SIR DONALD McLEAN AND TAWHIAO.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 1907, 12 February 1875, Page 3

SIR DONALD McLEAN AND TAWHIAO.

Tho correspondent of the New Zealand Herald ■ gives the following additional particulars of the interview of Sir Donald McLean with Tawhiao :— ■ While closeted together (the conference being private) tbe King said to Sir Donald McLean, " I have only one word of importance to say to you, for which I sent for you, it is this, let the Europeans of the Waikato go hack and retire over tho Winngatawhiri-rthe boundary settled by Potatau and Governor Grey." The Native Minister asked if by Europeans lie (Tawhiao) meant the soldiers of letters, to which the latter replied, "Soldiers, settlers, and all; let them go to the other side of the Maungatawhiri, and when they leave there, I will come into the Waikato." Sir Donald intimated that to do so was beyond his power, but that he would lay the matter . before Government. "But," said he, " I hare a feeling of friendship towards you, and this I can do: —All the country ' lying on the western banka of the.rivers waipa and Waikato, from Ngaruawabia to the Waikato Heads, I offer you, but the^Gorernor still to be with you." Tawhiao replied, " That is a plain matter —an easy thing. -But my word to you is ; The Europeans to-go to the other side of Maungatawhiri." This batter was dis cussed several times over by both parties/and each time' with the same result. Another thing said Tawhiao: •' fray to the Governor I have a great desire to see him at. th« meeting. in March—next month—at Te Kuiti. 1' Sir Donald replied in the affirmative, adding, that he would deliver the message to His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, and that if His Excellency could not attend, he (Sir Donald) would, most likely, come himself. . Sir Donald then asked , Tawhiao if he had any objection to having the place of meeting in March transferred from Te Kvuti to Kawhia, where a weather-board house, if he (Tawhiao) agreed, should be built for hinii The oner was not accepted by the king, who did not want a house built at Kawhia, or the scene of the meeting to be transferred there. It is, however, vaguely rumoured that he intends shifting his head-quarters to that harbour, notwithstanding.