with him, and some another. Let us talk it over if wo think we are still united. Let us stand with Tawhiao. Taliouro (Wgatima.niapoto): I don't understand Tawhiao's monarchy or claim to divine right. I know his advisers. Where is the day of forgiveness? We oannot restore the things of last year now. Bawhiti, secretary to Tawhiao, advanced in the centro with book in hand and road, amidst deepest attention, in Maori, a report of the meeting at Hikurangi iu May 1868. Tawhora: I cannot see that there has been any result of what you did at Hikurangi, It is past and gone. Wo want something new. Wharekawa: Why did not Te Ngakau discuss that before Grey. I do not want to hear it now out of a book that is past.

You ought to havo guided the people t( discuss that subject; we should ther have known why this meeting ended indefinitely; whether it was your fault 01 ours. Karawa (Kingite): If this had been read before Grey wo should have been . satisfied, We must look into this. TeWhenua (Ngatihaua): I want to 1 look into the question, whether we shall be one with Europeans or not, Whiti Patatau: This matte? must be discussed by Waikato only. ' Wharekawa: If we decide with what Whitiora said let us agree with it, I ; want a fair understanding. Ngatimahara (of Kawhia): We were one before the war, but that divided us. I say that it was Tawhaio who asked Grey and all the tribes to come here. Tahita (Ngatimahara): We must have war or disturbance, There will only be trouble through leasing and felling. Tawhiao's Secretary read a letter from Sir George Grey re Raglan road. The effect of the letter from Sir George Grey re the Raglan road was passed by Parliament before any final agreement had been come _ to between the Government aud Tawhiao, giving the latter a voice in such mattors that the road would benefit both races, and would produce no evil to the Maoris. Te Tuhara made a somewhat fiery speeoh, referring bitterly to past quarrels with the Europeans. If any one comes to lease my laud I shall not send him away, because l'awhiao has said all has been sent away to the other island. Tawhiao says stop leasing, and some .of us are going to lease our land. He says stop the telegraphs, and somo of you Kingites are telegraphing telegrams franked by Government, He says, stop roads, and here are roads; stop railways, and some of you travel free by rail. Apora: Tawhiao is naked, and has no knowledge • of Europeans, but he has puzzled them 5 and, mark my words, Tawhiao will yet be judge over all New Zealand. _ He pressed strong attachment on the Zing, (Aporawa9 leader in the destruction of the printing press at Te Awamutu aud in expelling Europeans from Waikato. Manga advanced holding a large sealed envelope, and said: I am the opposite to you. The difference between us is that I put my hand on Grey. Those who understand European ways and talk know my meanin?. I stretched out my hand to Grey. He wantod to prove what you intended to do. I have looked into hig words. As to Tawhiao, where is the resting place for him? Where can he fulfil his man, will you follow again after wandering words. I only have gone astray through trying to find Tawhiao's intention. I only have borne the brunt of danger. Were I to side with Tawhiao and say Europeans were in the wrong, whero would Tawhiaojbe. You think you have seen evil of the pakeha, but I have not. It is only now we have seen Europeans face to face and made friends with them. I do not see any fault in Sir George Grey, that is why I side with him. I have looked into what you have been saying against him, and there is not a point. You need not trouble your minds any longer in looking after the King; I haTe been looking to.the working of the _King movement for years, past, though this day I will not listen any more to the talk of Waikato; I will go

and find a place where I can put this word (ray son). You say this and that, but where have you (the Waikatos) a place to put him on. You have given all you have to place him on, and it has gone away, that is the reason why you speak against Sir George Gry. If you wish to know why I side with the Government, I can explain out this. Look why I have done so. _ Te Ngakau: What Manga says is true; listen Waikato! When this day is over you can cease talking and lookintomatters. My word is—l am willing to follow what Eewi said. Manga or Eewi said ? "You have talked your fault. I want you to show what is Grey's, and to cease fault-finding until I discover what is vile; beoause I have looked from the commencement and I find only a remnant of land left." That is why I seek to secure it. I will attend to the land from Alexandra to the White Cliffs and Te Meme, and all surrounding districts. I will die on this. As to other lands, I will not bother about them again. Te Ngakau: I will look on, and if Manga succeeds I will side with him, but wait the result. Wahanui: I will bear my own blame; no one is responsible for my notions; we have not looked straight into the matter; it is only talk. The wrong has been our own. Both races caused separation. A long pause ensued. Tamaki said: You could side with Tawhiao, because all chiefs are kings. Wharekara said: Every one must look for himself; if you have been selling and leasing land tell us now. I know we have leasing and selling men amongst us. The Hauraki people told the truth when they said, we have sold i our land and they are floating in the j water. I Ngakau: I have leased and sold, and j do not cloak it. Show me my fault. ( Eewi here here stood up and opened | out a deed written in English, sealed as a j deed, and said: I left To Kooti because of t this deed, and came to Punui. Haweu ' caused this. This is a deed. The terms j were written down and sealed.. It caused ] me to leave my son; that is the reason I ] say Ngatihaua must stop. i Eewi turned round, apparently looking y for Borne one, when some of him called <

