Great Native Meeting.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1735, 18 September 1885, Page 3

Great Native Meeting.

SIX HUNDRED NATIVES TAKE THE PLEDGE. Napier, Thursday. Messrs Stevens and Kennedy returned last night from Tougatiro, at the base of which mountain there has been held during the past three weeks an important Maori gathering. Over 1200 natives were present, representing all the principal tribes occupying the interior of the island. The object of the meeting was to cement the union of the native race by the formation of a common platform on which both the Queen and King natives could agree. Resolutions were passed in favor of (1) recognition of the King as the head of the natives ; (2) the unity of the Maori race and the maintenance of friendly relations with Europeans ; (3) the abolition of Native Lands Courts; (4) the abolition of special representatives in the General Assembly; (5) tbe withdrawal of all native lands from sale, lease and survey, pending the arrival of Mr Gorst from England ; (6) support of the temperance movement; (7) though no obstruction would be offered to the construction of railways, consent should not be given to them, and all land taken for railways should be paid for. A small section of natives, of whom Hopeha Tangamatu was spokesmen, disagreed with all tbe above resolutions, but being in so small a minority, their objections carried no weight. The natives resolved to shut up the hotel at Tokauo, and 600 took the total abstinence pledge.