THE UREWERA NATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6305, 27 September 1898, Page 1

THE UREWERA NATIVES.

ADVANCE OF CIVILISATION. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. [From Oub Cobbespondent-I . WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. • A deputation of Urewera Natives "WintoKi • on the Premier this afternoon and asked that commissioners, under the Urewera District Native Reserve Act, should be appointed as soon as possible, and also that tue Government should stop any further Native meetin<7B being held in connection -with that Act, as°the last one had cost £180: As another «ffect of these meetings, it was stated that c^sputes arose, and at one guns had been taken up, and at another there had been bloodshed. The deputation also asked tihat a policeman should be stationed at Ruatoki, and that telegraph and money-order offices should be established at that place. Reference also was made as to railway connection with Gisborne. Mr Seddon, in reply, said that the request as to the appointment of commissioners would be cheerfully granted, and that the delay in making the appointment nad been due to the fact that Judge Butler, who was to be one of the commissioners, had been busy -with matters connected with the Horowhenua block, but had last week come to a decision. The commissioijers would be sent without fail before the end of the present year. He would communicate with, the Tuhoes and inform them that Native meetings were forbidden, as against the best interest of the Tuhoe tribe. He would consult the Minister of Justice respecting the appointment of a policeman at Rnatoki, and as Postmaster-General would see what - could.. be done with reference, to the s establishment of telegraph and money-order offices at the same place. The Governor, he intimated, would shortly visit the Urewera Copntry. The railway to Gisborne, he said, would cost a million of money. At the close of the interview, one of the chiefs presented the Premier with a pekerangi mat, and expressed a hope that die Premier's -goodwill and affection would reihain towards the Natives for all time. The Premier, in acknowledging the gift, drew a comparison between the present state of the Urewera Country and what it was six years ago, pointing out that the present 'satisfactory state of affairs had been arrived at by tne exercise of reason, and not, as had been advised, of force. As a consequence of gentler methods being adopted, a transformation had been effected, and the Urewera tribe were rapidly approaching a hign state of civilisation.