out," Here he is, between those two men there, on the left." ltewi then turned to Major Jackson and said: "It was that European who commenced this sealing (i e. work); this deed is yours and then he handed tho deed to Jaokson saying, "It is your's, take it." Eewi then resumed his seat among his own people. The land to which this deed referred is situated between the Punui river and Kangitoto, and is believed to contain 25,000 acres. £5 deposit was paid, which Eewi made Ngakau's people return. Rewi held up the deed and said: Te Ngakau, your people's names are here. w aikato, your names are here, you Ngatimaniapoto people, there are three of your names here. Ngakau, your own name is not in the deed, but your tribes are. Ngakau: It] is true. Te Riranga, of Ngatimaniapoto, stood up holding a lengthy dooument in Ms hand and read a list of lands in the Waikato given back to the Kingites, whioh the; leased or sold. The major proportion of the names of settlers, whioh most frequently occurred in these sales and lease, were Eingites. Ahipene Kaihou interruping him, said, " What is the use of telling us what we know." The natives now became intensely excited, a fierce intermittent conversation ensuing from both sides. Shouts of " proclaim it!" " proclaim it|!" provailed, The list was then continued reading, when the sauie man said, " Stop reading that— who brought the list here ?" Te EeiraDga said Rem brought it.

To Ngakau said he was very glad, to see that his name was not in it. Bewi: Not yours personally, but all your Wends and your people. Ahipene Kaihu: That was Government money which bought those lands; those lands were given to those' who did not* fight. Do wo sell land at Hikurangi ? (Then ensued more confusion*) Te Potae then went forward with a newspaper and read a statement that Alexander Thomson had secured 12,000 acres. Hoanui contradicted the statement re Thomson, as being all false. * Te Eeiringa: Now you see the reason the other aide say stop leasing and selling lands, when thoy are leasing and selling land themselves. Hoanui replied: Though you have confounded the people the talk will not cease to day. Whiti Potatou: I will commenoo the talk again tomorrow. Think over what has been said. Te Ngakau: It is for Manga and Tawhiao now to think these things ovor. It is for them to meet for consideration. Let us go home and consider what to do. The meeting disporsod at 5 p.m.

Tlw following correction should be made in Eewi's speech, at his request, He said: "Be cautious of our prey (Grey)not, be cautious to make prey of him. After Grey's party left, the Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos assembled in front of Tawhiao's quarters, and yourreportor hearing that something important would occur remained and dined with Whitiora'a party on " damper" and tea. The extreme Kinpite party asked me whether Grey had left in anger. I said I believed he had gone because thoy had not met him fairly by- accepting the Hikurangi terms, but that he was not in anger, and if they made any direct proposals they would be favourably considered. At twenty minutes to two, natives having partaken of food, they assembled for talk. Manga was pressnt, but- Tawhiao kept out of sight. Te Whero and some of his people were present. Hoanui commenced his disoussion. He said: I did not understand the meeting. Apora: I have not heard anything definite. The ohiefs have had: all the talk. lam a lone man myself; Tawhiao and his people want to hold all the chiefs, that was the reason nothing was done. We proposed To Ngakau and Wahanui to speak, and they did nothing. They still talk only of the Almighty. It has been left to the chiefs, and nothing has resulted. Ahipene Eihou: It is useless to. discuss what is past. Let us inquire into matters to-day. Tawhiao and Grey placed matters before all the chiefs, who attended this meeting, but they did not discuss them. What is the good of going back now one is born knowing nothing: and one remain -Tawhiao. .