MR MACKAY AND TAWHIAO.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 November 1872, Page 2

MR MACKAY AND TAWHIAO.

We are not fond of calling" attention to native matters; in th%,first place because we believe the true policy is to leave them alone, and in the second because it requires the bump of credulity to be very largely developed in a man's head for him to believe one-tenth of the statements made by would-be "'native doctors." We cannot, however, allow the reports which have appeared in -the last two "Weekly Heralds" to pass unnoticed. That in the issue of the 16th inst. is the only one, however, that requires attention at our hands, as by contradicting that we also confute the statements contained in the following issue. We allude to Mr Mackay's reported visit to the king. Our contemporary says Mr Mackay spent lour days with the king, and " certain suggestions were discussed which are not to be made public at present, as the king considered it necessary that they should be first placed formally before the tribe The prospect of an arrangement is very encouraging, and will, we hope, be welcomed by the government." We may commence by stating that Mackay was not invited from the Thames, as that gentleman or snmp. of his friends have out. He would not have been allowed to see Jtawhiao at Tokangamutu had Manuwhiri not been in the hills, as he°would undoubtedly have intercepted him. Tawhiao has not seen Manuwhiri since Mackay left Pelcanui, so that it was impossible that his proposals could have been discussed except by letter, and those who know the natives are aware that they do not settle or even discuss political questions of importance on paper ; farther, instead of the chiefs approving of what took place, they are considerably annoyed that Tawhiao was taken unawares, and consider that Mackay and party were guilty of a great breach of etiquette. When Mr McLean was up here last winter, he hinted that he was willing to resolve the king country into a sort of territorial principality, placing Tawhiao much on the same footing as some native princes in India. We learn that Mr Mackay has made similar propositions. What does this gentlemen mean—-is it his object to use other people's brains for his own glorification P The same parties who spread the report with regard to Mr Mackay have apparently, as the statement appears under the same heading, also made statements detracting from Major Mair's reputation. . " Major Mair's abortive trip is still fresh in recollection when endeavouring to effect a meeting belween the Governor and 'J awhiao. On that occasion, Tawhiao refused to ha\e anything to do with him." When Major Mair started from .Alexandra, he had then no idea of endeavouring to bring about a meeting between Tawhiao and the Governor, but simply went by invitation to hear the discussion between the friendlies and hauhaus, and in order that he might be able to express an opinion oj the part of the Government on any subject that might require it. The meeting came to jiothing,, having been postponed till the following

March. After the meeting, Tawhiao sent the late Mr Lewis Hettit to Major Mair to say that he would be glad to see him in bis (Tawbiao's) own house. This invitation resulted in a general shaking of hands and exchanging of compliments, but no political conversation took place. We apologise to our readers for calling attention to native nonsense ; we should not have done so, but the faUe statements made by Mr Mackay's friends are too. bare-faced to be allowed to pass.