TITOKOWARU AT MATAITAWA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3153, 21 March 1871, Page 3

TITOKOWARU AT MATAITAWA.

[T^JUNjiKI Hebaw>, March 18.] It appears from the Taranaki papers that a great native meeting has been held at Mataitawa, at which Titokowaru accompanied with armed followers, was present. Mr Commissioner Parris, and several Europeans, were present. From j the report of the meeting in the " Herald" we take a few extracts : — j The place where the meeting was held is situated on the brow of a hill with the bush at the back, and was enclosed by a Maori fence. On entering the enclosure, to the left, was Hapurona and his followers, and, to the right, Titokowaru and about forty of his men, a% armed ; whilst in the centre was Tarn ati Te Ito and his people. There were also Mahau, Ropata, Ihaia, Tamihana, Tahana, and other chiefs of note, and in all there could not have been less than 200 natives assembled. The tangi lasted fully half an hour, and after it had terminated, Tamati Te ! Ito delivered a short address of welcome, I and was followed by Hapurona, Tamati I Waka, Mahau, Ihaia, &c. OneofTitokowaru's men, addressing the Civil j Commissioner with reference to Titokowaru, said, " Parris we have brought this reptile to you." After, this friendly greetings were exchanged with Titokowaru, and some of the Europeans (including the females) shook hands with him. It was now one o'clock, and a signal having been given, the native women made preparations for lunch. They opened the ovens where the potatoes were cooking, and, filling kits, carried them round to the visitors, portioning off to each party their share. When they had satisfied the cravings of hunger, the business was commenced by Mr Parris asking " what they had met for?" When it came to Ti toko's turn to speak, he produced a letter he had received, which he read twice over, and then asked Mr Parris to explain it to him. The letter was from Kokiki (who, we are informed, is a native who was living with Titokowaru at Ngatimavu, but who has recently gone back to live on' the coast in the Taranaki district), and dated 11th March. It advised Titokowaru not to allow his men to wander out, as there had been one expedition from the Waihi camp, which went into the bush, and that others were going to Te Ngaire, and were, so the letter states, looking for him. It advised Tiio to be careful or mischief would come of it. The writer further added that he had been making enquiries as to why thesn expeditions were being sent, and had been informed that the Government, not having work for the constabulary, employed them in marching through the bush. The question of Titokowams seemed to embarrass Mr Parris, as he changed the subject, and it does not appear that he answered it at all. The tenor of the speeches was satisfactory, and showed that the natives were peacefully inclined if they were let alone and not molested. They are evidently tired of fighting, and wish for peace and rest. In commenting on the meeting, the " Herald" concludes its remarks thus ■ — As far as this part of the province is concerned, there appears to be a feeling amongst the settlers that the. peaceful protestations of the natives who have lately been fighting against them should

be tested once more, and many have shown an example of the faith the}' have in them by taking their wives and fumi lies into the bush, and living in close contiguity to them. The natives seeing that confidence in them is being restored, mix with these settles and talk with them, but they state that they cannot understand whilst so doing that their lives should be endangered hy armed parties comiug from other districts and marching round their placep of retirement. We have before adverted to this subject, and we said then that there appeared to be two native policies at work within this district, and that one or the other should be stopped ; that either the Ministry would have to adopt the policy being carried out by those in charge at Waihi and Patea, and risk a ruinous war ; or that those who are endeavoring to settle the native difficulty by a peaceful solution should have supreme command. In plain words, whether Inspector Noake should have charge of the district or Mr Civil Commissioner Parris. It was found when there was a Native Minister and a Defence Minister that there was always trouble with the natives, but since the two offices have been combined, things have gone more smoothly. This is a question that should be taken up by the settlers of this district — by the settlers who ha\ c shown their desire for the peaceful solution of the native difficulty by taking their families into the bush, and who are entire) v at the mercy of the natives. It is these who will suffer, and whose voices should be heard on this subject. If Inspector Noake is allowed to send armed expeditions into the bush ; if peaceful natives who ure sent to make roads through a district, are to be driven away at the point of the bayonet, and threatened with instant death if speedy departure is not made ; if, we say, such a state of things is to be permitted, then we can only add that our settlers had better come in, and let us hand over tin's most fertile part of the province altogether to the native race — let us blot out Taranaki from the map of New Zealand as a European settlement. We can hardly believe that Inspector Noake receives authority from the Ministers to act as he is doing; did we Jthink so, we should feel inclined to accuse them of duplicity ; but we believe they are not aware of this state of a'Tairs. We therefore have considered it our duty to call, their attention to what is occurring within our Province, that a stop may at once be put to £he dangerous practice referred to, or else the sparks of rebellion amongst the natives will be fanned into a flame which may not be easily extinguished.